Virtual CFO Services | Aotearoa NZ & Australia
You're running an organisation that genuinely matters. Your finance function hasn't kept up.
We turn "are we actually okay?" into board-ready clarity - giving for-purpose CEOs the finance function their mission demands, without the full-time CFO cost.
If your organisation has grown past the point where a bookkeeper is enough - but the board questions are getting harder to answer - this is for you.
For-Purpose CEOs & EDs
Aotearoa NZ & Australia
NFPs, Charities & B Corps
No Full-Time CFO Cost
Both free. Both 30 minutes. No slides. No pitch. No drama. Most clients tell us the X-Ray is the first time their numbers actually made sense.
Former CFO of large, complex NZ organisations
Chartered Accountant (CA)
(Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand)
NFPs, charities, trusts & social enterprises
Unqualified audit opinions with Audit NZ
(multiple clients)
What We Hear
Sound familiar?
You're probably reading this because one of these just happened:
Your board asked a financial question you couldn't fully answer - and you carried it home.
You're heading into EOFY and your forecasts aren't tied to your funding schedule.
Your previous provider let you down and you're starting from scratch - again.
You're not alone. Here's what for-purpose leaders across Aotearoa told us before we started working together:
"We sometimes feel like we are fumbling around in the dark."
Board Member, NZ For-Purpose Organisation
"I look at the P&L, and that's about it."
Executive Director, NZ Charity - on what their previous provider delivered
"I should have been on that and caught it a lot sooner."
ED taking blame for gaps that belonged to the finance function
"Get rid of those reports. We don't want to see them. It's like a bad nightmare."
Board response to previous financial reporting
"Are we actually okay?"
The 11pm thought that too many for-purpose leaders know well
"It's embarrassing, it's ridiculous."
CEO, NZ For-Purpose Organisation - on working capital visibility
These aren't unusual situations. They're what happens when a growing organisation outpaces its finance function. The fix isn't working harder - it's getting the right support in place.
Who is behind ASMA VCFO?
Azoora Ali. Chartered Accountant. Former CFO of $250M+ organisations. Based in Tauranga.
"I kept seeing brilliant leaders carrying a finance function that wasn't keeping up. That's the gap ASMA VCFO exists to close."
Read Azoora's full story →
What Changes
What we've done for clients across Aotearoa.
Took over from an underperforming provider, rebuilt the balance sheet, and delivered the organisation's first-ever board pack the board actually loved
Shifted a $2M charity from cash basis to accrual - giving the ED financial visibility they had never had before
Built rolling forecasts tied to ACC funding schedules so the board could plan quarterly with confidence
Created a new treasury function that earned 20 times more investment revenue than the previous year
Delivered the highest capital delivery in organisational history through better forecasting and finance partnering
Achieved unqualified audit opinions with Audit NZ
Took EDs from dreading board prep to walking into every meeting with confidence
"They loved it. They absolutely loved it. Gave them everything they needed to know."
Board response after receiving VCFO-standard reporting for the first time
The board replaced their old reports entirely. They asked to only ever use the new format going forward.
How It Works
Three steps. Starting free.
Step 01
Free
Cashflow X-Ray
A free 30-minute session where we look at your actual cash position, identify your top 2-3 gaps, and give you a plain-English diagnosis. No jargon. No pitch. Just what we notice.
Step 02
$950 + GST
Financial Health Assessment
A full diagnostic across 8 financial metrics - scored Red, Amber or Green. Written CFO-level report plus a 1-hour meeting. A document you can take straight to your board.
Step 03
From $2,500/month
Retained Virtual CFO
Ongoing monthly engagement. We own your finance function - board reporting, cash flow forecasting, variance commentary, audit preparation. Not just the books. The whole picture.
Common Questions
You're probably thinking one of these.
"We already have a bookkeeper."
Good - keep them. A bookkeeper records what happened. We interpret what it means and tell you what to do next. Most of our clients have bookkeepers, accountants, or both. We're not replacing anyone. We're adding the layer that's missing: someone who actually owns the financial picture and sits alongside you when it matters.
