Executive-level financial and operational leadership, without the full-time hire.
Mark Cernese & Associates helps small and mid-sized businesses understand what their numbers are saying, and what to do about it. CFO consulting, investment management, and strategic advisory on a flexible monthly retainer. No long-term contracts.
Four ways to put decades of operational and financial leadership to work.
Fractional Executive
For small & mid-sized businessesAs a fractional executive, we work with business owners and help them identify the constraints in their business across the four pillars of leadership, strategy, operations, and finance. Then, depending on current needs, we work through and implement the necessary changes to grow revenues, reduce costs, and increase profitability.
CFO Consulting
For growing businessesHigh-level financial expertise without the cost of a full-time CFO. Whether you need financial leadership or a second set of eyes for the team you have, we help you make informed decisions that improve profitability and performance.
Strategic Advisory
The Owner’s CouncilA seasoned operator in your corner. On retainer. For less than the cost of a part-time hire. A monthly advisory service for Lehigh Valley small business owners who want a sounding board with real operating experience.
Investment Management
For individuals & businessesCustom portfolio management and financial planning built on transparency, risk management, and long-term success. As a fiduciary, we are bound by law to act in your best interest. We are not brokers and we do not receive commissions of any kind.
We don’t just analyze numbers. We interpret what they’re telling you about your business, and turn that into action.
Mark Cernese is a three-time Inc. 5000 CEO and experienced CFO who has spent his career building and advising small and mid-sized businesses across Eastern Pennsylvania. He founded Mark Cernese & Associates to give business owners access to the kind of financial leadership usually reserved for much larger companies.
Every engagement starts the same way: understanding what is actually driving your financial results, then building practical recommendations to improve profitability and performance.
- Three-time Inc. 5000 CEO
- Seven-time Lehigh Valley Fastest Growing Companies Award recipient
- Master’s degree in International Finance & Banking
- Graduate certification in Corporate Financial Analysis and Decision-Making
- SEC Series 7 and Series 66 investment registrations
- CFO of the Year Finalist
What owners and executives say about working with Mark.
“As CFO and a member of the executive team, Mark provided the financial visibility we needed. Beyond merely reporting the numbers, he strengthened our financial systems, including cash flow forecasting, KPI development and monitoring—which helped us know exactly where we stood and what we needed to do to achieve our goals.”
“As our contract CFO, Mark revamped our financial operations and set us on a path to growth, leading us to be named a Lehigh Valley Business Fastest Growing Companies’ honoree two years in a row. Mark generated significant improvements in profitability, margin expansion, and cash generation through robust working capital management, optimized pricing economics, and established utilization targets for our ops team. Working with Mark was a financial game-changer.”
“I engaged Mark as a CFO Consultant and Strategic Advisor. He helped me successfully navigate some of my toughest strategic and operational challenges.”
“As our Strategic Advisor and Consulting CFO, Mark has been a tremendous asset to our organization. His leadership experience and financial acumen has been instrumental in refining our go-to-market strategy.”
Let’s talk.
A first conversation is free, and there is no long-term contract to sign. Tell us where your business stands and we’ll tell you honestly whether we can help.