Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Murphy.
Hi Jeff, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I first discovered my passion for accounting and finance while in high school, and that decision set me on a path that began at PwC in Houston in 2001 after graduating from Trinity University in San Antonio. Early in my career, I joined PwC’s Global Capital Markets group, which gave me the opportunity to work in Amsterdam, London, and across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In that role, I partnered with some of the largest companies in the world, helping them navigate complex financial and strategic challenges.
After PwC, I expanded my experience with EY in London and Boston, and later with Sony in Tokyo, where I gained firsthand insight into how global businesses operate across very different markets and cultures. Returning to Houston, I joined Weatherford International during a time of significant transition in the energy sector, which deepened my perspective on the unique challenges of complex, multinational organizations. In addition, I worked with leading boutique advisory firms, CFGI and Stout, where I advised clients across industries on finance transformation, valuation, and transaction-related matters.
What stood out to me throughout these experiences was how transformational strong CFO guidance can be — not only in driving company performance, but also in enhancing long-term value for owners. That realization shaped my vision for what I do today.
In 2024, I founded Murphy Advisory Solutions with the mission of bringing that same caliber of strategic CFO guidance to founder-led and family businesses here at home. Our focus is on helping startups through middle-market companies in industries like home services, construction, professional services, manufacturing, energy, SaaS, and more. We combine fractional CFO, exit planning, strategic planning, and M&A advisory into one integrated service — giving business owners the tools to maximize the value of their companies and their lives beyond the business.
One example that highlights this impact was a husband-and-wife team preparing for retirement. They initially believed their business sale would provide the financial freedom they needed, but we uncovered that exiting too soon would have left them short of their goals. By working together to increase business value and bring on investors, they grew the company by more than five times — and their options for retirement are now dramatically different.
Today, I’m proud to hold designations as a CPA, CEPA, and CM&AA, and I remain deeply connected to my Houston roots. I grew up in the Richmond/Rosenberg area, and after years abroad, I knew this was where I wanted to build my business and raise my family. Beyond my work, I’m an active member of the Rotary Club, a volunteer with the Fulshear Economic Development Corporation, and a mentor to startups and entrepreneurs through the Founder’s Institute and local educational institutions.
At Murphy Advisory Solutions, our vision is simple: to help business owners unlock the full potential of their companies and position themselves for the most successful exit possible.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — and I think most business owners would say the same. My career started in the professional services world, working with some of the largest firms and companies in the world — PwC in Amsterdam and London, EY in London and Boston, and later with Weatherford International as well as boutique advisory firms like CFGI and Stout. Those experiences gave me a strong foundation, but stepping out on my own to build Murphy Advisory Solutions was a whole new challenge.
One of the biggest adjustments was shifting from being part of a global organization to running my own business. It’s very different to be the one responsible not only for client results but also for building the business itself, setting up systems, and finding the right people to collaborate with. Like any entrepreneur, I had to learn quickly that surrounding yourself with the right team and advisors makes all the difference.
Another major challenge has been education — helping business owners understand the role of a strategic CFO and an exit planner. Many founders are used to working only with a bookkeeper and a tax accountant, which are both important, but those roles don’t provide the forward-looking, value-building guidance a company needs to grow and eventually achieve a successful exit. Too often, I meet owners who believe they can wait until they’re ready to sell to think about planning, only to find out they’re not in the position they thought they were. My job is to help change that mindset and show that with the right strategy, they can accelerate value growth and exit on their own terms.
These struggles aren’t unique to me. They’re the same ones many business owners face — learning how to build the right advisory team, navigating uncertainty, and realizing that running the business is not the same as building long-term value. Those challenges are exactly why I founded Murphy Advisory Solutions: to give entrepreneurs access to the kind of strategic guidance I saw making the difference at the largest companies in the world, but in a way that’s practical and accessible for founder-led and family businesses.
We’ve been impressed with Murphy Advisory Solutions, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Murphy Advisory Solutions is a boutique advisory firm I founded to serve founder-led and family-owned businesses — the kinds of companies where the owner’s identity, livelihood, and dreams are deeply tied to the business itself. Our specialty is exit planning, supported by fractional CFO and value growth advisory. In simple terms, we help business owners not just run their companies, but prepare them to achieve the best possible outcome when it’s time to transition or exit.
What sets us apart is the role we play for our clients. I like to think of it as a trusted advisor or consigliere — someone who sits on the same side of the table as the owner and looks out for their personal, financial, and business goals. Many business owners already have bookkeepers, accountants, and tax preparers, but what’s often missing is strategic guidance: the forward-looking, big-picture planning that accelerates value growth and protects what they’ve built. That’s the gap we fill.
I’m proud that our firm combines the kind of global expertise I developed at PwC, EY, Weatherford International, and boutique advisory firms like CFGI and Stout with a deeply personal, local approach. We’ve seen how the right guidance can change the trajectory of a business — from helping an owner understand when not to sell, to putting a strategy in place that multiplies the value of the company and secures their family’s future.
At Murphy Advisory Solutions, our brand is about trust, integrity, and alignment with the owner’s vision. We are known for helping entrepreneurs see their business not just as it is today, but as it could be tomorrow — and walking alongside them to make that vision a reality.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I’ve been fortunate to have many mentors and supporters along the way, and I’m sure I’d leave someone out if I tried to list them all by name. Throughout my career, I’ve worked alongside leaders who shaped how I think about business, integrity, and the importance of serving clients well. Those experiences gave me the foundation I carry into Murphy Advisory Solutions today.
I’m also grateful for the professional partners who play such an important role in what I do. The bookkeepers, tax accountants, CPAs, attorneys, wealth advisors, commercial bankers, investment bankers, and business brokers that have all been part of the teams that support my clients. Their collaboration and assistance help ensure that the business owners I serve have the right team around them, not just one advisor working in isolation.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the trust of my clients themselves. Many have allowed me to walk alongside them at critical points in their journey, and that trust has been both humbling and motivating.
Finally, I owe the most to my wife Jen and my family. Their support and encouragement make everything else possible, and they’ve been there through the ups and downs of building a business.
Pricing:
- Exit Planning Projects: Typically $15K–$50K, depending on business complexity and goals.
- Value Growth Advisory: Monthly retainers starting at $5K/month, phased for flexibility.
- Fractional CFO Services: Retainers from $7.5K–$25K/month, scaled to company needs.
- Engagement Models: Flexible options including project-based, retainer, and value-based fees.
- Focus: Founder-led and family-owned businesses seeking growth, professionalized finance, and exit readiness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mascfo.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568375245844
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/murphy-advisory-solutions/?viewAsMember=true
Image Credits
Jeff Murphy, K.C. Murphy (taller, blonde girl), Holly Murphy (shorter, brunette girl)
