Quick answer
What are virtual CFO services?
Virtual CFO services are part-time, outsourced chief financial officer support. A virtual CFO reviews your monthly numbers, builds MIS reports and dashboards, forecasts cash flow, sets budgets, tightens financial controls and prepares reports for banks, investors or the board, usually for a fixed monthly scope agreed in advance.
- Senior finance leadership without a full-time salary
- Monthly MIS, cash flow and budget versus actual
- Controls, approvals and month-end close discipline
- Reporting for lenders, investors and the board
What does a virtual CFO do every month?
Each month a virtual CFO closes the loop between your books and your decisions: checks that the accounts are complete, produces the MIS pack, compares results with budget, updates the cash forecast and meets the founders to agree actions. The work sits above bookkeeping and compliance, using their output.
A typical month starts once the accounting team has posted the previous month. The CFO reviews the trial balance for errors, asks for corrections, and then builds the reports. The second half of the month goes into analysis and the review meeting, plus any project work such as a bank proposal, a pricing review or a new costing model.
| Week | Work | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Check month-end close, reconcile banks, follow up on missing entries | Closed books for the month |
| Week 2 | Prepare MIS: profit and loss by line, margins, receivables and payables ageing | MIS pack and dashboard update |
| Week 3 | Budget versus actual review, rolling cash forecast, working capital review | Variance notes and 13-week cash view |
| Week 4 | Review meeting with founders, action list, lender or investor updates | Decisions and agreed next steps |
The exact rhythm depends on the scope agreed with the firm you engage.
When does a business need CFO services in Delhi?
Most businesses need CFO services in Delhi when decisions start outrunning the numbers: sales grow but cash is always tight, a bank or investor asks for projections, there are several entities or locations, or the founder spends evenings building spreadsheets. These are the usual signs.
- Cash surprises. Profit on paper, but salaries and GST payments still feel stretched.
- Raising money. A lender or investor wants a business plan, projections and monthly reporting.
- Multiple entities. A group with a private limited company, an LLP and a family firm needs consolidated numbers.
- No month-end discipline. Books are updated only at return time, so nobody knows the margin by product or customer.
- Growth into new markets. Exporting, opening a UAE or UK entity, or selling across states adds tax and reporting layers.
- Founder overload. Finance decisions sit with one person who has no time for them.
Need help with virtual CFO services? Talk to a chartered accountant in Delhi today. First call is free.
What deliverables should virtual CFO services include?
Good virtual CFO services produce a fixed set of monthly, quarterly and yearly deliverables written into the engagement letter, so you can see exactly what you are getting for the fee. Ask for this list before you sign.
| Deliverable | Frequency | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| MIS pack and dashboard | Monthly | Revenue, gross margin, overheads and profit by business line |
| Cash flow forecast | Monthly, rolling | Expected cash position for the next weeks and months |
| Budget versus actual | Monthly | Where spending or sales moved away from plan, and why |
| Receivables and payables ageing | Monthly | Who owes you, whom you owe, and overdue amounts |
| Compliance tracker | Monthly | Status of GST, TDS and ROC filings handled by your accountants |
| Annual budget and business plan | Yearly | Targets for the year and the funding needed |
| Board or investor report | Quarterly | Summary of results, risks and key metrics |
| Financial controls review | Once, then yearly | Approval limits, segregation of duties and process gaps |
Deliverables vary by firm and size of business; agree them in writing.
Virtual CFO vs accountant vs full-time CFO: what is the difference?
An accountant records transactions and files returns; a virtual CFO interprets the numbers and plans ahead for a part-time fee; a full-time CFO does the same planning work in house and also runs the finance team every day. Most small and mid-size Delhi businesses need the first two, not the third.
| Point | Accountant | Virtual CFO | Full-time CFO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Bookkeeping, GST, TDS, returns | Analysis, planning, controls, reporting | Strategy, team, funding, controls |
| Time commitment | Daily or weekly entries | A few days a month | Full time |
| Looks at | What happened | What it means and what to do next | Everything, every day |
| Typical fit | Every business | Growing businesses and start-ups | Larger companies |
Your bookkeeping still needs to be in place first; see accounting and bookkeeping services.
How do MIS dashboards help a Delhi business?
An MIS dashboard shows the few numbers that matter, such as sales, margin, cash, receivables and stock, updated every month or more often, so owners can act without reading full accounts. It turns the books into a one-screen view of the business.
For a Wazirpur manufacturer the dashboard may track raw material cost per unit and machine utilisation. For a Chandni Chowk trader it may focus on stock turnover and credit given to buyers. For a software start-up it is usually monthly recurring revenue, burn and runway. The point is to pick five to ten measures, define them clearly and update them on time. Dashboards depend on clean data, so the CFO will usually fix chart of accounts and coding issues before building one.
