Virtual CFO · Aotearoa New Zealand · Australia
Room to grow.
Light to grow by.
The mission only lasts if the money works. Fernlight CFO is the virtual CFO for NFPs, social enterprises and mission-led companies across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, giving you board-ready clarity and a clear direction forward.
For-Purpose CEs & EDs
Aotearoa New Zealand & Australia
NFPs, Social Enterprises & Mission-Led Companies
Health & ACC-funded providers
What We Hear
Sound familiar?
These are the things for-purpose leaders across Aotearoa New Zealand told us before we started working together. Sound like yours?
"The constant financial scramble. Never quite knowing if the money will be there."
Founder, education charity
"It's been really hard to project when the money is coming in."
CEO, youth development charity
"An 11 to 15% increase in cases every year, and the funding keeps decreasing."
CEO, family violence service
"Once we have more money and grants, it will be a different world to navigate."
Director, community network
These aren't unusual situations. They're what happens when a growing organisation outpaces its finance function, and gets handed a nightmare board pack instead of a clear direction. The fix isn't working harder. It's getting the strategic finance lens in place.
Why You Might Need This
You did not take this role to worry about money.
You took it for the mission. But somewhere along the way the finances landed on your desk too, and now they follow you home.
Maybe it is the constant scramble. Never quite knowing if the money will be there, living from one funding round to the next, unable to see far enough ahead to breathe. Maybe demand keeps climbing while funding keeps shrinking, and no one can tell you how long the runway really is before you hit the wall. Maybe the grants are growing, but every one arrives with strings, and you are no longer sure what your work truly costs to deliver, or how to keep your board and funders confident.
And underneath all of it, a quiet thought at 11pm. Are we actually okay?
If any of that sounds like you, you are not doing it wrong. You are doing the job of three people, and the finance part is the one you were never meant to carry alone.
That is where a CFO comes in. Not to hand you another report, but to give you a clear view. A few months of cashflow ahead, so it stops feeling like a cliff. A reserves position you can trust. Board reporting that tells the real story. The true cost of what you deliver, so you can fund it properly. The money worry lifted off your shoulders, so you can get back to the mission.
That is what Fernlight CFO is for.
The mission only lasts if the money works.
Why A CFO, Not Just A Report
Up to a point, a bookkeeper and an accountant are enough.
Your transactions get recorded. Your compliance gets filed. That works, and for a while it is all you need. But there is a level of growth and complexity where it stops being enough. Where the real questions are not "are the books done" but "which way are we heading, are our risks covered, and is every part of the organisation pulling in the same direction."
That is the strategic finance lens. It is what a CFO gives you, and it is the difference between a report that tells you what already happened and a partner who helps you decide what happens next.
Most organisations have someone who can produce the report. Far fewer have someone who can tell them what it means and where to go. A bookkeeper records it. An accountant files it. A CFO helps you steer. That is the part Fernlight CFO does, and it is built on relationships, not just numbers.
Without that lens, board confidence erodes, one funder change becomes a crisis nobody saw coming, reserves quietly run down, and the leader carries the worry alone. It does not have to be that way.
How It Works
Three steps to finance you can lead from.
- 1. Book a free Cashflow X-Ray. A no-cost, no-jargon look at where your finances really stand.
- 2. Get your Finance Function Scorecard. A clear CARES-scored report you can take straight to your board.
- 3. Bring in your retained Virtual CFO. Ongoing financial leadership every month, so you never lead in the dark again.
What Changes
What we've done for clients across Aotearoa New Zealand.
- 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 New Zealand
- 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
From $650 to $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 $1,500/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.
See your way forward.
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.
Both free. Both 30 minutes. Via Teams or Zoom.
Prefer to just email? contact@fernlightcfo.co.nz
What We Do
You choose the depth.
We scale with you.
From a senior CFO eye across your numbers to a complete outsourced finance-leadership function, across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. Pure financial leadership. No bookkeeping, no compliance filing, no rotating team.
Which CFO do you need?
The right CFO for where you are right now.
