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Patrick Harkleroad

Role
CFO

About

Patrick Harkleroad brings more than 30 years of financial and operational leadership experience, helping business owners navigate growth, uncertainty, and change. As a CFO, Patrick is passionate about working with small and mid-sized businesses because he enjoys making a real impact—helping owners build value today while creating sustainable, transferable value for the future. His approach goes beyond the numbers; he thinks like an operator and business owner, taking the time to understand each company’s unique challenges and opportunities. Throughout his career, he has helped companies grow, raise capital, restructure operations, and create stronger foundations for long-term success.

Known for his empathetic, collaborative, and open-minded leadership style, Patrick partners closely with owners and management teams to drive practical results. One of his most notable accomplishments was helping restart Iron Hill Restaurant and Brewery during a significant restructuring effort, demonstrating his ability to lead through complex and challenging situations. When his work is done, businesses are stronger, more scalable, and less dependent on any one individual. Through improved systems, processes, and financial visibility, Patrick helps owners build organizations that can thrive, grow, and ultimately transition successfully to the next generation of leadership or ownership.

Learn More About Patrick

Get to know Patrick’s other interests

Other Interests

What was your favorite vacation? River cruise from Budapest to Passau with wife and adult children, and the fun we all had being together during those two weeks.
What is your favorite way to spend free time? Spending time with family and friends
What did you want to be when you grew up? NFL Kicker

Before FocusCFO

Prior to FocusCFO, Patrick Harkleroad spent more than three decades helping businesses navigate growth, operational challenges, restructurings, capital raises, and ownership transitions. He has served as a CFO and strategic financial leader for private equity-backed companies, restaurant and hospitality businesses, and middle-market organizations, where he partnered closely with owners and operators to improve performance and build stronger, more scalable businesses. He has led organizations through complex situations ranging from turnaround and bankruptcy scenarios to capital raises and successful ownership transitions, always with a focus on improving cash flow, creating operational discipline, and building lasting value. These experiences gave Patrick a practical, owner-minded perspective that goes beyond finance, allowing him to help growing businesses make better decisions, build stronger foundations, and create companies that can thrive well into the future.

What attracted you to FocusCFO?

Partner and work with other talented and experienced CFOs in the Focus CFO network to help drive long-term client relationships that create transformational businesses

At FocusCFO, we help you direct your financial strategy and achieve your goals, giving you the freedom to change your life.

FocusCFO provides expert fractional CFO services What is a fractional CFO? A fractional CFO is an experienced financial executive who provides part-time or contract CFO services to help businesses with financial strategy, planning, and oversight without the cost of a full-time hire. to help entrepreneurs like you overcome these obstacles and achieve sustainable, transferable business value.

Our fractional CFOs provide the expertise of a full-time CFO at a fraction of the cost, with the flexibility to scale your support as needed. You will gain a clear understanding of your financial performance, streamline your operations, and develop a strategic roadmap for success.

Part of Your Team

Our experienced CFOs become an embedded part of your leadership team, providing strategic financial guidance to drive growth and profitability

C-Level Experience

Benefit from the insights of seasoned financial executives who have decades of experience working in industry, not just for it, as financial executives and entrepreneurs.

Team Approach

Leverage the collective wisdom of our collaborative team of CFOs - decades of expertise and best practices derived from a culture of collaboration and teamwork.