The Challenge.
Delcon, a family-owned Italian company operating in the life saving blood collection and management space, has been expanding its presence in the US market since 2018.
As revenues grew and the US operation scaled, Delcon needed stronger financial leadership to support this next phase of growth. While core finance operations were covered, the business needed CFO level strategic oversight to bring clarity around cash flow, structure, reporting and long term planning.
CEO, Barbara Sala, recognized the need for clearer visibility on performance, stronger financial control, and a robust plan to support future growth.
The Approach.
With Delcon still in a scaling phase, hiring a full-time CFO was neither necessary nor commercially viable. Barbara needed someone who could bring strategic perspective rather than day to day operational finance, and who could work flexibly alongside the existing finance infrastructure.
The fractional CFO model provided the perfect solution, giving Delcon access to senior financial leadership without the commitment of a full-time hire.
Andrew Sutherland was introduced to the business at a critical stage and immediately began working closely with Barbara to help impose structure, prioritize actions and create clear financial roadmap for growth. With experience in building and scaling businesses, Andrew brought both financial rigour and entrepreneurial insight.
The CFO Centre’s Solution.
The initial focus was on establishing control and visibility across the business’ finances. Andrew took ownership of the P&L, improved financial reporting and ensured Delcon had clear, reliable numbers to support decision making.
A key area of focus was cash flow management, particularly across the US and Italy. Andrew introduced greater discipline and coordination, ensuring cash was forecast accurately and available to support operations, innovation and growth.
Beyond the fundamentals, Andrew worked with Barbara to shape a long-term strategic vision. This included preparing the business for scaling, advising on organizational structure, and helping Delcon think ahead about governance, audits and readiness for future investors.
Andrew also advised on the creation of a US holding company and supported the exploration of Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) status, introducing the relevant partners and helping Barbara navigate the complexities of US fiscal and accounting requirements.
As the business continued to grow, Andrew acted as a trusted sounding board, supporting discussions with potential investors and partners.
The Outcome.
Since working with The CFO Centre, Delcon has benefitted from significantly improved financial clarity, stronger cash flow management and a clear strategic plan for future growth.
The business is now well positioned as it continues to scale its US operations and prepares for the next phase of its journey. Having established the right financial foundations, Delcon is now moving towards hiring a full time CFO, supported by the structure and discipline put in place during the fractional engagement.
Barbara values the flexibility the fractional CFO model provided, allowing Delcon to access high level expertise at the right stage of growth and scale CFO support as the business evolved.
With a clear vision, improved financial control and a strong strategic foundation, Delcon is now in a much stronger position to deliver on its growth ambitions and long term objectives.
Find out more about Delcon by visiting their website here: Delcon
