Question 1

What is a virtual CFO?

Accepted Answer

A virtual CFO (vCFO) is a senior financial strategist who works with your business on a part-time or fractional basis. You get the strategic insight, financial modelling, and board-level reporting of a full-time CFO - without the $250,000+ salary. We work alongside your existing team as an extension of your leadership.

Question 2

What are monthly management accounts?

Accepted Answer

Management accounts are financial reports produced monthly that show you how your business is actually performing - beyond what your accounting software tells you. They include a Profit & Loss with comparisons, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, KPI dashboard, and variance analysis. Unlike annual accounts, they're designed for decision-making, not compliance.

Question 3

How is this different from what my accountant does?

Accepted Answer

Your accountant ensures compliance - GST returns, annual accounts, tax filings. That's essential, but it's backward-looking. A vCFO is forward-looking: we forecast, model scenarios, identify trends before they become problems, and give you strategic recommendations. Your accountant tells you what happened. We tell you what to do about it.

Question 4

What does a monthly engagement look like?

Accepted Answer

Each month we follow a five-step process: Review your data, Tidy any corrections, Run management reports, Update forecasts, and Add strategic insight. You receive a complete management accounts pack with 3–5 key takeaways, traffic light status indicators, and recommended actions. We meet to discuss the results and decisions needed.

Question 5

Why is Cohelm focused purely on strategic advisory?

Accepted Answer

Because depth beats breadth. Our entire focus is on the work that drives better decisions - management accounts, forecasting, scenario modelling, and strategic insight. Your accountant handles compliance brilliantly. We handle strategy. Together, that gives you complete coverage without either side being stretched thin.

Question 6

Who will I work with?

Accepted Answer

Every Cohelm engagement is led by someone who knows your business deeply. We build dedicated advisory relationships - not rotating rosters. That means continuity in every report, every conversation, and every recommendation. The person advising you this month is the same person who advised you last month and understands your trajectory.

Question 7

What makes your management accounts different?

Accepted Answer

Every set of management accounts we produce is bespoke - built around your business structure, your KPIs, and the decisions you're actually trying to make. Each report includes plain-language commentary explaining what happened, why it matters, and what to do about it. The output is audit-ready and board-presentable.

Question 8

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

We charge a fixed monthly fee based on the complexity of your business - number of entities, transaction volume, reporting requirements, and the depth of advisory you need. There are no hourly rates, no surprise invoices, and no lock-in contracts. We scope it properly in a discovery conversation before quoting anything.

Question 9

Do you work with startups?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We work with businesses at every stage - from startups finding product-market fit through to established companies with $20M+ in revenue. The common thread is ambition: our clients want real financial clarity to make better decisions, whether that's managing a first capital raise or navigating multi-entity complexity.

Question 10

What industries do you work with?

Accepted Answer

We work across sectors - technology, professional services, construction, manufacturing, trading companies, and multi-entity groups. Our methodology adapts to each industry's specific metrics and reporting needs. What matters is the complexity of the business, not the label on the industry.

Question 11

Do you replace our accountant?

Accepted Answer

No. We work alongside your accountant. They handle compliance - tax returns and annual accounts. We handle strategy - management reporting, forecasting, scenario modelling, and board-level insight. The two roles complement each other. We often work directly with your bookkeeper to improve data quality.

Question 12

What systems do you use?

Accepted Answer

We work primarily with Xero as the accounting platform, which most NZ businesses use. We produce online management reporting packs, financial models in Excel and deliver board-ready presentations. We integrate with your existing systems rather than asking you to change everything.

Question 13

How quickly can we get started?

Accepted Answer

We typically begin with a CFO Diagnostic - a deep-dive assessment of your current financial position, systems, and reporting gaps. This takes about two weeks and gives you immediate value: a clear picture of where you stand and a roadmap for improvement. From there, monthly engagement can begin within days.

Question 14

What does 'audit-ready' mean?

Accepted Answer

Audit-ready means our work is produced to a standard that could withstand external review. Proper documentation, consistent methodology, clear audit trails, and professional presentation. Even if you're not being audited, this standard ensures your financial information is reliable and your decisions are based on accurate data.

Question 15

Can you help with one-off projects?

Accepted Answer

Yes. While our core offering is ongoing monthly engagement, we also help with specific projects: capital raising, business valuations, investment analysis, cash flow crises, bank covenant reviews, board presentations and scenario modelling for major decisions. A one-off diagnostic is often a great starting point.

Questions business owners actually ask

Still have questions?