Strategic planning & operating model design
Translating strategy into an operating structure that can actually execute it.
Maxwell Consulting
Fractional COO & Strategic Advisory
for Founders and Executive Teams
Independent operating and financial leadership for organizations navigating growth, complexity, and high-stakes decisions, across strategy, operations, finance, and governance.
10+ years
Operating growth-stage companies
$500K to $30M
P&L ownership across 20+ industries
$1.3B institution
Board Chair, 70,000+ members
An operator, not a theorist
Credentials & Background
Michael Maxwell brings over a decade of hands-on operating and financial leadership across fintech, financial services, consumer products, and founder-led businesses, as a chief operating officer, board chairman, and strategic advisor.
MBA, UCLA Anderson School of Management (Technology Management & Entrepreneurship)
BS Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California
Six Sigma Black Belt and PMP (Project Management Professional)
Board Chairman, $1.3B-asset financial institution, 70,000+ members
10+ years building operational and financial infrastructure for growth-stage companies
P&L ownership ranging from $500K to $30M across 20+ industries
Track record includes leading a strategic rebrand that grew retail sales 33%, scaling a startup operation to $1.2M in revenue in its first year across 12 markets, and improving collections reconciliation accuracy by 92% through structured financial process design. Engagements span fintech platform build-outs, consumer product go-to-market, and interim executive leadership delivering record-profit turnarounds.
Advisory Scope
Where clarity and execution discipline matter most
Engagements center on the moments where clarity and execution discipline matter most:
Financial & capital planning
FP&A architecture, 3-statement modeling, cash flow forecasting, investor-ready financials.
Regulatory & compliance alignment
Especially for organizations operating in or entering regulated financial services markets.
Go-to-market execution
Market entry strategy, channel optimization, pricing and unit economics.
Systems & process implementation
CRM, workflow automation, KPI frameworks, board-level reporting.
Work is tailored to each organization's stage, risk profile, and operating environment, not a fixed methodology applied uniformly.
Common Engagement Triggers
Moments of transition and inflection
Clients typically engage Maxwell Consulting during periods of transition or inflection:
- 01
Preparing for a growth stage that current operations can't yet support
- 02
Restructuring operations under a new or interim COO
- 03
Entering regulated markets (fintech, financial services, lending)
- 04
Evaluating partnerships, capital structure, or fundraising readiness
- 05
Addressing governance or board-level reporting gaps
Work is frequently performed alongside founders, executive leadership, and boards, not as an outside audit but as embedded operating support.
Selected Outcomes
Representative engagements
01 / Engagement
Consumer products rebrand
- Situation
- A physical-product consumer brand needed to reposition after market feedback showed the existing brand wasn't converting.
- Action
- Led a strategic rebrand, rebuilt distribution partnerships, and optimized channel allocation across DTC and wholesale.
- Result
- Retail sales increased 33%.
02 / Engagement
Startup market expansion
- Situation
- An early-stage service startup needed to scale operations across multiple markets from a standing start.
- Action
- Built territory-level unit economics, pricing matrices, and operational workflows from the ground up across 12 markets.
- Result
- Scaled to $1.2M in revenue in year one.
03 / Engagement
Financial process turnaround
- Situation
- A finance organization was carrying a persistent collections reconciliation gap that was distorting reporting accuracy.
- Action
- Designed and implemented structured financial reconciliation procedures and reporting controls.
- Result
- Improved collections reconciliation accuracy by 92%.
04 / Engagement
Interim operating leadership
- Situation
- An operating business needed experienced leadership during a transition, with performance sliding.
- Action
- Stepped in as interim COO, restructured operations, and implemented financial and performance controls.
- Result
- Delivered three consecutive record-profit months.
Metrics reflect direct operating and advisory engagements. Company details are withheld to preserve confidentiality.
Advisory Approach
Grounded in firsthand operating experience.
Maxwell Consulting is led by an experienced operator with a background spanning fintech, financial services, consumer brands, and founder-led businesses, including chief operating officer roles, board chairmanship of a $1.3B financial institution, and hands-on P&L ownership from $500K to $30M.
The approach is grounded in firsthand operating experience, not frameworks borrowed from a slide deck:
- Independent thinking
Advice isn't shaped by a stake in the outcome beyond the engagement itself.
- Pragmatic execution
Plans are built to be run, not just presented.
- Alignment across strategy, compliance, and operational reality
Especially critical in regulated or capital-intensive businesses.
Working Model
Structured to match the scope of the problem
Engagements are structured to match the scope and complexity of the problem:
01 / Model
Advisory retainers
Ongoing strategic and operational counsel.
02 / Model
Defined initiatives
Scoped projects with clear deliverables and timelines.
03 / Model
Interim leadership
Embedded COO/CFO-level support during transitions.
All engagements are confidential and selective. The goal is durable decision-making, not a transactional deliverable.
FAQ
Common questions
Every engagement is scoped individually based on complexity, time commitment, and duration. Work is structured as an ongoing advisory retainer, a defined initiative with fixed deliverables, or embedded interim leadership, pricing follows the structure once scope is defined in an initial conversation.
A fractional engagement gives you senior operating and financial leadership without the cost, ramp time, or long-term commitment of a full-time executive hire, often at the exact moments (a fundraise, a market entry, a restructuring) where that leadership matters most and a full-time seat isn't yet justified.
It varies by need. Defined initiatives are often measured in months with clear deliverables and an end date. Advisory retainers and interim leadership roles run longer, typically for as long as the organization needs the support, and are reassessed regularly rather than locked into a fixed term.
Primary depth is in fintech, financial services, and consumer/founder-led brands, with engagements spanning 20+ industries overall. Regulated markets (lending, financial services, credit unions) are a particular area of focus given board-level governance experience.
Yes. All engagements and inquiries are treated as confidential. Details shared in an initial conversation are not disclosed or referenced without explicit permission.
Contact
Let's talk about where you're headed.
For introductions, strategic discussions, or advisory inquiries, reach out directly.