Ounce of Wisdom with Mike Smith
What’s the difference between a Controller and a CFO—and why does it matter so much for your business?
In our latest episode, Ben Blankenship sits down with Mike Smith, Chief Financial Officer at TowerCo, to unpack one of the most common (and costly) questions business leaders face:
“Do I need a Controller or a CFO?”
Mike brings over 30 years of experience in finance, accounting, and executive leadership to the table. He’s helped companies scale, sell, and succeed—most notably growing Castle Worldwide’s enterprise value by 600% before its acquisition. Now, he’s sharing his insights on how to think strategically about financial leadership.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why the question isn’t “What can I get by with?” but “What level of financial leadership can I afford?”
- The key differences between a Controller and a CFO—and how each role supports your business
- How a fractional CFO or Controller can be a powerful stepping stone for growing companies
- Why not all CFOs are created equal, and how to find the right fit for your industry and growth stage
- What it means to have a CFO as a true business partner, not just a financial manager
“A great CFO isn’t just managing numbers—they’re helping you see the business from a different perspective and drive growth.” — Mike Smith
Whether you’re a founder, CEO, or scaling entrepreneur, this episode will challenge how you think about your finance team—and help you make smarter decisions for the future of your business.
Watch the full episode here and learn how to build a finance function that fuels growth, not just tracks it.
