Temporary CFO Services: Empowering Government Contractors to Scale Their Business

Authored by Aprio | August 11, 2026

This article was originally published by Aprio on April 01, 2025.

Key Takeaways

• Growth Challenges and Opportunities: Companies experiencing significant growth require new strategies, enhanced systems, and deeper industry experience. Temporary CFO services can help navigate complex challenges, optimize operations, and position your company for sustainable growth.
• Role of Temporary CFO Services: A temporary CFO can assess current operations, identify inefficiencies, and implement best practices ensuring compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) requirements.
• Key Areas of Transformation: Businesses positioning their company for growth should evaluate their accounting and finance systems and reporting, consider ways to optimize tax efficiencies, review its contracts and compliance management, and evaluate business workflows for efficiencies.

The Full Story:

Growing a government contracting business is both an exciting and challenging journey. As your business transitions from $10 million to $50 million in revenue, the operational landscape changes dramatically, requiring new strategies, enhanced systems, and deeper industry knowledge and experience across all functional areas. Temporary CFO services can be the catalyst for that transformation, helping government contractors navigate complex challenges, optimize operations, and position themselves for sustainable growth.

Leveraging Temporary CFO Services for Government Contractors

At Aprio’s Government Contracting Services Group, we specialize in working with growing contractors to reorganize their operational support systems, ensuring they are set up for long-term success. From accounting and finance to tax, IT, and contracts management, our team provides the industry experience and guidance needed to tame the rough waters of rapid growth and steer your business toward calm, stable success.

Why Temporary CFO Services?

Scaling a government contracting business involves more than just winning contracts—it requires a robust internal foundation to support that growth. Bringing in a temporary CFO means that a seasoned advisor will assess your current operations, identify inefficiencies, and implement best practices tailored to the unique demands of government contracting. Whether you are looking to grow and stand alone with subcontractors, enter joint ventures, or eventually position your company for sale, an experienced CFO advisor will help you achieve your goals.

Government contractors face a distinct set of challenges, including compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) requirements. A temporary CFO ensures that your financial and operational systems meet these rigorous standards, reducing risk and enhancing your competitive edge.

Key Areas of Transformation for Growing Contractors

1. Accounting and Finance Overhaul
   As your business scales, accounting and finance functions must also evolve. This includes setting up systems for:
   • Audited Financial Statements: Meeting the requirements of lenders, investors, or prime contractors.
   • Indirect Rate Structures: Optimizing cost allocation to improve profitability.
   • Incurred Cost Submissions (ICS): Ensuring compliance with DCAA and FAR.
   • Adequate Accounting System:A compliant system allows you to go out and win work while passing various Government audits.
   • Budgeting for the Future: Building out budgets to help plan and fund for future growth and strategies.
2. Tax Optimization
   Scaling contractors often face new tax challenges, including multi-state taxation, R&D tax credits, and international considerations. M&A opportunities, whether on the buy or sell side, also present unique tax sensitivities. Our dedicated tax specialists can help you navigate these complexities, minimizing liabilities and maximizing opportunities for savings.
3. IT and Systems Integration
   The right technology can drive efficiency and transparency across your organization. From implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to ensuring cybersecurity compliance, Aprio helps contractors leverage IT as a strategic enabler of growth. For DoD contractors, CMMC is here and being phased in. Aprio’s team members can assist you with your compliance efforts ensuring that you don’t lose the ability to win awards due to non-compliance.
4. Contracts Management and Compliance
   Managing government contracts requires precision and experienced knowledge. A temporary CFO ensures your business complies with FAR and DCAA best practices, reducing the risk of costly audits and penalties.
5. Business Optimization for the Next Stage
   Transitioning to a mid-sized contractor requires a shift in how your organization functions internally. We work closely with your team to reorganize workflows, improve communication, and enhance overall efficiency, setting the stage for sustainable growth.

Taming the Waters of Growth

Growth can feel overwhelming, but with the right support, it’s possible to navigate the challenges and emerge stronger. Our team brings the depth and breadth of industry experience to help government contractors succeed. From compliance and financial reporting to strategic planning and operational optimization, Aprio provides a full spectrum of services tailored to your needs. We understand the nuances of government contracting and the importance of staying compliant while scaling operations. Our temporary CFO services bring clarity and focus to your business, turning the turbulent waters of growth into calm seas.

The Bottom Line

Whether you need assistance with your first audited financial statement, guidance on a joint venture, or a comprehensive plan for optimizing your business for what’s next, we are here to help.