Fractional CFO & Financial Advisory

CFO leadership for government contractors built to grow, scale, and exit.

JERL Advisors brings the experience of a CFO who tripled a PE-backed federal business and led it to a $1.25B exit, along with M&A experience from one of the largest mergers in government services.

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Services

Senior financial leadership, when and how you need it.

Flexible engagements for federal contractors, their owners, and their private equity sponsors.

01

Fractional & Interim CFO

Hands-on financial leadership: FP&A, forecasting, board and sponsor reporting, and the operating discipline that drives growth in revenue and profit.

02

M&A Advisory

Support across the deal: strategic analysis, target evaluation, financial due diligence, and post-close integration of finance and FP&A.

03

Exit Readiness & Value Creation

Positioning PE-backed and founder-owned businesses for a premium outcome, with the financial story, reporting, and diligence readiness buyers expect.

Government Contracting Experience

Proven results in the federal market.

Experience leading finance through rapid growth, large-scale mergers, and a successful private equity exit.

10Fractional CFO clients since 2024, $20M to $500M+ in revenue, including 2 founder exits
$1.25BSale of Octo Consulting to IBM
$5BLeidos / Lockheed Martin IS&GS merger
20+Years at Leidos & SAIC

  • Founder, JERL Advisors: Fractional CFO & Strategic Advisor (2024–Present)

    Strategic consulting in M&A, financial strategy and reporting, and operations, partnering with senior leadership to position government contractors for long-term success. Engagements include:

    • Strategic advisor and fractional CFO to a founder-led federal contractor through its sale to a private equity-backed acquirer (closed 2025)
    • Strategic CFO advisor to a founder-led federal contractor through its sale to a publicly traded firm (closed 2026)
    • Fractional CFO and advisor to a ~$300M government contractor, focused on FP&A and accounting
    • CFO advisor to a $20M specialized cybersecurity company in an active sale process
    • CFO advisor to a $500M ESOP-owned company, focused on strategic growth and mentoring
    • CFO advisor and mentor to a $300M public benefit corporation helping federal, state, and local governments modernize operations, with a focus on health care, as it moves from small business to full and open competition

  • CFO, Octo Consulting

    Led finance at this PE-backed federal digital transformation company as it grew to three times its size in both revenue and profit over three years, culminating in its December 2022 sale to IBM for $1.25B at a historic market multiple.

  • Leidos & Lockheed Martin IS&GS Merger

    Led financial due diligence and FP&A integration for Leidos's $5B combination with the Information Systems & Global Solutions services segment of Lockheed Martin.

  • Leidos & SAIC: Head of Corporate FP&A and Business Unit CFO

    More than 20 years in senior finance roles, including leading corporate FP&A and serving as Business Unit CFO for a multi-billion-dollar international portfolio supporting Intelligence Community customers.

  • Transformative Acquisitions

    Experienced across the full acquisition lifecycle, from strategic analysis and target evaluation to due diligence and full integration.

  • Complex Management Challenges

    Adept at navigating complex leadership situations and partnering with executive teams, boards, sponsors, and outside advisors to deliver successful outcomes.

Federal Market Intelligence Community International Programs Private Equity Mergers & Acquisitions Financial Due Diligence FP&A Post-Merger Integration Exit Strategy
GovCon Financial Expertise

The financial issues that matter most to federal contractors.

Specialized knowledge of the rules, rates, and market dynamics that set government contracting apart.

01

Indirect Rate Structures & Wrap Rates

Designing fringe, overhead, and G&A pools and allocation bases, and managing wrap rates that keep you competitive on price while protecting margin.

02

DCAA Audit Readiness & Incurred Cost Submissions

Preparing accounting systems, controls, and documentation for DCAA review, and preparing and supporting annual incurred cost submissions.

03

CAS Compliance

Guidance on Cost Accounting Standards coverage, disclosure statements, and consistent cost accounting practices as contracts and the business grow.

04

Backlog & Recompete Analysis

Turning contract backlog, option periods, and the recompete pipeline into realistic forecasts and a clear view of revenue at risk.

05

Small-Business Size Transitions

Planning for the move from small business set-asides to full and open competition, including the financial, pricing, and organizational changes it requires.

06

How GovCon Businesses Are Valued

What buyers and PE sponsors look for in an exit: contract mix, backlog quality, margins, recompete exposure, and the diligence readiness that supports a premium multiple.

About

A partner who speaks the language of federal contracting.

JERL Advisors was founded in 2024 by Jeff Cook, former CFO of Octo Consulting (acquired by IBM). Based in Northern Virginia, the firm serves government contractors nationwide. Jeff brings more than 20 years of finance leadership at Leidos and SAIC, a private equity-backed growth story, and experience from one of the largest mergers in government services.

Since founding the firm, Jeff has served as fractional CFO and advisor to 10 clients ranging from $20M to $500M+ in revenue, including two successful founder exits. He works alongside CEOs, boards, and PE sponsors as a hands-on advisor, bringing the perspective of someone who has scaled a federal business, executed complex deals, and delivered an exit. Every engagement is tailored to where a business is today and where its leaders want it to go.

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Jeff Cook, founder of JERL Advisors JC
“In the federal market, financial leadership is more than reporting. It drives growth and enterprise value.”
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Let's talk about your business.

Whether you're planning your next acquisition, preparing for an exit, or need senior financial leadership, I'd be glad to hear what you're working on.