Outsourced virtual CFO & finance function services in Australia.
Our experienced financial consultants have the expertise, local knowledge, and objectivity to guide your company through financial management at a fraction of the cost of an internal hire.
Get an Australia CFO today with local expertise and extensive experience.
Crucial point of contact
Your CFO is the point of contact to work with the company auditors, board and stakeholders to ensure rigid and complete governance in all financial reports and processes.
Strategic insight
Your CFO is always ready for vital conversations with C-suite and other senior people to adapt and navigate a path to meet all milestones with certainty and calmness.
Board presence
Equipped with strong intel and perspective, your CFO joins the board conversation on strategy, obstacles to overcome and the crucial meeting of financial milestones of all kinds.
Virtual CFO services
Delivering as your company or family office CFO.
Acclime offers flexible and efficient financial solutions led by a CFO, supported by a team of accountants and finance specialists. We structure our work around five core service areas that cover both your operating company and, where relevant, your family office.
Financial planning and analysis (FP&A)
We design and run your planning and analysis engine across both company and family wealth. That means integrated 3‑way modelling, clear business and investment cases, and ongoing performance insight so you can make confident capital and growth decisions.
- Three‑way financial modelling across your business, family entities and investment portfolios
- Business and investment case development for projects, acquisitions and family investments
- Performance and profitability optimisation, including after‑tax return optimisation
- Design of management reporting and KPI frameworks for boards and family decision‑makers
Reporting (Controller)
We put disciplined reporting around every entity and structure you use. From statutory and board packs to consolidated views across companies, trusts and personal balance sheets, you get accurate, timely information for lenders, investors and family decision‑makers.
- Preparation of statutory and compliance reporting across entities and structures
- Board and stakeholder reporting packs, including family “board” or council reporting
- Covenant and hurdle monitoring for lenders, investors and agreed family policies
- Consolidated reporting across companies, trusts and personal balance sheets
Liquidity (Treasury)
We manage the movement of cash so you always understand your runway and obligations. Our team builds rolling cashflow and runway views, oversees payments and collections, and helps you set the right buffers and reserves for both business operations and family needs.
- 13‑week rolling cashflow and runway planning for businesses and family cash needs
- Cashflow planning across entities, jurisdictions and currencies
- Bill payments and scheduling for business operations, properties and family lifestyle
- Working capital and reserve management aligned to business and family goals
Bookkeeping and administration
We handle the day‑to‑day financial administration that keeps everything accurate and compliant. This includes AP/AR, payroll and bookkeeping across your operating entities and family structures, with clean records that support reporting, audits and major decisions.
- AP/AR and day‑to‑day bookkeeping across business and family entities
- Payroll and compensation administration, including coordination across entities
- Record keeping for companies, SPVs, trusts and other vehicles
- Categorisation and tracking of personal and family expenses, philanthropy and major events
Interim CFO
When you need hands‑on leadership, we step in as interim CFO to lead the full finance function. We plug our FP&A, reporting, liquidity and bookkeeping model into your organisation and family office setup, guiding you through transitions, transactions and special projects.
- Interim and project‑based CFO leadership during transitions, transactions and special projects
- Rapid deployment of the full FP&A, reporting, liquidity and bookkeeping model into your organisation and family office setup
Acclime is here to help.
Guidance at every step
Planning & reporting
We provide a network of professionals to proactively design, build, and run all the data and reporting tools you need for planning and analysis.
Flexibility
Our virtual CFO packages are flexible and are based on your budget and needs, providing an expert solution for growing performance at a cost you can afford.
Common questions & answers.
A virtual CFO is most commonly engaged when a business’s financial complexity has outgrown its internal capability. Common triggers include:
- Deteriorating cash flow visibility
- Unreliable management accounts
- An approaching funding round
- Expansion into new markets
- Preparation for an audit or sale process
For Australian businesses, additional challenges include managing ATO reporting obligations as revenue grows, approaching the large proprietary company thresholds under the Corporations Act that trigger audit and ASIC reporting requirements, and developing investor-grade financial models for capital raises.
A full-time CFO in Australia costs between AUD 200,000 and AUD 350,000 per year in base salary alone. Superannuation, bonuses and other employment costs increase the total package further. By comparison, an outsourced CFO engagement costs between AUD 2,000 and AUD 6,000 per month for ongoing support, often representing savings of 60% or more.
Pricing depends on the scope of services, business complexity and whether the engagement is ongoing or project-based.
A virtual CFO engagement begins with a diagnostic review of existing financial systems, reporting quality and governance gaps, followed by an agreed scope covering specific deliverables and hours. Engagements range from a few days per month for strategic advisory to a near-full-time arrangement covering the entire finance function. Key practical elements include:
- A defined set of monthly deliverables such as management accounts, cash flow forecasts and board packs
- Regular scheduled touchpoints with the CEO, board or key stakeholders
- Coordination with external accountants, auditors and tax advisers
- Defined handover protocols if an in-house finance hire is made later
Scope should be reviewed at least annually or when the business enters a new growth phase.
An outsourced CFO helps Australian businesses meet a range of financial reporting and compliance obligations. Key functions include:
- Preparing audited financial statements and managing ASIC lodgements
- Coordinating with external auditors and overseeing reporting calendars
- Managing mandatory climate-related financial disclosures, which Australia began phasing in from 2025 for larger entities
- For foreign-owned subsidiaries, managing intercompany reporting and transfer pricing documentation to support compliance with Australian tax requirements
Large proprietary companies and public companies face the most extensive obligations under the Corporations Act 2001 and are the businesses most likely to require dedicated CFO-level oversight. For a detailed overview of Australian accounting and reporting requirements, see Acclime’s guide to Australian accounting standards and compliance.
A virtual CFO is the stronger option when a business needs senior financial leadership but cannot yet justify the fixed cost of a full-time hire, or when the financial workload is episodic rather than continuous. This applies to:
- Businesses with annual revenue under AUD 20M
- Companies in a transitional phase such as pre-fundraising or post-acquisition
- Organisations where the CFO role is primarily advisory
A full-time finance director becomes more appropriate when the business requires daily financial management, has a large internal team to lead or operates at a scale where transaction volume demands a dedicated senior resource.
Foreign companies establishing operations in Australia frequently engage a virtual CFO during the financial setup phase. Responsibilities include selecting appropriate accounting standards, establishing local banking relationships, ensuring payroll and GST compliance and preparing financial reports that satisfy both the ATO and the parent company.
Ongoing support covers the interface between a foreign parent’s financial controls and Australian statutory obligations, including ATO compliance, ASIC filing requirements and transfer pricing documentation. For businesses using Australia as a regional base, this provides a locally embedded finance function without the cost or lead time of building an internal team. For a broader overview of how an outsourced CFO supports business strategy and growth milestones, see Acclime’s guide to the impact of an outsourced strategic CFO.
