Virtual
CFO
A part-time finance lead for organisations that have outgrown year-end accounts but aren’t ready for a full-time CFO. Clear monthly numbers, forecasts you can trust and Board-ready reporting, for a set monthly fee.
Recognised by the AIM26 judges for helping Māori organisations thrive by aligning financial strategy with their values and vision.
AIM26 Awards, The Gap, September 2026. Named from a field of five finalists.
Your numbers are the starting point, not the destination. A Virtual CFO turns them into clear decisions for your Board or business, without the cost of a full-time hire.
We work with two kinds of organisation: Trusts, Marae and not-for-profits carrying real assets, funders and Board accountability, and established businesses that have outgrown their bookkeeper. Every package is shaped around your entity, your reporting and where you’re heading.
You lead. We add our weight. You’ll have a senior adviser who knows your organisation, backed by the wider Ake team and our own experience as Trustees, directors and business owners.
Who it’s for, and when
Virtual CFO support shaped around your entity and where you’re heading
Trusts, Marae and not-for-profits ($2M+ annual spend)
Ahu Whenua Trusts, Māori incorporations, Māori Authorities, Marae, iwi and hapū entities, and charities carrying real assets, funders and Board accountability. It’s time for a Virtual CFO when:
The Board needs clearer financial reporting to make decisions
A major funding application or funder report is coming up
A development is on the table for your whenua (land)
Reporting has outgrown a volunteer Treasurer or part-time role
Established businesses ($2M+ revenue)
You’ve outgrown your bookkeeper but aren’t ready for a full-time CFO. It’s time for a Virtual CFO when:
Big calls (hiring, new gear, a second site) are being made on gut feel
The bank wants better reporting or a forecast before it lends
Sales are growing but cash is still tight
Selling, succession or a new partner is on the horizon
From $2,500 +GST a month
Packages are tailored to your organisation and confirmed after our financial foundation and optimisation phase. Compliance services such as bookkeeping, payroll and GST can be added on.
Your tailored package can include:
Strategic planning for the next 5–10 years
Business planning with a 90-day action plan
Funding strategy and funding reporting
Budget set-up in Xero, with monthly budget-vs-actual reporting
Three-way cashflow forecast
Monthly or quarterly coaching, including report collation and Board meeting attendance
Governance training and Board review
Succession planning, policies and organisation review
How it works.
Pre-work comes before every stage, so our time together stays focused and useful. You'll have a dedicated Client Manager, backed by our wider team of Chartered Accountants and advisers.
Discovery call
A free 10-minute chat about your organisation, where things are at, and what you most need better financial information for.
Information request
A tailored checklist covering structure and governance, funding and contracts, financial position, Xero and systems, Board reporting, people and current advisers. You can see progress at a glance.
Overview and analysis
We review your Xero file, Board minutes, strategic plan and documents to map your funding and contracts, funding position, audit findings and reporting gaps. You then receive a tailored proposal.
Financial foundation and optimisation
We make sure your numbers can be trusted: clean-up and reconciliations, chart of accounts, systems and controls, cashflow, and a monthly reporting template.
Ongoing Virtual CFO support
Monthly management and Board reporting with commentary, Board or leadership meeting attendance, budgeting, forecasting, funding strategy, strategic planning and regular accountability sessions.
The people in the room.
A senior adviser who knows your organisation, backed by the wider Ake team.
Dylan Stewart
Senior Client Manager & Chartered Accountant
Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto
BCom, MInstD. Brings business coaching, forecasting, strategic planning and virtual CFO experience, and works with not-for-profit iwi entities.
Tanisha Jones
Senior Client Manager & Chartered Accountant
Whakatōhea, Ngati Ngahere, Ngati Ira, Nga Ariki Kaiputahi
NZDipBus(Mgmt), BBS(Actg). Works closely with charitable trusts, Māori organisations and small to medium businesses, with a background in farm accounting.
Carlene Dixon
Senior Client Manager
DipAcc. More than a decade in administration, bookkeeping and accounting, turning financial information into something clear, practical and empowering.
What it looks like in practice
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Built monthly Board reporting from scratch, with budget-vs-actual reporting in Xero so trustees can see at every meeting whether they're on track.
Board reporting
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Developed funding strategies and multi-year forecasts that line up with Tier 3 reporting, giving Boards confidence when they apply for and report on funding.
Funding
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Delivered governance reviews, trustee training and strategic planning wānanga that left Boards with a clear plan for the next 12 months.
Governance and planning
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Supported organisations through their annual audit, coordinating auditor requests and supporting documents through to completion.
Audit support
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“Ake Accounting has become a trusted strategic partner to Te Roopu Waiora. Their Virtual CFO services have strengthened our financial management, enhanced Board reporting, and provided the insights needed to support informed decision-making. Their commitment to understanding our organisation and aligning financial strategy with our purpose has been invaluable. We highly recommend Ake Accounting to organisations seeking capable, relationship-focused financial leadership.”
Scott Donaldson, Chief Executive Officer, Te Roopu Waiora
How to get started
Talk to us about what your organisation needs from its numbers.
Book a 10-minute discovery call with Leah Donaldson, our Consultant, at a time that suits. Alternatively, email kiaora@akeaccounting.co.nz or call our office on 07 307 0099.
Make an enquiry or refer a client
Tell us about your organisation, or the client you’re referring, and Leah will be in touch.
Meet Ake.
At Ake our mission is to support our clients aspirations, whether that involves growing a business or creating long-term prosperity for whānau and future generations.
Led by Tania-Rose Tamati (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi) and Matthew Davis, our people bring real-world experience as trustees, business owners, and governance professionals.
This means we offer more than just financial expertise - we understand the practical challenges you face. Whether it’s a quick kōrero or a kanohi ki te kanohi hui, we work flexibly to provide the personalised support you need to grow, thrive, and succeed.
What guides us
Our Whakatauākī
“Ko tāku he whakaoho i te pito mata o wō moemoeā
Ko tāu he whakapakari hei hua pūmau, hei tāonga tuku iho.
Āke! Ake! Ake!”
“Mine is to awaken the potential of your dreams and aspirations
Yours is to strengthen to bear fruit, to become an asset to be inherited.
Forevermore!”
This whakatauākī was gifted to us by Titoki Black.