CFOSurge India/Owner questions/Finance team

Accountant, CA or CFO? Who your business needs right now.

A 3-minute check to see which help you need next. The full guide is underneath.

The problem

You're not sure whether you need an accountant, a CA, a CFO or all three.

The way out

Match each unanswered finance question to the role that answers it, and add the next layer in order.

The way out, step by step

Four steps to the right finance team

Hover over a step to light it up, click to open it.Tap a step to open it. 0 of 4 explored

★The right help for every finance question
Here now: unsure who does what

Not sure which step you’re on?

Take the 3-minute check. Your result lights up your step above.

The full guide

Everything behind your answer, in detail

Read only the sections you need. Each one stands on its own.

Prepared by the CFOSurge India CFO team

The answer in brief

Each finance role answers a different question. An accountant keeps the books current. Your CA files your taxes and audits your accounts, and as auditor must stay independent. A CFO uses the numbers to plan, price, fund and decide. Most growing Indian businesses need all three at different depths: an accountant first, a CA throughout, and CFO help once decisions start being made without forward-looking numbers. A virtual CFO gives that help long before a full-time CFO makes sense.

On this page
  1. Questions first
  2. Who does what
  3. What you need
  4. Is it worth it?
  5. Six industry cases
  6. What to do now
  7. Review
  8. Mistakes to avoid
  9. Official sources
  10. Key terms
  11. Questions owners also ask
Stage 1 · Notice

Answer these questions before you read on

Commit to an answer before you open each one. Together they show where the problem is.

1Who in your business looks at next quarter's cash?

If nobody does, that's the CFO's job missing.

2Is your auditor also your accountant?

Your auditor needs to be independent of whoever keeps the books.

3When did you last make a big decision with a forecast?

Decisions without forecasts are the sign you need CFO help.

4Are your books closed every month, or only at year-end?

Without monthly books, nobody can help you decide.

5What would a 1% better price or 10 days faster collection be worth?

That's the value CFO help can create.

The question isn't whether you need a CFO. It's which finance questions are going unanswered.

Stage 2 · Understand

Who does what

RoleQuestion it answers
AccountantAre the books right and up to date?
CA (tax and audit)Are we compliant, and are the accounts true and fair?
Virtual CFOWhat should we do next, and can we afford it?
Full-time CFOWho leads finance every day in a larger company?
Stage 3 · Locate

Tick what's true for you

Who do you need right now?Tick everything that's true
Want a CFO to check these numbers? Send us your figures and we'll tell you what they mean for your business.Get a free review

Want a CFO to work through your numbers?

Bring your figures to a free consultation with a senior CFO. No cost, no obligation.

Find out what help I need
Stage 4 · Verify

Will CFO help pay for itself?

Is CFO-level help worth it for you yet?Be conservative
Want a CFO to check these numbers? Send us your figures and we'll tell you what they mean for your business.Get a free review
Stage 5 · Compare

Six businesses, six versions of the same problem

The same problem looks different in every industry. Pick the business closest to yours:

These are composite businesses with illustrative figures, built to show how the method works. They are not CFOSurge client results.

Hover over a business for a preview (tap on a phone), then click to open the full case.

Stage 6 · Act

Add the next layer

  • Books behind? Fix the accounting first.
  • Compliance surprises? Strengthen the CA relationship.
  • Decisions without forecasts? Add a virtual CFO.
  • Board, investors and a large team? Plan a full-time CFO, with a virtual CFO bridging the gap.
Stage 7 · Prevent

Review the team every year

  1. List the finance questions you couldn't answer this year.
  2. Match each to a role.
  3. Add or adjust the help you have.
  4. Keep auditor independence.
Stage 8 · Avoid

Mistakes to avoid

  • Hiring a full-time CFO before the books are right.
  • Expecting your auditor to be your CFO.
  • Hiring a junior and calling them CFO.
  • Waiting for a crisis to add CFO help.
Reference

Official sources and guidance

Rules, rates and thresholds change. Check the current position at these official sources before acting.

Reference

Key terms in plain English

3 terms
Statutory auditor
The independent CA firm that audits a company's financial statements.
Virtual CFO
A senior finance leader working remotely for a monthly fee.
Full-time CFO
A permanent finance executive.
Reference

Questions owners also ask

What's the difference between a CA and a CFO?

A CA in practice provides tax, audit and compliance services; as your auditor they must stay independent. A CFO works inside the business to plan, price, fund and decide. Many CFOs are CAs by qualification, but the role is different.

When should a small business hire a CFO?

When decisions start being made without forward-looking numbers, or lenders, investors or a board expect CFO-level reporting. A virtual CFO usually comes years before a full-time one.

Can CFOSurge work with my existing CA?

Yes. We work alongside your CA and auditor, and hand them cleaner books.

Want a CFO to work through this with you?

If you'd like an honest view of what finance help your business needs, A CFOSurge CFO can go through it with you using your actual numbers.

  • Plans from ₹50,000 a month, fixed after a free assessment
  • Free consultation with a senior CFO
  • No cost, no obligation
  • Pay nothing if you don't see value in the first 2 weeks

Find out what help I need WhatsApp a CFO

CFOSurge India · General information only. It isn't financial, tax or legal advice for your circumstances. Worked examples use illustrative figures. · Follow us on YouTube · LinkedIn