ABOUT
Yon Kelly — Fractional CFO & Strategic Finance Partner
Finance leader with over 15 years in hospitality, development, multi-entity reporting and forecasting — now focused on giving growth-stage businesses CFO-level structure without a full-time hire.
Background & Professional Experience
Yon has led finance across hotel divisions, regional operations and multi-entity business structures in the Caribbean — overseeing forecasting, reporting discipline, budgeting and performance architecture.
His experience spans large hotel operations, complex group structures and project-based environments where intercompany cashflow, reporting alignment and capital decisions are critical.
What changed him
At one point in his career, Yon was working 60-hour weeks in a large resort operation, carrying significant responsibility and delivering results — but at the cost of health and freedom. On paper, it was success. In reality, it was unsustainable.
“Technical skill means nothing if people don’t feel valued, leaders don’t respect your time, or your health pays the price.”
How he works with leaders
Yon is direct, data-driven and relationship-focused. His clients describe him as reliable, grounded and the same person in every room — no hidden agenda.
- Honest communication – even when it’s uncomfortable.
- Data-backed recommendations, not opinions.
- Clear challenge when decisions don’t align with the numbers.
- Mutual benefit – your growth and his impact are linked.
He doesn’t approach engagements as “service provider vs. client”. It’s partnership. If the business wins, the relationship wins. If it doesn’t move, it’s not worth doing.
Leadership & people philosophy
Growth must feel like freedom
Revenue without freedom is just a busier prison. The goal is financial, time and location freedom – not just a bigger top line.
People drive the numbers
Teams are the real engine behind performance. When they understand their work, their impact and feel supported, the numbers follow.
Mutual respect + accountability
Success works when both sides raise the bar: leadership commits, finance supports and everyone is accountable for outcomes.
No ego. No pride walls.
Stubbornness and politics block clarity. If leaders “already know everything” but don’t want to change, nothing improves.
The human behind the CFO
Outside of finance, Yon values a small inner circle of people who are serious about building good lives – not just careers. A few real friends over many surface-level contacts, and a partner who shares freedom, travel and growth.
- Daily structure: gym, health and discipline.
- Travel and new experiences as a core part of life.
- EDM festivals as a reset – energy, connection, presence.
- No negative energy, no noise, no drama.
He believes in building a life where work, health, relationships and freedom are aligned. Finance is the skillset. Clarity and human connection are the work.
He doesn’t want clients just because they pay well.
He wants clients who want clarity, scale and a better life around their business.
Want to explore working together?
If this resonates with how you want to run and grow your business, submit an inquiry and you’ll receive a direct response with how a potential engagement could look.