INTHEBLACK May 2026 - Magazine - Page 30
F E AT U R E
she says. “Variety is also highly valued as
working across different industries and
organisations keeps the work stimulating.”
Variety is just one of the benefits of
fractional work, according to
Priyan Fernando CPA, founder and director
of Metrix Advisory, who says that fractional
CFO services enable him to provide strategic
financial support to a range of small
business owners.
He started his business in 2022, after
years of working in senior finance roles
at companies such as property giant Mirvac,
and works with a team of approximately
20 fractional finance workers.
“I wanted to provide something different:
fractional CFO services for businesses
turning over less than A$20 million,” says
Fernando. “I get operationally involved.
That might mean helping implement a
CRM or ERP system, setting up inventory
management processes, clarifying roles and
responsibilities, developing a business plan,
defining short- and long-term goals or
running SWOT analysis. It is about
building structure and clarity — not just
producing numbers.”
FRACTIONAL FRICTION
Asif Iqbal FCPA recently transitioned
from fractional CFO work to a full-time
CFO role at telecommunications company
REDtone Group in Pakistan. His fractional
work spanned a range of clients and his
engagements were often structured on a
part-time, retainer or contract basis.
“During my time as a fractional CFO,
I found the flexibility to be incredibly
rewarding both for myself and for the
organisations I supported,” he says. “The role
enabled me to step into companies at pivotal
moments during scale-ups, restructures or
investor conversations and offer strategic
input without the long onboarding curve
of a full-time hire.
“It also allowed for breadth,” he adds.
“I worked across telecom, energy and digital
sectors in Pakistan and the UAE, and every
engagement sharpened my adaptability and
cross-sector insight.”
However, Iqbal notes that the fractional
model “is not without its trade-offs”.
“Building long-term team rapport
or embedding cultural change is harder
without full-time presence,” he says.
“You often walk a tightrope between
being an ‘outsider’ adviser and an ‘insider’
decision-maker.”
Fernando cites managing client
expectations as an early challenge.
“‘Fractional’ means I am not full-time
for any one client, but some clients
understandably want more of your time,
especially in difficult periods,” he says.
“At first, I did not have structured
onboarding systems and I overloaded
myself. Now we have clear processes. If we
are at capacity, we delay new clients until
the next onboarding cycle.”
Time management can be another
challenge to overcome, says Fernando.
“In the beginning, I did everything: admin,
operations, delivery. Over time, I delegated
and built a team around me.”
CPA Australia members operating as fractional or virtual CFOs in Australia and New Zealand should
be aware that this work may constitute the provision of accounting services to the public, and as
such may require a public practice certificate. Members are encouraged to visit CPA Australia's
public practitioner information page for further guidance.
30 INTHEBLACK May 2026
