Where Finance Meets Technology: My Early Career at Blackstone

My career launched at The Blackstone Group in New York City, where I joined a newly formed division managing the founders’ personal investments. I then transitioned into Corporate Finance, working side by side with senior leaders and the CFO to:

  • Built a robust XIRR model for precise, time-weighted investment return calculations.

  • Streamlined year-end loan amortization, withholding, and distribution workflows by developing custom technology solutions.

  • Developed an internal reporting system to calculate fair market value for all partner investments.

  • Collaborated on high-impact projects directly with the CFO, from credit structuring to integration planning.

These experiences taught me how marrying finance with technology drives precision, scalability, and actionable insights.

Championing Financial Leadership for Small Businesses

Transitioning from a global investment firm unveiled a new challenge: small businesses desperately needed strategic financial guidance, yet couldn’t justify a full-time CFO. I discovered that:

  • Many owners relied on outdated spreadsheets and reactive reporting.

  • Cash-flow volatility and compliance risks went unaddressed until they became crises.

  • Small businesses couldn’t afford a full-time A-Player CFO, yet they couldn’t bear the strategic gap created without one.

Recognizing this underserved market, I committed to delivering high-caliber financial leadership in a flexible, affordable model.

Building a Fractional CFO Practice

In 2007, I founded Livingston Financial to formalize a fractional CFO model for growing businesses that needed top-tier financial leadership without the full-time cost. Outsourced CFO services were still in their infancy, leading to inconsistent adoption of established best practices.

  • Ensured timely, accurate payroll processing—scaling from a single-state run to full multi-state payroll infrastructures.

  • Developed comprehensive financial plans and budgets for pre-revenue ventures, aligning forecasts with strategic milestones.

  • Led multiple capital raises, crafting investor pitches, conducting due diligence, and negotiating term sheets to secure growth funding.

  • Produced detailed investor reporting packages, enhancing transparency and strengthening stakeholder confidence

  • Identified and remedied internal control gaps by uncovering reconciliation discrepancies, preventing potential fraud.

  • Negotiated compensation packages and equity ownership stakes for key hires, balancing cash constraints with incentive alignment.

  • Designed and implemented ESOP and 401(k) retirement plans, alongside annual bonus structures and compensation raises.

  • Built dynamic what-if financial models and projections to evaluate scenarios, optimize cash flow, and guide strategic decisions.

Through Livingston Financial, I refined a playbook that blends precision, scalability, and proactive insight—empowering companies to grow confidently without carrying the burden of a full-time CFO

The Birth of Fractional CFO USA

As “outsourced CFO” gave way to the more agile “fractional CFO” demand accelerated. So, I launched Fractional CFO USA to:

  • Deliver tailored financial leadership on a part-time or project basis.

  • Embed as a trusted partner—guiding budgeting, forecasting, compliance, and growth financing.

  • Equip owners with the insights and tools to make confident, data-driven decisions.

Today, Fractional CFO USA partners with companies generating $3 – 25 million in annual revenue—from PE/VC-backed firms and professional services to franchisors and tech/SaaS startups—tackling limited financial visibility, unreliable forecasting, inefficient budgeting, multi-state compliance gaps, and underutilized tech stacks through tailored fractional CFO leadership that drives clarity and growth.

My Leadership Philosophy

I view every engagement as a team sport. My approach centers on:

  • Collaboration: embedding within your leadership team, not dictating from the sidelines.

  • Transparency: establishing clear KPIs and sharing real-time dashboards.

  • Agility: adapting priorities as your business cycles shift.

  • Empowerment: training your staff on best practices so systems outlast my tenure.

Just like in youth baseball, every role matters—when each player understands their responsibility, the team wins together.

Outside the Numbers

When I’m not helping businesses scale, you’ll find me:

  • Coaching youth teams in basketball, baseball, and golf—fine-tuning strategy, teamwork, and confidence on the court and course.

  • Optimizing baseball gear and performance for my child’s team—because every ounce of advantage counts.

  • Tackling home improvement and smart-home projects, from building furniture to configuring full automation systems.

  • Volunteering with various charities over the years, including Camp Fantastic (supporting kids with cancer), Men Against Breast Cancer, the Knights of Columbus, and Catholic Charities—giving back through causes that matter.

These pursuits sharpen my leadership, spark creative problem-solving, and keep me deeply connected to community.