Season 4 Episode 12: The Rise of the Fractional CFO

Fractional CFOs are becoming one of the most talked about roles in business right now.

But many founders still do not fully understand what the role is actually meant to do.

In this episode of Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Carl Lewis, a finance leader with more than 25 years of experience across the UAE, spanning multinational businesses, government entities, and complex transformation projects. Carl is also Alchemy Search’s very own Fractional CFO.

Together, they unpack what sits behind the rise of fractional finance leadership and why more businesses are starting to move away from the traditional “full-time CFO only” mindset.

Because the reality is, many growing businesses do not just need better reporting.

They need someone who can identify operational gaps, solve systemic problems, improve decision-making, and build financial discipline as the business scales.

This conversation brings that into focus.

From stepping into businesses with major accounting and audit risks, to navigating founder mindsets and understanding what makes the role work effectively, this episode gives a practical look at what Fractional CFOs actually do behind the scenes.

What you will hear in this episode:

📌 What a Fractional CFO actually does

📌 Why the UAE still views fractional work differently

📌 Why the “assimilation” mindset can limit impact

📌 Solving systemic issues inside growing businesses

📌 Real examples of fixing finance and reporting problems

📌 Signs a business needs more than just an accountant

📌 What working across industries teaches finance leaders

A big thank you to Alaan for supporting this season and helping us bring these conversations to life. We will be back soon with more insights and more voices from across the region.

Whether you are a founder, finance professional, or scaling business, this episode offers a grounded perspective on when and why fractional finance leadership matters.

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