Sometimes you need ongoing finance leadership. Sometimes you need a specific kind of CFO for a specific moment. Here's where we're most often called in, all shaped for for-purpose organisations, never generic corporate finance.
Foundation CFO
You've outgrown your bookkeeping setup and need a real finance function for the first time. Reporting, budgeting and board or council papers, built properly from scratch, so your organisation stands on solid ground.
Growth CFO
New funding, new contracts or fast growth is stretching your numbers. Whether you're a charity, a social enterprise or a council, we bring the financial leadership to grow sustainably without running out of cash.
Transition CFO
You're going through a merger, an amalgamation, a restructure or a major system change. We're the steady financial hands that carry your organisation through it.
Interim CFO
Your finance lead has left or is on leave and you need cover now. Immediate, experienced CFO support so nothing drops while you find the right person.
Funding & Investment CFO
You're preparing for a major grant, a social-investment deal, a council business case or a capital raise. We build the numbers and the case that unlock the funding.
Systems & Projects CFO
You're moving systems, whether that's Xero, Oracle or SAP, no matter how big or small. We design and land the finance systems and processes that finally give you and your board real visibility.
Part-time / Fractional CFO
You need ongoing CFO leadership, not a full-time hire. Senior financial leadership month after month, at a fraction of the cost and none of the overhead.
Not sure which one fits? Start with a free Cashflow X-Ray and we'll help you place it.
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.
Essentials
CFO Oversight & Core Reporting
Best for organisations with existing finance staff who need a senior CFO eye across their numbers.
- Dedicated VCFO, named contact
- Monthly 15-minute review meeting
- Management accounts & commentary
- Year-end & tax coordination
- Ad-hoc advisory (email/text)
Most Popular
Growth
Full FP&A, Governance & Advisory
Best for trusts, NFPs, social enterprises, peak bodies, and growing organisations with boards, funders, and increasing complexity.
- 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
Strategic
Complete CFO Function & Governance
Best for complex organisations needing a full strategic CFO, including governance, independence planning, and transition support.
- Everything in Growth, plus:
- Investment portfolio oversight
- Quarterly financial strategy deep-dive
- Quarterly board pack
- Up to 3-year rolling forecast
- Scenario & what-if modelling
- Multi-entity consolidation
- Audit coordination & liaison
- Workforce & capacity planning
- Governance advisory & transition planning
- Business case & independence modelling
One-off Projects
Need one thing done, properly?
Not ready for ongoing support, or you just need a specific piece of finance work? These are fixed-scope CFO projects, quoted upfront. No retainer required, no compliance or bookkeeping bolt-ons, just senior financial thinking on the thing that matters right now.
Financial Health Assessment
An 8-point Red / Amber / Green scorecard of your finance function, in a written report your board can act on. From $650.
3-Year Financial Model
A board-ready, three-year rolling model so you can see your runway, test the big decisions, and plan with confidence.
Annual Budget Build
A realistic, funder-ready budget built alongside your team and board, not handed down to them.
Funder & Grant Financial Case
The numbers that win the funding, and make acquittal and reporting painless afterwards.
Reserves & Capital Strategy
A reserves policy that protects your mission today and grows your capacity to do more good tomorrow.
Board Reporting Pack
A clear, repeatable board pack and KPI dashboard your trustees actually understand.
Also available as fixed-scope projects: scenario & sustainability modelling, business cases, financial due diligence, and finance-function design. Every project is quoted upfront.
Who We Serve
Built for for-purpose organisations across Australasia.
Charity, trust, social enterprise, B Corp or mission-led company. Different legal forms, one thing in common. You are running a business that exists to do good, and it only keeps doing good when the money works. Whatever shape yours takes, this is built for you.
- NFPs, charities and not-for-profits
- Social enterprises and community organisations
- B Corps, mission-led and purpose-driven companies
- Trusts and peak bodies
- Health, disability and ACC-funded providers
- Education and community trusts
- Government and local government entities
- Organisations operating across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia
Not sure which tier is right for you?
Start with a free chat 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.