"We can't afford a CFO."
That's exactly why this exists. A full-time CFO costs $200K+ a year. Our retained VCFO service starts at $2,500 a month - and you get the same strategic oversight, board reporting, and forecasting capability without the salary, the leave, or the overhead. Most clients tell us the cost pays for itself within the first quarter, once they can actually see where the money is going.
"I'm not sure it's the right time."
It almost never feels like the right time. That's the nature of running a for-purpose organisation - there's always something more urgent. But the finance function doesn't fix itself by waiting. The free Cashflow X-Ray takes 30 minutes and costs nothing. If it's not the right time after that, no drama. At least you'll know where you stand.
"We're not big enough to need a VCFO."
If you have a board, funders, or staff - you have financial complexity that deserves proper oversight. We work with organisations from $1M revenue upwards. The question isn't really about size. It's about whether anyone is actually looking at the whole financial picture, asking what the numbers mean, and making sure your board has what they need to govern well. If the answer is "not really" - that's the gap we fill.
Every month without this costs more than the service.
Another board meeting governed on incomplete data.Your board is making decisions about your organisation's future without the visibility they need. That's a governance risk, not just a reporting gap.
Another EOFY with no forecast visibility.The gap between "we think we're okay" and "we know we're okay" compounds every month you wait. Auditors notice. Funders notice. Boards notice.
Another month carrying it alone.The 11pm cash check. The board question you can't fully answer. The shame of not catching something sooner. None of this is a leadership failure. It's a finance function failure - and it's fixable.
The first step costs nothing.
The Cashflow X-Ray is free. In 30 minutes you'll know exactly where your finance function is strong, where it's leaking, and what to fix first. Straight talk, no jargon.
Most clients walk in thinking their numbers are worse than they are. They're usually not - but even when they are, you leave knowing exactly what to fix. No judgement. That's the whole point.
Both free. Both 30 minutes. Via Teams or Zoom.
What We Do
You choose the depth. We scale with you.
From CFO oversight to a complete outsourced finance function - across Aotearoa and Australia. Add what you need, keep what's working.
Virtual CFO & Finance Partnering
Choose your level of support.
Most clients start at Growth. All tiers include a named VCFO contact - not a rotating team. Pricing is tailored to your organisation's complexity.
- Dedicated VCFO - named contact
- Monthly 15-minute review meeting
- Management accounts & commentary
- Year-end & tax coordination
- Ad-hoc advisory (email/text)
- Everything in Essentials, plus:
- 1 x 1-hour review meeting per month
- CFO commentary & insight report
- Annual budget development
- Budget vs actual variance analysis
- Monthly cashflow forecasting
- KPI development & dashboard
- Leadership & board reporting pack
- Funder & grant financial reporting
- Everything in Growth, plus:
- Investment portfolio oversight
- Quarterly financial strategy deep-dive
- Quarterly board pack
- Up to 24-month rolling forecast
- Scenario & what-if modelling
- Multi-entity consolidation
- Audit coordination & liaison
- Workforce & capacity planning
- Governance advisory & transition planning
- Business case & independence modelling
Add-On Services
Bolt on to any tier - or keep your existing providers.
Every add-on integrates with your chosen VCFO tier. Add what you need, skip what you don't.
Accounting & Tax
- Month-end processing & close
- GST review & filing
- Revenue recognition & WIP
- Regulatory returns
- Charitable trust compliance
Bookkeeping & Payroll
- Bank & credit card reconciliation
- Accounts payable & receivable
- Expense management
- Payroll oversight & review
- Full payroll processing & PAYE
- Employee changes & compliance
One-Off Projects
- Financial Health Assessment
- Entity setup & structuring
- Governance & transition planning
- Property & lease accounting
- All other finance projects quoted individually
Who We Serve
Built for for-purpose organisations across Australasia.
