Building Your Deal Team: Chief Financial Officer

John Cox is a Partner at Newport LLC, a business advisory firm helping middle-market companies grow and exit. With over 35 years of senior financial management experience across private industry and government, he advises owners and CEOs on finance strategy, budgeting, capital markets, M&A, due diligence, and exit readiness. John brings an operator's perspective to helping businesses strengthen financial processes, assess risk, and make informed growth and investment decisions. In this episode… As a company grows, its financial needs change. Solid accounting is important, but owners also need a clearer view of what's ahead so they can make smarter decisions about hiring, investing, growth, and future opportunities. So when is it time to move beyond basic accounting and build a stronger finance function? John Cox, an experienced CFO and strategic advisor, says that the key is adding financial expertise before the business reaches a point where complexity starts creating problems. Budgeting, forecasting, ROI analysis, and better financial processes can help owners make more informed decisions and prepare for bigger moves like acquisitions, raising capital, or selling the business. John also stresses the importance of having the right people in the right roles as a company grows. With stronger financial leadership and solid preparation, owners can reduce surprises, build credibility with investors and buyers, and create more value over time. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Susan Kearney talks with John Cox, Partner at Newport LLC, about building finance functions for growth and exit readiness. John explains when to add finance leadership, how CFOs help prepare for transactions, and why owners may need to upgrade their advisors as the business grows. He also shares lessons from M&A transactions and his family business background.