Gunnar Harris

Fractional CFO, Founder, Strategizer, Goal-Seeker, Explorer

After earning my Accounting degree from West Virginia University, I began my management career within a large corporation. A promotion opportunity brought me to Colorado, where I quickly discovered a passion for the outdoors, exploration, and a more intentional lifestyle.

Eventually, I made a difficult but defining decision: I stepped away from my traditional career to build a life that aligned with my values — autonomy, challenge, and meaningful achievement. I launched a remote bookkeeping and accounting business that allowed me to work from anywhere while pursuing exploration and personal growth.

Alongside that work, I created a “Life Goals List”, a long-term personal project designed to push me toward intentional, meaningful goals while documenting the journey.

Over time, this path naturally evolved into higher-level financial leadership. Today, I work as a Fractional CFO for outdoor, travel, and sporting goods manufacturers, leveraging my natural, strategic long-range thinking to support companies in industries that complement my intentional, adventure-driven lifestyle.

Since deciding to plan for a more intentional life, I've been able to accomplish some incredible things. You can view and read about some of these achievements in the next section below:

Quick Bio

Notable Achievements so far

  • Helped over 300,000 small business owners and bookkeepers.

  • I did this right after starting my remote business and quitting my traditional career. Gave me my first taste of “digital nomad” living. Of course trained jiu-jitsu here as well.

  • Became a Fractional Controller & CFO for small businesses over $20 million annual revenue.

    • Trekked 100 miles in the Scotland Highlands.

    • Walked down, across, back, and then back up the Grand Canyon.

    • Walked across the country of Liechtenstein.

    • Completed the Art Loeb Trail in North Carolina.

  • Traveled all around the United States solo with my dog while building my business remotely.

  • Wilderness Medical Associates. Full course taken in Idyllwild, California (while staying on-site in my campervan).

  • Sumitted Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador. Now, my next goal is to float in the Dead Sea so that I can say I’ve physically been to the highest and lowest points on earth.

  • Trained Jiu-Jitsu in 22 of them.

  • Located in Windsor, Colorado.

  • Tokyo, Paris, Zurich, Istanbul, Copenhagen, Oslo, Reykjavik, Quito, Guatemala City, Medellin, Mexico City, Glasgow, and more. Trained Jiu-Jitsu in most of them. 

  • Successful Summits:

    • 9 Colorado 14ers (some summited more than once and a few during winter months)

    • Mount Fuji

    • Cumbre Ruco Pichincha

    • Mount Cayambe (Ecuador)

    • Mount Chimorazo

    • Mount Whitney

    • Humphreys Peak (Highest point in Arizona)

    • Mount Bachelor

    • Mount Adams

    • South Sister

    • and more. 

Fractional CFO

Fractional CFO for Outdoor, Travel & Sporting Goods Manufacturers

I blend deep management accounting experience with a lifelong connection to the outdoors, travel, sports, and adventure. I work directly with owners to deliver strategic financial leadership — improving decision-making, profitability, systems, and strategy. My unique specialty is combining financial leadership with operations and inventory strategy.

My background and interests allow me to work at the intersection of finance and day-to-day operations—where inventory planning, cost structure, and cash flow directly impact profitability. This perspective enables me to move beyond reporting and provide practical, execution-focused financial leadership.

As a fractional, part-time partner, I provide the high-level strategic insight of a traditional CFO without the cost of hiring full-time executive staff. This gives small to medium-sized product companies access to disciplined financial strategy, forecasting, and operational guidance tailored to their stage of growth and goals.

For me, it’s the perfect intersection of my strengths — business, finance, strategy, big-picture thinking, and goal setting — combined with industries I understand and genuinely care about.

Some Services Include:

  • Financial Strategy & Forecasting

  • CapEx Investing Analysis

  • Cash Flow Planning

  • Cost Structure / Cost Accounting

  • KPI Dashboards

  • Budgeting & Variance Analysis

  • System Setup (ERP, inventory workflow guidance, etc.)

Contact me to learn more.

Credentials

  • B.S. in Accounting — West Virginia University

    Minor in Communications Studies. Graduated as member of Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity

  • Management & Corporate Experience

    Management experience in large Fortune 500 company

  • Owner

    Essentially Intentional, LLC. Increase The Amount of Autonomy in Small Business Owners' Lives By Helping Them Gain Control of Their Small Businesses's Financials So That They May Lead More Intentional Lives

  • Advanced Certified QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor

    Provide QuickBooks Online advisory. Perform paid Zoom one-on-one consulting & training calls. My tutorials on YouTube have over 300,000 views

  • Fractional Controller & CFO

    Fractional CFO for Outdoor, Travel & Sporting Goods Manufacturers: Costing, Forecasting, Cash Flow, Strategic Finance. Fractional Controller & CFO for businesses up to $20M+ in annual revenue

  • Co-Founder

    Heavy Metal Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & MMA in Windsor, Colorado

check out my Gallery to see my latest adventures & Photography