About Randy Helm

I've spent the past 20-plus years inside businesses — not advising from the outside, but sitting in the room where financial decisions get made.

I've served as CFO for a $200 million mechanical contractor, where I led financial planning, budgeting, and analysis for 15 years. Before that, I was Controller for a $125 million manufacturing subsidiary. Today, I serve as CFO for a $75 million commercial construction company while building a fractional CFO practice to help smaller businesses access the same kind of financial leadership.

That range of experience — different industries, different company sizes, different challenges — is what I bring to every engagement.

What I've Actually Done

Credentials matter, but results matter more. Here are a few examples of what my experience looks like in practice:

  • Built and launched company-wide rolling forecasts that gave leadership accurate projected financial statements and cash position visibility for the first time.

  • Analyzed an underperforming division, built the financial case for action, and helped leadership make a difficult decision that saved over $1 million annually.

  • Studied production capacity across manufacturing facilities and prioritized capital projects that increased throughput by 36% at the largest facility — with minimal investment.

  • Identified training grant opportunities and secured over $2.6 million in state grants. Led programs that generated recurring tax savings exceeding $200,000 per year.

  • Supported two acquisitions from start to finish — analysis, due diligence, and pricing recommendations.

  • Negotiated revised loan terms for a client, replacing a large lump-sum obligation with manageable monthly payments that relieved significant cash flow pressure.

These aren't hypothetical. They're things I've done for real companies facing real decisions.

A Few Things I’ve Learned Along the Way

After two decades of working inside businesses and talking with owners, certain themes come up again and again:

Revenue growth doesn't automatically improve cash flow. Growing companies sometimes assume that higher sales will make everything easier. In reality, growth often requires more working capital, more hiring, and more financial discipline — not less.

Financial reports are just the starting point. Most businesses already have financial statements. The real value comes from understanding the drivers behind the numbers and what they suggest about the decisions ahead.

Margins deserve constant attention. Small changes in pricing, costs, or efficiency can have a meaningful impact on profitability. The businesses that consistently watch their margins tend to make better long-term decisions.

Risk is part of every important decision. The goal isn't to eliminate risk. It's to understand it clearly enough to move forward with confidence.

Why I Started Your CFO Service

Many companies reach a point where financial decisions start to carry real weight — but they're not large enough to justify a full-time CFO. I've seen this gap firsthand, both from inside companies and through my consulting work.

Your CFO Service exists to fill that gap. I give business owners access to the same kind of financial thinking and leadership I've provided to companies with $75 million to $200 million in revenue — just on a scale that fits their business.

Outside the Office

I'm a believer in the long game — in business and in life. Outside of work, I spend a fair amount of time in the gym. The discipline of long-term strength training reflects the same mindset I bring to financial leadership: steady progress, thoughtful planning, and patience over time.

My wife and I have been married for more than 25 years, and we have one adult son. When we can, we enjoy traveling — especially if there's a college football game involved.

Credentials

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) — State of Iowa

  • MBA — University of Iowa, Henry B. Tippie College of Business

  • B.S. Business Administration, Finance — Drake University

Let’s Talk

If you'd like to discuss your business and explore whether fractional CFO support could be helpful, I'm happy to have that conversation.

Let's Chat
Let's Chat