Case studies.

Background

An Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) listed Luxembourg-based geospatial intelligence company, faced significant financial and operational challenges. In need of a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), but unable to justify a full-time headcount, they appointed a part-time CFO to provide high-level expertise while managing costs. This arrangement continued for 3 years until the company transitioned to a full-time CFO.

1. Challenges before appointment

Funding and capital management: Needed strategic oversight to secure investment and allocate resources effectively.

• Public company compliance: Required strict adherence to ASX reporting standards.
• Cash flow management: As a deep-tech start-up, faced high upfront costs with delayed revenue from satellite services.
  
  

2. Key contributions of the Part-Time CFO (2019–2022)

1. Financial strategy and fundraising: Supported multiple equity and debt financing rounds; built a financial model to project cash flows.

2. Cost management and operational support: Joined senior management and Board meetings; implemented R&D and deployment cost controls; balanced growth with sustainable planning.

3. Compliance and investor relations: Maintained ASX compliance and engaged with stakeholders.

4. Support for satellite deployment: Helped finance and oversee launches of multiple satellite clusters, advancing the company’s data-as-a-service model.

3. Lessons learned

• Cost-effective leadership: A fractional CFO provided strategic value without full-time cost.
• Investor confidence: Strong financial leadership helped secure funding.
• Sustainable strategy: Aligning financial plans with revenue generation is critical for long-term success.

4. Conclusion

The part-time CFO was instrumental in securing funding, optimising strategy, and ensuring compliance. This case shows how fractional CFOs can deliver high-value financial oversight with flexibility.