About Michael Stuart, CPA
I help business owners gain the financial clarity and strategic insight they need to make confident decisions and grow with purpose. I am based out of Northeast Ohio but serve clients virtually as well.
My career has given me a rare combination of technical depth, real-world corporate experience, and the practical understanding that only comes from running a business myself.
I began my career as a Big 4 auditor, where I developed a rigorous approach to financial analysis, internal controls, and risk assessment. I then moved into corporate accounting at a Fortune 500 subsidiary, gaining firsthand experience with the financial systems, reporting, and operational decision-making that drive larger organizations.
For the past 11 years, I have owned and operated my own accounting and advisory practice, working closely with small and mid-sized businesses across Northeast Ohio. This experience has taught me what it actually feels like to manage cash flow, navigate growth challenges, and make decisions when the numbers are personal.
I also spent two years as a college accounting professor at the University of Akron, teaching assurance services, financial accounting, and spreadsheet modeling. That time reinforced something I still believe strongly: complex financial concepts only create value when they are explained clearly and connected to real business decisions.
Today I focus on fractional CFO and strategic advisory services. I work with established business owners who have outgrown basic bookkeeping and tax compliance and now need a trusted partner to help them look forward - with forecasting, cash flow management, performance metrics, and practical guidance on the decisions that matter most.
My approach is straightforward: no unnecessary jargon, no one-size-fits-all templates, and no distant corporate feel. You work directly with me. I bring the discipline of Big 4 training, the perspective of corporate finance, the empathy of a fellow business owner, and the ability to communicate clearly so you can act with confidence.
If you’re ready for financial leadership that supports where your business is going - not just where it’s been - I’d welcome the conversation.
