CFO cost in Australia by model
| Option | Typical cost (AUD) | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFOSurge AI CFO Essentials | from A$1,500/mo | CFOAvatar AI CFO, 13-week cash forecast, monthly CFO-reviewed report and review call | A$1–10M owner-led businesses |
| Virtual / fractional CFO | A$2k–A$10k+/mo | Scheduled remote support, or a named CFO for 1–4 days a month | A$3–30M growing businesses |
| Part-time CFO (1–3 days/week) | A$8k–A$20k/mo | Embedded senior finance leadership | Complex or investor-backed firms |
| Interim CFO | A$1,200–A$1,800+/day | Full-time cover for 3–9 months | Vacancies, transactions, turnarounds |
| Full-time CFO | A$270k–A$400k+/yr | Permanent executive (true employment cost) | A$50M+ revenue or listed entities |
Market ranges are indicative, compiled from published Australian provider pricing and recruitment data (October 2026). Full-time cost includes salary, 12% super, payroll tax, bonus and on-costs. All figures exclude GST.
The true cost of a full-time CFO
Base salary is only the start. On a A$280,000 base in New South Wales, for a business already above the payroll tax threshold:
| Component | Annual (A$) |
|---|---|
| Base salary | 280,000 |
| Super Guarantee (12%) | 33,600 |
| NSW payroll tax (5.45% on salary + super) | 17,091 |
| Short-term incentive (≈10%) | 28,000 |
| Recruitment fee (≈20%, spread over 2 years) | 28,000 |
| Workers comp, equipment, software, overheads (est.) | 12,360 |
| Indicative true cost | ≈399,000 |
Run your own scenario:
What drives CFO fees up or down
- Days and responsiveness: the biggest driver for fractional and part-time CFOs.
- Complexity: multiple entities, states, currencies or investors.
- Data quality: messy books mean clean-up time before CFO work starts.
- Situation: raises, sales and turnarounds need concentrated effort.
- Technology: AI-assisted models like CFOAvatar automate monitoring and reporting, which lowers the cost of continuous CFO coverage.
Is a CFO worth the cost?
A CFO pays for themselves when they move one of four levers: cash (lower debtor days, better supplier terms), margin (pricing, cost and mix), funding (cheaper, larger or faster capital) or risk (avoiding a cash crisis, ATO debt or covenant breach). On A$5M revenue, cutting debtor days from 55 to 40 frees around A$205,000 of cash, more than a decade of AI CFO Essentials.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a CFO salary in Australia?
Advertised full-time CFO base salaries for SMEs and mid-market firms commonly sit between about A$200,000 and A$350,000+, higher in Sydney and Melbourne and for larger companies. The true employment cost is significantly higher once super, payroll tax and on-costs are added.
How much does a fractional CFO cost per month in Australia?
Typically A$3,000–A$10,000+ a month for 1–4 days, or A$8,000–A$20,000 a month for 1–3 days a week.
What is the cheapest way to get CFO support?
An AI-powered CFO service. CFOSurge's AI CFO Essentials starts at A$1,500 a month, including a monthly CFO review.
Are CFO fees tax-deductible?
Generally, fees for running your business are deductible business expenses, but confirm your position with your tax agent.
Do CFO fees include GST?
Most Australian CFO services quote fees excluding GST. CFOSurge quotes in AUD, exclusive of any applicable taxes, and confirms the GST treatment in your engagement letter.