C-Suite Financial Leadership
Without the C-Suite Salary
Outsourced CFO services for Canberra businesses ready to scale. Strategic financial planning, management reporting and board-level advisory from a CPA-qualified team with real commercial experience.
You've Built a Successful Business. Now You Need Strategic Financial Guidance.
Your revenue has passed $1M but your financial visibility hasn't kept pace
You're making major decisions based on gut feel, not data
You need a CFO's perspective but can't justify a $180K salary
Your accountant gives you last year's numbers — you need next quarter's forecast
You're preparing for investment, acquisition, or a major growth phase
Your board or investors are demanding better financial reporting
If any of these resonate, an outsourced CFO could transform your business.
Your Outsourced CFO — Embedded in Your Business
We don't just crunch numbers. We partner with you to build financial clarity, drive strategy, and unlock growth.
Financial Strategy & Planning
Cash flow forecasting, scenario modelling, growth planning and strategic financial roadmaps aligned to your business goals.
Management Reporting
Monthly dashboards with the KPIs that matter. Actuals vs. budget analysis, trend identification and actionable insights — not just numbers.
Budgeting & Forecasting
Annual budgets, rolling forecasts, and variance analysis. Know where you're headed before you get there.
Board & Investor Reporting
Professional board packs, investor updates, governance support. We can attend your board meetings and present financial reports directly.
Business Performance
Margin analysis, pricing strategy, cost optimisation, profitability by product/service/client. Find the levers that drive your bottom line.
Growth Advisory
M&A support, funding applications, expansion planning, due diligence. Strategic financial guidance for your biggest decisions.
Full-Time CFO vs. Ascend Advisory
Choose Your Level of CFO Partnership
Every engagement is customised to your business. These frameworks give you a starting point.
CFO Essentials
For businesses wanting financial clarity and structure
- Monthly management reports & KPI dashboard
- Quarterly strategy session (90 min)
- Annual budget setup
- Cash flow monitoring
- Email & phone advisory access
CFO Growth
For businesses in active growth mode
- Everything in CFO Essentials, plus:
- Fortnightly check-in meetings
- Rolling 12-month forecasts
- Board/investor reporting
- Pricing & margin analysis
- Advisory on demand
CFO Strategic
For businesses making transformational decisions
- Everything in CFO Growth, plus:
- Embedded in your leadership team
- Attend board meetings & present
- M&A / due diligence support
- Funding & investment applications
- Priority direct access to your CFO
Nicholas Love
CPA, MAcc, BCom (ANU) — Strategic Financial Advisor
“I don't just give you numbers. I give you the financial clarity and strategic confidence to make your biggest business decisions with certainty.”
Nicholas brings a rare combination of academic rigour and commercial pragmatism. With a Master of Accounting from ANU, CPA qualification, and hands-on experience in commerce, sales, project management and operations, he understands business from the inside — not just the balance sheet.
His advisory clients range from $1M startups to established enterprises, across industries including professional services, medical practices, eCommerce, trades and not-for-profit. He serves as a board advisor to several organisations and brings governance expertise alongside financial strategy.
Learn More About Nicholas →Frequently Asked Questions
How is an outsourced CFO different from my accountant?
Your accountant looks backwards — preparing tax returns and compliance reports based on what already happened. An outsourced CFO looks forward — building forecasts, identifying trends, modelling scenarios, and providing strategic recommendations so you can make better decisions about what's coming next. We work alongside your accountant, not in place of them.
How much time do you spend with us each month?
This varies by engagement level. CFO Essentials typically involves 8-12 hours per month including reporting, analysis and a quarterly strategy session. CFO Growth involves 15-20 hours with fortnightly meetings. CFO Strategic is 25+ hours with embedded involvement in your leadership team.
Can you attend our board meetings?
Absolutely. For CFO Growth and CFO Strategic clients, we prepare professional board packs and can attend board meetings to present financial reports, answer questions, and contribute to strategic discussions. This is one of the most valued aspects of our service.
What size businesses do you work with?
Our outsourced CFO services are designed for businesses with revenue from $1M to $20M+ that need strategic financial guidance but aren't ready for (or don't want) a full-time CFO hire. If you're a smaller business just starting out, our bookkeeping and advisory services may be a better fit initially.
How quickly can we see results?
Most clients see a step-change in financial visibility within the first 30 days. We typically deliver your first management report pack within 2-3 weeks of engagement. Strategic insights and cost savings usually emerge within the first quarter as we build a deeper understanding of your business.
Is there a minimum commitment?
We ask for a 3-month initial commitment to allow enough time to onboard, build your reporting framework, and deliver meaningful results. After that, the engagement continues month-to-month with 30 days notice either way.
Ready for C-Suite Financial Insight?
Schedule a confidential strategy session to discuss how an outsourced CFO can transform your business. No obligation — just a candid conversation about where you are and where you want to be.