Virtual CFO Articles

When 80% of SMBs experience cash flow challenges and one in six loses over $2,500 monthly to late payments, cash flow management isn’t just good practice – it’s business survival. The numbers are stark. Nearly 80% of Australian S...

Why Type A talent isn’t a luxury – it’s the foundation of scalable business success. By Kim Stewart-Smith, CEO & Founder of Stewart & Smith Advisory Three conversations with clients this week. Three different industries. ...

When project revenue grows but job profitability shrinks, you’re not building a business – you’re funding a very expensive construction company. By Kim Stewart-Smith, CEO & Founder of Stewart & Smith Advisory Eight months...

Many business owners view a financial forecast as a compliance chore for the bank or a Board meeting. In reality, a robust financial model is the most powerful tool a CEO has to navigate the 2026 economic landscape. At Stewart & Smith Advisory...

The landscape of Hollywood shifted permanently with David Ellison’s Skydance Media moving to acquire the legendary Paramount Global. While the headlines focused on the merger of two creative powerhouses, the real story is written in the ledger: a ...

In February 2026, McKinsey & Company published a definitive guide on “How Companies are Valued.” The article argues that valuation is not merely a verdict from the market based on short-term signals, but a result of fundamental str...

As we move through 2026, the boardroom conversation has shifted from “how do we govern AI” to “how can AI help us govern”. The rise of Agentic AI – systems capable of independent planning, executing multi-step tasks, ...

 When actual results and budgeted projections are worlds apart, it is rarely just bad luck. In the boardroom, a large variance, whether favourable or unfavourable, is a diagnostic tool. It reveals the health of a company’s financial discipl...

Let’s be honest: Most business owners have a love-hate relationship with their finances. You love the revenue, but you probably find the reporting, the forecasting, and the constant ‘do we have enough cash for this?’ anxiety a bit drai...

In the world of professional services, there is a dangerous plateau that often hits when a firm reaches 10 to 20 staff. Up until this point, the founder’s sheer “hustle” and technical brilliance have been the primary drivers of growth....