Fractional Chief Information Officer

Engagement Summary

CG Financial Services seeks a Fractional Chief Information Officer (FCIO) to provide executive technology leadership, decision ownership, and execution accountability. The initial focus will be three Priority Projects: the data lake transition, the CRM transition, and the implementation of Gradient. It is expected that this engagement will require more time during the Priority Project phase. Following the successful conclusion of these initiatives, the FCIO will transition to an ongoing strategic leadership role responsible for aligning strategy with the firm's business objectives.

Reporting Relationship

Initially, the FCIO will report to the firm's Fractional Chief Operations Officer. A Director of Operations will be recruited and once onboard, the FCIO will report to the Director of Operations. This is a senior level role ultimately accountable to the Leadership Team. The role coordinates daily with internal project owners, division leaders, and external vendors.

Priority Projects

• Data Lake Transition. Provide technical leadership for selecting and implementing the firm's data lake solution and designing the project to fit CG Financial's future strategy. Review and analyze options and assist with contract negotiation. Own the final platform decision, define the integration approach across CG's core systems, and direct the build, data cleanup, and data migration. Design and own the security, data governance, and the compliance pathway. Carry the work to the firm's decision deadline and into deployment.
• CRM Transition. Lead the migration to the firm's new CRM platform. Own data migration, system integrations, workflow configuration, and user adoption. Coordinate vendor and internal resources to deliver a clean cutover with minimal disruption to advisors and staff.
• Gradient Implementation. Direct the implementation of Gradient. Own configuration, integration with the broader technology stack, testing, and rollout. Confirm the solution performs against its intended use before full deployment.

Critical to all three projects is the development and execution of the Project Plan, the ability to manage the team and meet interim deadlines and execute successful conversions on time and on budget with a high level of accuracy.

Key Responsibilities And Accountabilities

Priority Projects

• Own the outcomes and decisions across all three initiatives.
• Build, publish, and enforce implementation timelines, sequencing interdependent work.
• Direct assigned internal staff and external vendor resources against project requirements.
• Provide expert technical guidance to leadership and project teams and translate technical decisions into business terms.
• Identify risks early and present options with a clear recommendation.
• Report status, decisions, and open issues in an agreed upon format and cadence to the leadership team.
• Document key decisions and the reasoning behind them.

Ongoing Role

• Develop and execute the firm's Technology Roadmap collaborating with the Director of Operations and firm Leadership.
• Advise on technology investments in a proactive manner and stay abreast of new technologies available.
• Oversee cybersecurity, information security, decision rights and technology practices.
• Establish decision rights for technology initiatives and ensure clear accountability across internal teams and external vendors.
• Lead data governance, quality and reporting. Architect dashboards and reporting that assist leadership in the management of the business.
• Supervise portfolio accounting software, CRM, financial planning, marketing and custodial connectivity and integration.
• Guide AI strategy that will improve efficiencies at all levels of the firm.

Requirements

• Senior technology leadership experience, preferably within financial services, wealth management, or an RIA.
• Direct experience with data lake or data warehouse architecture, CRM migrations, and integration of financial technology systems.
• Hands-on ownership of data migration involving sensitive client data, source-to-target mapping, data clean-up, integrity validation, and cutover with documented controls.
• Working knowledge of the wealth and retirement technology ecosystem, including custodial platforms, portfolio accounting, and planning tools.
• Information security and data governance leadership: access management, data classification and protection, vendor and third-party security review, and the ability to design and own the regulatory and compliance pathway in an RIA or comparable environment including SEC cybersecurity expectations.
• A proven record of vendor selection, contract evaluation, and accountable delivery.
• Clear, direct communication with executive stakeholders, and the ability to translate technical decisions into business terms.

Success Measures

• Data lake platform selected and implemented on the firm's timeline.
• CRM migration on schedule and data integrity confirmed.
• Gradient implementation on schedule.
• All agreed upon milestones on track to schedule and budget for the technology transitions.
• Advisors embrace technology tools and data.