NFPs, charities & not-for-profits
Social enterprises & community organisations
B Corps & purpose-led businesses
Trusts & peak bodies
Disability, health & social service providers
Education & community trusts
Government & local government entities
Across Aotearoa & Australia
Not sure which tier is right for you?
Start with a free Advisory Call or Cashflow X-Ray. We'll look at your organisation together and tell you exactly what level of support makes sense.
Both free. Both 30 minutes. Via Teams or Zoom.
Is your finance function actually working - or just processing transactions?
Finance Function Scorecard
Rate your organisation across 8 key financial metrics. Each area is scored Green (strong), Amber (needs attention), or Red (at risk) - so you can see exactly where to focus first.
Want the full picture - not just the self-assessment?
The Cashflow X-Ray is a free 30-minute session where we look at your actual numbers and tell you exactly what to fix first. No pitch. No obligation.
Both free. Both 30 minutes. Via Teams or Zoom.
How We Work Together
Three ways to work with ASMA VCFO - starting free.
Every engagement starts with the Cashflow X-Ray. Free. 30 minutes. A clear picture of where your finance function stands before we talk about anything else.
Start here. No cost. No commitment.
A private 30-minute session via Teams or Zoom. We look at your actual numbers - live - and give you a plain-English diagnosis of the 2-3 things that stand out most.
We've done this with organisations across Aotearoa. Some numbers are messier than others. We've seen it all. The session isn't about judgement - it's about clarity. You'll leave knowing what to fix. Whether you work with us after that is entirely up to you.
The most valuable moment in every X-Ray is when we show you something you've been staring at but never understood. The month that looked terrible even though you were on track. The payment coded to the wrong period. The reporting method that's been hiding the real picture. When that clicks - you exhale. That's the moment the session is built around.
- Clarity on your top 2-3 financial gaps
- A short written summary of what we found
- A clear recommendation on what to fix first
- Yours to keep - whether you go further with us or not
"No jargon. No pitch. Just what I notice."
How every X-Ray session begins
Book Your Free Cashflow X-Ray →
Limited to 3 sessions per month. No drama if it's not the right time.
The full diagnostic. A report you can take to your board.
A deep-dive assessment across 8 financial metrics - the same framework we use for retained VCFO clients. Every metric scored Red, Amber or Green. Written report plus a 1-hour CFO meeting.
The 8 areas we assess:
02
Revenue Concentration Risk
04
Expense-to-Budget Variance
05
Accounts Receivable Aging
06
Board Reporting Readiness
- Written Financial Health Assessment report
- Red / Amber / Green scorecard across all 8 metrics
- Ranked priority recommendations - what to fix, in what order
- 1-hour CFO meeting to walk through every finding
- A document your board can read and act on
"They loved it. They absolutely loved it. Gave them everything they needed to know." - Board response after receiving VCFO-standard reporting for the first time. The board replaced their old reports entirely.
Report delivered within 10-14 days of receiving your financial documents.
Ongoing financial leadership. Every month.
This is the full finance function - not bookkeeping, not compliance. A Virtual CFO who owns your financial picture alongside you, month after month.
"I look at the P&L, and that's about it." Three months later, their board said: "They loved it. They absolutely loved it. Gave them everything they needed to know."
The before and after of retained VCFO support
- Monthly financial reviews in plain English
- Board-ready reports with variance commentary
- Cash flow forecasting tied to your funding schedule
- Accrual-based methodology - not cash basis
- Audit-ready financials and year-end preparation
- A finance function that actually works - not just transactions being processed
Pricing discussed after your free strategy call. Tailored to your organisation's size and complexity.
The organisations that get the most from this service start before the next board cycle, not after it. If you're heading into a reporting period with gaps, now is the time to fix the foundation.
Not sure where to start?
Take the free Finance Function Scorecard first. 8 questions, 2 minutes, instant results. Then book the free X-Ray.
About ASMA VCFO
Financial leadership built for organisations that exist for something bigger than profit.
Azoora Ali | Chartered Accountant | Virtual CFO
I didn't start in finance. Finance found me at 9.
