Outsourced CFO andaccounting services
HOCA provides outsourced CFO leadership and accounting support for New Zealand businesses and China-linked groups. That means reliable monthly reporting, cash and margin visibility, audit-ready records, and a finance voice in the room when decisions are made.
Who this is for
- New Zealand businesses that have outgrown bookkeeping but do not need a full-time CFO.
- China-linked subsidiaries reporting to a head office in a different accounting language.
- Companies preparing for an audit, a capital raise or a listing process.
- Boards that need reporting they can rely on before making decisions.
The problem we solve
- Monthly numbers arrive late, or arrive on time and are not trusted.
- Cash forecasting is done in a spreadsheet that only one person understands.
- Statutory accounts and management accounts tell different stories.
- Audit preparation becomes a scramble because records were never kept audit-ready.
How HOCA supports you
- Monthly management reporting with commentary, not just a set of exported reports.
- Cash flow forecasting and working capital review.
- Chart of accounts and accounting system design, including Xero setup and clean-up.
- Audit readiness: reconciliations, supporting schedules and treatment of judgement areas.
- Board and shareholder reporting, including bilingual packs for a Chinese head office.
- Statutory financial statements, GST, PAYE and annual compliance.
How an engagement runs
- 01
Review
We assess the current ledger, reporting cycle and pain points, and agree what 'good' looks like for your business.
- 02
Rebuild
Chart of accounts, reconciliations and reporting templates are put in order so each month starts from a clean base.
- 03
Report
A fixed monthly cycle: close, reconcile, report, and a working session on what the numbers mean.
- 04
Advise
Forecasting, margin and pricing analysis, funding conversations and audit or transaction preparation as required.
What you receive
- Monthly management accounts with written commentary.
- Rolling cash flow forecast maintained alongside the ledger.
- Reconciled balance sheet with supporting schedules.
- Board reporting pack, bilingual where required.
- Annual financial statements and compliance filings.
Suitable engagements
- Fractional CFO on a fixed monthly cadence.
- Project work: audit readiness, system clean-up, or reporting redesign.
- Full outsourced finance function including bookkeeping and payroll.
Relevant evidence
Dr Howard Long has held CFO responsibility for an NZX-listed company and is a Chartered Accountant (CA ANZ) and Xero certified adviser.
See the CFO evidence on Experience & InsightsCommon questions
What is the difference between a CFO and an accountant?
An accountant records and reports what has happened and keeps you compliant. A CFO uses that information to shape decisions — pricing, cash, funding, risk and reporting to the board. HOCA covers both, and the balance depends on what your business needs.
Do we have to change accounting systems?
Usually not. Most engagements work with the existing system, most commonly Xero. Where the setup is the cause of the problem, we say so and rebuild the chart of accounts rather than working around it.
Can you prepare us for an audit?
Yes. Audit readiness work covers reconciliations, supporting schedules, documentation of judgements and accounting policy alignment, so the auditor's requests can be met from records that already exist.
Can reporting be produced in Chinese and English?
Yes. Statutory statements are prepared in English; management and board reporting can be produced bilingually for a Chinese parent or shareholder group.
How quickly can you take over a messy ledger?
That depends on the state of the records. The first step is always a review, so you get a clear scope and timeline before committing to a clean-up.
Discuss your finance function
Tell us what your reporting looks like today, and we will tell you what would need to change.
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