How does virtual CFO work start?
A virtual CFO engagement usually starts with a short diagnostic of your books, systems and reporting, then agrees scope and monthly deliverables, sets up the reporting templates and runs the first monthly close together with your accounts team.
- 1
Discovery call
Explain the business, entities, current accountant and what decisions you are struggling with.
- 2
Diagnostic of books and systems
The CFO reviews recent accounts, software (Tally, Zoho Books or others) and existing reports.
- 3
Scope and fixed quote
You agree deliverables, meeting rhythm and a fixed monthly quote before work starts.
- 4
Set up templates and controls
Chart of accounts clean-up, MIS template, dashboard and approval rules.
- 5
First monthly close and review
Run the first month together, review the pack with the founders and adjust.
Which listed firm offers virtual CFO services?
Among the firms listed on CA in Delhi, Greenwolf Advisors offers virtual CFO advisory, dashboards and MIS reporting, and financial process structuring and controls. It is a corporate and cross-border advisory firm founded in 2016, based at 411, Best Sky Tower, Netaji Subhash Place, with partner offices in Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong.
That cross-border reach matters for Delhi groups with a UAE, UK or GIFT City entity, where the CFO work includes structuring and reporting across jurisdictions. Greenwolf Advisors is an advisory firm, not a firm of chartered accountants, so statutory audit and attest work stay with your own practising CA. For a view of all listed firms see the chartered accountant firms in Delhi directory.
What does a virtual CFO cost in Delhi?
Virtual CFO fees depend on the number of entities, transaction volume, the state of your books and how many deliverables and meetings you need, so there is no standard rate. We do not publish our own prices; you get a fixed quote for an agreed scope before work starts.
To compare quotes fairly, give every firm the same brief: number of entities and bank accounts, monthly invoice volume, accounting software, the reports you want and how often you want to meet. Ask whether the fee includes bookkeeping and compliance or only the CFO layer on top of your existing accountant. Many businesses keep their current team for GST return filing, TDS returns and ROC compliance, and add the CFO for planning and reporting.
Do you need to visit the office for virtual CFO support?
No. Most virtual CFO work runs online through shared accounting software, cloud folders and video calls, with an in-person review when it helps. Businesses near Netaji Subhash Place often prefer to meet at the office for quarterly reviews.
The office is at 411, Best Sky Tower, next to Netaji Subhash Place metro station on the Red and Pink lines, open Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm. Our Netaji Subhash Place page has local details for businesses in the commercial towers around the station.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a CFO and a virtual CFO?
A CFO is a full-time employee who runs the finance function. A virtual CFO does the senior part of that job, such as planning, reporting and controls, on a part-time or retainer basis, often for several clients. It suits businesses that need the expertise but not a full salary.
Is a virtual CFO the same as an accountant?
No. Your accountant records transactions and files GST, TDS and income tax returns. A virtual CFO uses that data to explain performance, forecast cash, set budgets and advise on decisions. Most businesses need both, with the accountant feeding the CFO clean monthly numbers.
Can a virtual CFO help with a bank loan?
Yes. Preparing projections, a cash flow forecast, a business plan and the information lenders ask for is a common virtual CFO task. The CFO can also set up the monthly reporting that banks often require after a loan is sanctioned.
Which software do virtual CFOs use?
They work with whatever your books are kept in, commonly Tally or Zoho Books in Delhi, and build reports in spreadsheets or dashboard tools on top. The CFO may suggest changes to your chart of accounts so the reports come out cleanly each month.
How often does a virtual CFO meet the founders?
Usually once a month for the MIS review, with extra calls around budgets, fundraising or board meetings. The rhythm should be written into the engagement so both sides know what to expect.
Does a virtual CFO handle statutory audit?
No. A virtual CFO can prepare the business for audit, but the statutory audit must be done by an independent practising chartered accountant. Keeping the two separate also protects the auditor's independence.
Is virtual CFO support useful for a start-up?
Often yes, especially once a start-up is raising money or has a few months of revenue. Investors expect monthly reporting, a burn and runway view, and clean cap table records, which a virtual CFO can set up early.
Can a virtual CFO work with a business that has a UAE or UK company?
Yes, if the firm has cross-border experience. Greenwolf Advisors, one of the listed firms, lists cross-border structuring across India, UAE, UK, GCC and GIFT City alongside its virtual CFO work.
How do I get a quote for virtual CFO services?
Send a short brief through the enquiry form: business type, entities, monthly invoice volume, software and the reports you want. You get a fixed quote for that scope before any work starts.