Isaac Zaetz Fractional CFO For Founder-led Businesses
Isaac Zaetz works with founder-led businesses that have reached a stage where financial complexity requires more sophisticated infrastructure and controls. He brings a rare combination of technical finance depth and hands-on operational execution—building the systems, processes, and reporting frameworks that enable strategic decision-making. His work focuses on transitioning businesses from cash-focused operations to structured financial management, creating the foundation for sustainable growth and confident capital allocation.
Background
Isaac brings over 10 years of experience as a CFO and strategic finance professional, with a rare combination of technical finance depth and hands-on operational execution.
His career began in hedge fund operations, sourcing and analyzing distressed assets, before transitioning to operational finance roles. As Controller at KMG Direct, he built financial infrastructure for a rapidly scaling e-commerce business. He then served as CFO at Lights.com, where he drove strategic initiatives and positioned the company for sustainable growth.
In 2016, Isaac founded Gelos with a clear mission: to bring structure, process, and controls to fast-growing businesses—especially entrepreneurships in the $5MM to $25MM revenue range. Through 10+ client engagements, he recognized that many businesses were stuck in a cash-focused mindset and needed a partner who could help them transition to a financial growth mindset.
Since its founding, Gelos has expanded its services and scope to meet the evolving needs of small and medium-sized businesses, delivering lasting results through a proven methodology.
The GELOS Methodology
Gelos measures success and approaches each client's unique business needs by evaluating each project through a "Scalable Stack". This Scalable Stack includes five interconnected layers of financial health that are proven to deliver enhanced business security, strength and adaptability.
Scalable Stack
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Bookkeeping
Without accurate books, you're flying blind—unable to understand true profitability, make confident decisions, or answer basic questions about your business. Gelos establishes complete, accurate financial records that transform chaos into clarity, enabling you to see what's actually working and what's not.
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Structure
Growing businesses break when they outgrow manual processes and fragmented systems. Gelos formalizes your organizational structure and software stack to eliminate bottlenecks, remove dependency on heroic individual effort, and create scalable operations that support growth without constant firefighting.
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Cashflow
Cash surprises kill businesses. Gelos builds rolling 13-week cash forecasts that give you complete visibility into upcoming needs and obligations, removing anxiety and enabling confident planning for payroll, inventory, and strategic investments.
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Strategic Focus
Without clear direction, resources get scattered across competing priorities. Gelos defines short and long-term objectives that align your team, focus capital deployment, and create measurable milestones that drive accountability and momentum.
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Capital Allocation
Every dollar deployed should generate maximum impact. Gelos helps you strategically budget and allocate capital to the initiatives that drive the greatest returns on growth and profitability, ensuring limited resources create compounding value rather than getting diluted across low-impact activities.
Recent Projects
- Transformed an eight-figure wholesale clothing business operating without proper financial records by recreating multi-year financial books from fragmented data; designed and implemented custom collaboration software to track all operational and financial transactions; hired and trained bookkeeper to maintain systems independently, establishing foundation for sustainable growth.
- Led buy-side M&A advisory for SMB acquisition investment, reviewing 10+ opportunities across multiple industries; conducted comprehensive due diligence on target companies; drove 1 deal to successful close, positioning client for strategic expansion.
- Restructured financial operations for 7-property mobile home park portfolio, transitioning from cash-basis to accrual accounting; built consolidated reporting systems integrating business and personal accounts; established investor-grade financial transparency that strengthened stakeholder confidence and enabled strategic decision-making.
- Rebuilt financial infrastructure for fleet video technology company following $1MM equity investment; established proper controls and reporting systems where none existed; created financial foundation necessary for scaling operations and future fundraising.
- Transformed bespoke lighting manufacturer from disorganized operations to streamlined, scalable business; hired and oversaw controller; built consolidated cash visibility tools; systematized inventory and catalog management, removing production bottlenecks; secured SBA financing to acquire manufacturing facility, positioning company for long-term growth.
Services Include
- Financial Infrastructure & Controls — Establish accurate bookkeeping, proper accounting systems, and reporting frameworks that transform fragmented data into decision-ready intelligence.
- Cash Flow Architecture — Build consolidated visibility across all accounts and entities, enabling confident resource allocation and eliminating financial blind spots.
- Custom Collaboration Software — Design and implement bespoke operational tools that integrate financial and business processes, creating systems competitors can't replicate.
- Strategic Financial Planning — Develop comprehensive roadmaps for financial operations, from hiring and structuring finance teams to building scalable processes that support growth.
- KPI Development & Business Reporting — Create metrics and dashboards that connect daily operations to strategic goals, giving leadership the clarity to make data-driven decisions.
- Stakeholder & Capital Relationship Management — Navigate complex investor, lender, and partner dynamics; position your business for favorable terms and sustained confidence.
- Capital Strategy & Financing — Secure growth capital through SBA loans, traditional financing, or equity; restructure existing obligations to optimize cash position and flexibility.
- Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory — Lead buy-side or sell-side transactions from opportunity review through due diligence to close, protecting your interests and maximizing strategic value.
- Forensic Financial Analysis — Provide litigation support through detailed financial reconstruction and expert testimony in mediation, arbitration, or court proceedings.
