Introduction: –
Virtual CFO stands for Virtual Chief Financial Officer. Proper management and utilisation of funds requires skills of an expert and that’s where the CFO or the Chief Financial Officer comes into picture. A CFO is a part of the top management of an organisation whose primary responsibility includes providing professional advice, managing the financial risks, financial reporting, taxation, compliances and record-keeping.
A virtual CFO may be a single person or an entity. Virtual CFOs are especially advantageous for small organisations, startups & SMEs that may not have the financial resources to engage a full-time CFO but would benefit from having an experienced financial professional in charge of their finance department.
While an in-house CFO can help the companies to navigate and become financially strong, most Startups and MSMEs cannot afford to appoint one. Thus, virtual CFO with his knowledge and team can provide expert services at affordable cost. Virtual CFO may not be present on-site all the time but will always be there when you need him.
Here are some of the key benefits of a Virtual CFO Agency: –
1. Flexible – You have complete discretion over how a virtual CFO should perform their duties. The number of hours, type of work, requisite experience, and engagement type (hourly, fixed retainer, etc.) are all decisions that you choose. Also, you are not required to offer office space or any additional perks.
2. Cost-Effective – Cost savings are one of the key advantages of hiring a part-time chief financial officer. Consider that you need a CFO to oversee your ongoing compliances. You anticipate spending 30 hours each week on this project. It is not necessary to pay for a full-time staff in this situation. In this situation, hiring a virtual CFO and paying for the services you require is the wisest course of action. There are no inflexible contract clauses. It’s always possible to ask for more time and work, depending on the company. Moreover, virtual CFO fees are frequently very reasonable.
3. Diverse Work Experience – Employing a CFO on retainer entails hiring someone with a more varied experience history. Virtual CFOs can work for many companies simultaneously because they are part-time agencies. You can access their knowledge by using a virtual CFO model, which is much less expensive than hiring a full-time CFO.
This makes sure that several minds are contributing to problem-solving. This is not achievable if a conventional CFO is hired. Such a wide range of experience will ultimately be very beneficial to your company.
4. Rich network with successful Businesses – Virtual CFOs have a wide range of clients and a strong network of prosperous companies. If necessary, they can use this to benefit your company. With regard to entities, this network is even more potent. As a result, you have access to a larger network than you otherwise would.
5. Forecasting – Expert agencies in business and finance work as virtual CFOs. They are well capable of holding positions of leadership in businesses. They are able to properly plan and carry out financial decisions as a result. This will forecast your company’s financial data and budgets.
6. Develop strong internal controls – Companies in India often suffer from management deficit and hierarchical top-down organisational structure and this is evident from their weak internal controls. Very few companies understand the importance of having adequate internal controls in place that promote best practices and adequately minimise risk. A Virtual CFO provides business owners with necessary expertise required to establish strong internal controls.
7. Reporting, Standard Operating Process (SOP) & Compliances – A company is accountable for a number of compliance measures. They are highly technical and necessitate the expertise of an expert. Internal filing, SOP and regulatory compliance can be handled by virtual CFOs.
In addition, virtual CFOs develop personalised templates for sending reports (MIS – Management Information System) to Investors. This is crucial for establishing your brand. Furthermore, this guarantees that the client gets all necessary information.
Conclusion: –
Hiring a part-time CFO is the ideal choice if your company requires a CFO but you’re not ready or able to hire a full-time employee.
Regardless of your industry or length of operation, virtual CFOs can aid in the expansion of your organisation.
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Authors:
Prashant Taparia| Partner| LinkedIn Profile | prashant.taparia@masd.co.in
Yash Shah | Associate Consultant | LinkedIn Profile | yash.shah@masd.co.in
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