Podcast Guest: Leader Evolution: Fractional Executives in Accounting

Jen Hamilton was a featured guest on an episode of the Upstream Leader Podcast. 

Host, Jeremy Clopton talks with Jen about how fractional executives can be a win for the firm and for the partners.

When most accounting firms look to grow, they double down on what they know best: technical excellence. 

More tax experts. 
More auditors. 
More continuing education.
And while those things matter, they’re not what’s keeping your firm from scaling.

The real barrier? 

Running a firm like a group of experts instead of a cohesive business.

That’s where the rise of fractional executives comes in—and why the Fractional COO may be the missing piece your firm has been looking for.

The Problem: Promotions Don’t Prepare You to Lead

If you’ve ever promoted a great accountant to manager or partner only to see them struggle, you’re not alone. 

The profession is filled with brilliant people being asked to do something completely different—lead a business—with no training, no roadmap, and no real support.

It’s no wonder so many firms feel chaotic. The partners are overworked. The team is confused. 

Everyone’s busy, but it’s not clear where it’s all heading.

We promote people to an entirely different job and say, ‘Good luck. You got this.’ But they’ve never actually been trained to lead.

The Shift: From Consultant to Embedded Executive

Fractional COOs aren’t consultants dropping in with a binder of ideas. 

They’re embedded leaders—strategic partners who work inside your firm part-time to drive alignment, clarity, and results.

They don’t replace your talent. They elevate it.

• They don’t tell your audit partner how to audit.
  
• They make sure your audit team is aligned, resourced, and running efficiently.
  
• They don’t try to “fix” your culture.
  
• They design systems that build accountability and autonomy—so your best people stay and thrive.
  

A good Fractional COO brings not just strategy, but implementation. They don’t stop at the recommendation—they make it happen.

The Investment: Right Role, Right Return

Think about it like this:

If you’re paying someone executive-level rates to juggle strategy, people management, project coordination, and execution—you’re misallocating your budget. 

You’re either overpaying someone to do tactical work, or underhiring someone you need to make high-impact decisions.

A fractional model allows you to pay for what you need, when you need it:

Strategic decision-making? Covered.

Quarterly planning and execution? Covered.

Leading teams and aligning operations? Covered.

All without paying for 40 hours of executive time every week that you don’t yet need.

The Readiness Test: Is Your Firm Ready?

Ask yourself:

• Are partners still making most of the day-to-day decisions?
  
• Do team members lack clarity or fail to take initiative?
  
• Is your growth outpacing your structure?
  
• Are you experiencing burnout as a founder or managing partner?
  

If you said yes to even one, you’re already playing both CEO and COO. And it’s time to separate the hats.

Bringing in a Fractional COO isn’t about giving up control. It’s about getting strategic support to grow faster, with less friction.

The Bottom Line

An accounting firm doesn’t need more effort.

It needs more structure. 

More strategy. 

More leadership.

And that’s exactly what a Fractional COO delivers.

Because when your operations run smoothly, your team gets to lead, not follow.

Your partners get to build, not babysit.
And your firm gets to grow—without burning anyone out along the way.

Wondering if your firm could benefit from a Fractional COO or maybe a different solution? 

Book an education call.  We love to answer questions just like this.