
Ep 167: The Finance Function Evolution: bookkeeper → controller → virtual CFO
From The Holistic Accountant by Stuart Wemyss & Mena Abraham
February 17, 2026 · 10 min · Season 5 · Episode 55
About this episode
Stuart and Mena discuss the evolution of the finance function in businesses and the importance of each role from bookkeeper to virtual CFO.
Send us Fan Mail Many business owners feel stuck in the uncomfortable middle: too big for basic bookkeeping, but not ready or willing to pay for a full-time CFO. The result? Numbers that exist, but don’t drive decisions. In this episode, Stuart and Mena break down the three distinct layers of the finance function and why skipping or compressing them causes so many businesses to stall. They explain what bookkeeping is meant to do (and where it stops), why the controller role is the most misund...
People in this episode
Hosts: Stuart Wemyss, Mena Abraham
Topics covered
- finance function
- bookkeeping
- controller role
- virtual CFO
- business growth
- decision making
Keywords
- finance function
- bookkeeper
- controller
- virtual CFO
- business owners
- decision making
- financial management
More episodes of The Holistic Accountant
- Ep 183: How business owners can navigate the proposed tax changes · June 9, 2026 · 16 min
- Ep 182: EOFY tax planning for business owners · June 2, 2026 · 19 min
- Ep 181: Buy your premises or trap your cash? The OpCo-PropCo test · May 26, 2026 · 13 min
- Ep 180: Expansion math: when a new site actually makes you poorer · May 19, 2026 · 12 min
- Ep 179: From lumpy projects to predictable annual recurring revenue · May 12, 2026 · 12 min
- Ep 178: Lifestyle creep is a capital allocation problem · May 5, 2026 · 16 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Holistic Accountant podcast page.