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Virtual CFO & finance function in New Zealand.

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.

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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.

Company CFO services

Delivering as your company CFO.

Whatever your needs for financial guidance and assistance, you will find Acclime’s solutions flexible and efficient.

  • Typically, Acclime will work with you to take on as much of the finance function as is appropriate for your budget and operational needs. Thus, an entire team is available to cover all requirements of a finance function, comprised of accounting graduates, CPAs, governance/risk managers and experienced CFOs. Acclime’s CFO heads the team and takes responsibility for the following deliverables:

    Financial planning & analysis

    Our CFOs work alongside colleagues who are CPAs, accountants, tax professionals, HR specialists and commercial strategists giving them a fully supportive network to build and run your company’s financial planning and analysis. Your CFO will create data collection mechanisms, provide business data modelling and design the management reporting system, all tailored to your needs. Through monthly financials and analysis of results, targets and KPI performance, your CFO will work on innovative and practical solutions to enhance performance and profit.

  • Budgeting

    As our CFOs are entirely objective and have considerable local knowledge, they can help plan and allocate resources across the organisation wholly in line with the financial goals and objectives. Accurate and timely reporting through effective communication tools will allow you to see and react to any changes.

  • Cash flow forecasting, planning and monitoring

    Your CFO will closely supervise and monitor the accounting administration, and will assume full responsibility for both forecasting and managing the cash flow.

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Guidance at every step

Our financial consultants have successfully fulfilled the role of CFO over many years for clients ranging from scale-ups to listed companies.

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.

FAQ

Common questions & answers.

What does a virtual CFO cost compared to hiring a full-time CFO in New Zealand?

A virtual CFO engagement costs between NZD 3,000 and NZD 10,000 per month, compared to NZD 200,000 to NZD 280,000 per year in total employment costs for a full-time CFO. The full-time figure includes salary, KiwiSaver contributions, ACC levies and benefits.

The saving is most relevant for businesses with annual revenue between NZD 2M and NZD 30M that need senior financial oversight but not a full-time workload. Costs vary depending on whether the engagement covers strategic advisory only or a broader finance function including reporting, compliance and team management.

What financial challenges do growing New Zealand businesses use a virtual CFO to solve?

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 New Zealand businesses, additional challenges include managing multi-currency cash flow for export operations, complying with Inland Revenue reporting requirements as revenue grows and developing investor-grade financial models for capital raises.

How does a virtual CFO engagement work in practice?

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.

What financial reporting and governance obligations do New Zealand companies need CFO-level oversight to manage?

Under the Financial Reporting Act 2013 and the Companies Act 1993, a domestic New Zealand company must file audited financial statements if it has total assets exceeding NZD 66 million or total revenue exceeding NZD 33 million in each of two consecutive accounting periods. Subsidiaries of overseas companies face lower thresholds of NZD 22M in assets or NZD 11M in revenue.

Companies falling under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 carry additional GAAP-compliant reporting obligations. A virtual CFO helps businesses implement the right accounting standards and audit readiness before these obligations formally apply. For a full overview of New Zealand’s accounting and reporting framework, see Acclime’s guide to accounting requirements in New Zealand.

When is a virtual CFO the right choice over hiring a full-time finance director?

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 NZD 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.

How do foreign companies entering New Zealand use virtual CFO services?

Foreign companies establishing operations in New Zealand 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 local regulators and the parent company.

Ongoing support covers the interface between a foreign parent’s financial controls and New Zealand statutory obligations, including Inland Revenue compliance, Companies Office filing requirements and transfer pricing documentation. For businesses using New Zealand 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 cross-border tax and compliance considerations, see Acclime’s guide to international taxation for businesses entering New Zealand.

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