Prefer to just email? contact@fernlightcfo.co.nz
How We Work Together
Three ways to work with Fernlight CFO... starting free.
A free, no-strings look at where your finances really stand. 30 minutes, no obligation.
Our Framework
The C.A.R.E.S. Framework
Every organisation we work with gets measured against five pillars. This is how we track whether your finance function is actually working.
C
Clarity
Can your board see the real picture?
Clarity
Board-ready reports that tell the real story. No Xero dumps. No jargon. Numbers your board can actually govern from.
A
Actions
Are decisions being made from the numbers?
Actions
Every report comes with clear next steps. Not just what happened, but what to do about it. Finance that drives decisions.
R
Returns
Is the organisation financially sustainable?
Returns
Cash runway and funder concentration. How many months will your cash last, and how exposed are you if your biggest funder changes direction?
E
Efficiency
Are costs controlled relative to mission delivery?
Efficiency
Your spend ratio: are you spending more than you earn? Every dollar should be traceable to mission delivery or the infrastructure that supports it.
S
Stability
Can your organisation weather what comes next?
Stability
Cash reserves, funding diversification, rolling forecasts. Building the resilience your mission depends on.
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.
- 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
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
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.
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 Fernlight CFO
A fern filters the light. Lets through exactly what the understory needs. We do the same with your numbers.
Kia ora koutou.
Light falls through ferns. The canopy catches what it needs to. The rest filters down, just enough for the understory to grow strong.
Fernlight CFO works with organisations built the same way. The mission is the fruit everyone sees, but underneath there is a root system that needs tending. Cash runway, funding concentration, spend ratios. The part nobody sees that keeps everything standing. We look after the roots so the fruit can keep growing.
Azoora Ali | Chartered Accountant | Virtual CFO
Meet Azoora.
I am a mum of two. I am a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Director. I 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 I built Fernlight CFO.
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 the CFO for organisations managing more than $250M in revenue and $4B in assets, from local government to community trusts and public sector entities. At every one of them, I was the youngest person to ever hold the role.
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.
The philosophy.
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 Fernlight CFO exists to close.
$250M+
Managed organisations with this annual revenue
$4B+
Managed organisations with this asset base
20x
Treasury revenue increase in year one
Non-profit doesn't mean non-business. It means the business serves the mission.
Our Difference
This isn't bookkeeping with a different name.
A bookkeeper records what happened. An accountant reports it. A CFO asks what it means... and what to do next.
At Fernlight CFO, 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.
Who We Serve
Why for-purpose organisations specifically.
You are running a business. It exists to do good, and it has to balance delivering the mission today with staying financially sustainable for the long term. 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 "board-ready" means to a New Zealand charity, how ACC funding schedules affect your cash flow, what Charities Services expects, and what Audit New Zealand looks for in your financials. We know that ACC contracts don't all pay the same way, from fee-for-service treatment to outcome-based vocational rehab and programme-priced pathways, and that the difference shows up in your cash flow and your true profitability by contract. We're currently the virtual CFO to a national health organisation funded through ACC contracts, and we've lived it across trusts, health providers and charities up and down the country.
That's the world we work in, across Aotearoa and Australia.
- Registered charities and not-for-profits
- Social enterprises and community organisations
- B Corps, mission-led and purpose-driven companies
- Health, disability and ACC-funded providers
- Education and community trusts
- Organisations with revenue from $1M across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia
Ready to find out where your finance function stands?
Start with the free Finance Function Scorecard. 8 questions, 2 minutes, instant results.
The Podcast
Care Beyond Profits.
Care Beyond Profits is an interview-style podcast and leadership series hosted by our founder, Azoora Ali. It focuses on purpose-driven founders, CEOs and social enterprise leaders who prioritise empathy, care for people & planet and core values alongside commercial viability. Join us as we hear personal stories from those who care beyond profits, unpacking the hard calls behind purpose that lasts.
Never miss an episode.
Subscribe on YouTube, and if the mission-and-money conversation resonates, let’s have one of our own.
