Start Your Engagement
A structured decision path for sponsor‑side leadership.
A structured decision path for sponsor-side leadership
Every transformation has different needs at different moments. What does not change is the need for sponsor-side control, evidence-based decisions, and disciplined movement through the lifecycle.
This page helps executive sponsors begin with the CFO Transformation Agent, start with a Trial, select the right governance mode, and add leadership or execution support as conditions change. The system adapts as your mission evolves, and every path leads to structured, sponsor-side leadership sized to your needs.
Step 1: Procure the CFO-TA
1. Prepay the Trial fee or CFO‑TA Mode fee
All CFO‑TA offerings are fixed fee and prepaid. Payment must be received before activation.
2. Provide end‑user license information
Sponsors provide named user information for up to ten users included in the initial license block.
Additional blocks can be added as needed.
3. Prepare your internal document management environment
Sponsors prepare their internal Microsoft 365 or SharePoint repository to store all transformation-related work in progress and final deliverables.
4. Grant Alentra read-only access
To maintain governance integrity and validate Transformation Complexity, Sponsors grant read-only access for two named Alentra users. This ensures continuity, independent validation, and uninterrupted support.
5. Designate an internal owner
Sponsors identify the internal leader responsible for coordinating access, user provisioning, and ongoing alignment.
Once these steps are complete, the CFO‑TA is ready for activation and your engagement can begin.
Step 2: Begin With a CFO‑TA Trial
Most sponsors start with a Trial. It is the fastest, lowest‑risk way to experience governed clarity before committing to a full engagement.
You may choose either:
-
Transformation Strategy Trial (Plan Phase)
-
Solution Selection Trial (Source Phase)
Each Trial includes curated authored deliverables, framed examples, and the option to upload your consultant’s work for evaluation.
Step 3: Select Your CFO-TA Mode
After completing a Trial, Sponsors select the mode that fits their needs.
Assurance Mode
Independent, sponsor‑grade validation of externally produced deliverables. This protects scope, readiness, and value throughout implementation and value realization.
Guidance Mode
Sponsor‑led execution using governed structure, logic, and decision pathways. This mode is ideal for Plan and Source phases.
Guidance Mode typically ends after Sourcing and resumes as a new engagement before the next implementation cycle.
This is the expected rhythm of a multi‑year transformation.
Guidance Mode and Assurance Mode can be used independently or together depending on your lifecycle stage.
Step 4: Add Live Leadership Support When Needed
Some moments require additional human leadership support. These are optional activation layers that plug directly into the CFO‑TA.
Executive Advisory Blocks
For unplanned, high‑stakes moments such as:
-
new decisions
-
partner requests
-
risk escalation
-
alignment breakdowns
-
change orders
-
executive preparation
Executive Advisory Blocks activate instantly with no SOW changes or negotiation.
Transformation Accelerators
For deeper, time‑boxed involvement when you need:
-
business process assessment
-
value stream mapping
-
solution selection preparation
-
stabilization
-
change order forensics
-
Authoring PIA foundations
Accelerators are fixed fee and scoped to deliver rapid clarity.
Step 5: Add Execution Capacity When Workload Increases
Execution support is optional and separate from leadership.
Project Management Plus (PM+)
For execution needs such as:
-
coordination
-
documentation
-
RAID management
-
meeting facilitation
-
test planning and cutover support
PM+ integrates with your teams and partners. It supports execution without replacing sponsor‑side leadership or governance.
Step 6: Understand the Multi‑Year Engagement Pattern
CFO‑TA engagements are designed for multi‑year transformations. Sponsors move between modes as lifecycle phases evolve, and each phase is delivered as a new, fixed‑fee engagement sized to the work ahead.
A typical pattern includes:
-
Strategy revisited before each major implementation cycle
-
Guidance Mode engaged as a new engagement for Strategy and Selection
-
Assurance Mode engaged as a new engagement for Implementation and Value Realization
-
Executive Advisory Blocks activated when high‑stakes moments arise
-
Transformation Accelerators used for deeper alignment or readiness
-
PM+ added when execution load increases
This is the governed rhythm of a long‑horizon transformation.
Each phase is a separate engagement that preserves clarity, control, and predictable investment.
Why Sponsors Choose This System
The CFO-TA provides:
-
a single source of truth
-
structured decision logic
-
readiness discipline
-
evidence-based evaluation
-
partner-independent clarity
-
predictable costs
-
reduced cognitive load
-
sponsor-first governance
Sponsors choose this system because it delivers consistent, governed leadership across every phase and every cycle. Each engagement is fixed fee, phase-aligned, and designed to keep the Sponsor in control as the transformation evolves.
Next Step: Explore the Trial Options
Your engagement begins with a Trial.
Choose the Trial that matches your lifecycle stage.