Mum of 2. Chartered Accountant. 20+ years in finance. Grew up in Auckland, worked across the Waikato and South Island, and now based in Tauranga.
I know what it's like to carry a lot at once. I know what it's like to be responsible for something that matters, with less time than you need, and more questions than answers. That's not a reason to put this off. That's exactly why we built the X-Ray to take 30 minutes and cost nothing.
When I was 9, I secured funding for a kids' club and managed its budget. By 15, I was providing tax advice at the IRD as their youngest team member.
I've been CFO for organisations managing $250M+ revenue and $4B+ in assets - including local government, community trusts, and public sector entities - and I was the youngest person to hold that position at every organisation I worked for.
I've built treasury functions that earned 20x more than the year before. I've led 10-year long-term plans that saved communities millions. I've delivered unqualified audit opinions after years of financial uncertainty. I've introduced board reporting so clear that governance committees asked to replace everything they'd used before.
I know what it looks like when the finance function works. And I know exactly what it costs when it doesn't.
What I kept seeing in the for-purpose sector was this: brilliant leaders running organisations that genuinely mattered - carrying a finance function that wasn't keeping up. Not because they weren't capable. Because nobody had ever properly built it.
A bookkeeper processes the transactions. An accountant does the compliance. But nobody is asking what the numbers mean - or whether the organisation is actually okay.
That's the gap ASMA VCFO exists to close.
$250M+
Revenue managed as CFO
$4B+
Assets overseen as CFO
20x
Treasury revenue increase (year 1)
The Patterns We See
What for-purpose leaders tell us - before we start working together.
"We sometimes feel like we are fumbling around in the dark."
Board Member, NZ For-Purpose Organisation
"Get rid of those reports. We don't want to see them. It's like a bad nightmare."
Board on previous financial reporting format
"I can't believe we paid that person twice and I didn't catch it."
ED discovering a double-payment error from AP system gaps
"I don't know where all the cash goes."
For-purpose ED, carrying the finance function alone
None of these are leadership failures. They're finance function failures. And every one of them is fixable.
Our Difference
This isn't bookkeeping with a different name.
A lot of organisations have someone managing the finances. Very few have someone who actually owns the finance function. And too many are running on the "she'll be right" approach - until the board asks a question nobody can answer.
Bookkeeping records what happened. Accounting reports it. A CFO asks what it means - and what to do next.
At ASMA VCFO, we sit inside your organisation's financial reality every month. We build the forecasts, prepare the board reports, manage the variance commentary, and make sure your board has the information they need to govern with confidence.
We don't send reports and disappear. We sit in the meeting with you.
What we're for: Financial clarity that lets for-purpose leaders lead. Board packs that get used. Forecasts tied to reality. Plain English, always.
What we're against: Reporting that arrives late, means nothing, and gets filed. Bookkeepers being asked to do CFO work and both parties knowing it's not working. The "she'll be right" approach to governance. Financial advice that sounds impressive and changes nothing.
Who We Serve
Why for-purpose organisations specifically.
For-purpose organisations are not businesses with a conscience bolted on. They operate under a fundamentally different set of pressures - ACC contracts, grant reporting, funder acquittals, Charities Services compliance, board governance, and the constant tension between mission and margin.
Generic financial advice doesn't cut it here. You need someone who understands what it's actually like to run a for-purpose organisation in Aotearoa - what "board-ready" means to a NZ charity, how ACC funding schedules affect your cash flow, what Charities Services expects, and what Audit NZ looks for in your financials. We've lived it across councils, trusts, and nonprofits up and down the country.
That's the world we work in - from Auckland to Invercargill, and across to Australia. It's the only world we work in.
- Registered charities and not-for-profits
- Social enterprises and community organisations
- Disability, health, and social service providers
- Education and community trusts
- Organisations with revenue from $1M in Aotearoa
Ready to find out where your finance function stands?
Start with the free Finance Function Scorecard - 8 questions, 2 minutes, instant results.
