About Stratus CFO
At Stratus CFO, we believe small and mid-sized companies deserve the same level of financial leadership and expertise as large corporations — delivered in a way that’s flexible, practical, and aligned with your business’s unique needs and goals. Our mission is to provide growing organizations with the insights, structure, and trusted partnership they need to navigate financial complexities and build a strong foundation for long-term success.
Based in New York City, Stratus CFO provides high-level fractional CFO services to clients across the country through a flexible, virtual model designed to fit your operational needs.
We primarily partner with professional service firms, law practices, real estate companies, and other growth-minded organizations generating between $1 million and $20 million in annual revenue. While these are our core industries, we work with any business owner who is ready to take control of their financial strategy, make meaningful changes, and is open to implementing new ideas that will support their company’s long-term growth.
At Stratus CFO, we become part of your team — providing the financial leadership, clarity, and strategic guidance you need to make informed decisions and move your business forward with confidence.
Our Core Values
Clarity and Simplicity
We believe financials should be clear, digestible, and tied directly to business decisions. No fluff, no jargon.
Practical solutions that drive results
We focus on what moves the needle. Every business is different, and strategy should meet you where you are.
Trust through consistency
Reliability matters. We do what we say we’ll do — with care, professionalism, and pride in the work.
Collaborative partnership
We don’t just advise from the sidelines. We work alongside business owners to build better systems and support real growth.
Problem-solving with purpose
We take the time to understand what’s happening under the hood — then help fix it in a way that’s sustainable and smart.
Meet Sarah Murphy,
Founder of Stratus CFO
Stratus CFO is led by Sarah Murphy, a licensed CPA with over a decade of experience in corporate accounting, financial reporting, and financial leadership. Before founding Stratus CFO, Sarah served as Vice President of Corporate Accounting at SL Green Realty Corp., a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) with complex corporate structures and a high-value portfolio of real estate assets and financial instruments.
At SL Green, Sarah participated in executive leadership meetings, collaborated with the CFO to amend and restate the corporate credit facility, and supported key financial decisions by ensuring the accuracy of forecasts and covenant projections. She oversaw the accounting and reporting for corporate debt, leases, derivatives, and equity investments, managed compliance with SOX internal control requirements, oversaw budget planning for the management company, and led the preparation of quarterly reporting and financial disclosures.
Earlier in her career, Sarah worked at ION Group, where she managed cash flow and banking relationships across North American offices and supported all accounting operations, including consolidations, intercompany reconciliations, and monthly reporting.
Sarah founded Stratus CFO to bring the same level of financial clarity and leadership to small and mid-sized businesses. As a business owner herself, she understands the challenges of managing growth while making critical financial decisions and she’s passionate about helping other founders navigate those moments with confidence, strategy, and support.
