Fractional CFO services in Wellington
Wellington is New Zealand's startup capital - disproportionate to its population of 215,000, the city is home to Xero (NZX/ASX dual-listed, founded 2006, HQ here), Trade Me (New Zealand's dominant marketplace, founded and headquartered in Wellington), Sharesies, Hnry and Optimal Workshop.
The Te Aro neighbourhood and CBD's Lambton Quay corridor form the spine of the city's tech scene, with creative-technology depth extending to the Weta FX (formerly Weta Digital, acquired by Unity Technologies) cluster in Miramar. Wellington's compact size means founders, investors, government officials and engineers genuinely share the same streets - an ecosystem density per capita unmatched by any other NZ city.
We work with Wellington-based startups from seed to Series B+, supporting them on board packs, FP&A, fundraise prep, runway management and monthly close.
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Wellington startup ecosystem
Xero, Trade Me and a disproportionate alumni network
Xero's Wellington headquarters and its journey from a 2006 startup to a dual-listed company with NZD $1.7B+ in annual revenue has created a generation of experienced product, engineering and finance leaders who now found, fund and advise Wellington companies. Trade Me's 25-year run as New Zealand's dominant classifieds and marketplace business is a parallel alumni seam. Few cities of Wellington's size carry this density of experienced tech operators.
Te Aro, Lambton Quay and the Petone corridor
Te Aro - Wellington's inner-city creative and tech precinct - is the address for most early-stage SaaS and creative-tech companies. Lambton Quay and the CBD host enterprise software and govtech companies serving New Zealand's concentration of central-government agencies. The Petone corridor across Wellington Harbour is an emerging lower-cost cluster for hardware, deeptech and manufacturing-adjacent founders.
Govtech and creative technology as differentiating sectors
Wellington's status as New Zealand's capital means the central government - with the highest per-capita number of government agencies in the country - is a natural first customer for govtech, identity, payments and data-infrastructure SaaS. The Weta FX (Unity) campus in Miramar anchors a creative-technology cluster covering VFX, games, XR and applied AI, producing a steady pipeline of technical talent into the broader startup ecosystem.
Engineering and business talent from Victoria University and Massey Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington (Te Herenga Waka) and Massey University's Wellington campus produce strong engineering, computer science, law and public policy graduates. The concentration of government departments, Crown entities and major consulting firms on Lambton Quay provides a secondary pipeline of finance, policy and operating talent into scale-ups - particularly those building for government or regulated-sector buyers.
Government and institutional support for Wellington startups
Wellington's startup scene is deeply intertwined with the NZ government's innovation infrastructure. These are the key programmes and incentives Wellington founders should know.
Callaghan Innovation
Callaghan Innovation is New Zealand's national innovation agency, headquartered in Wellington. Provides R&D grants (Project Grants, Getting Started Grants), co-funded researcher placements, specialist technical advice and business R&D support. Partners with Creative HQ to deliver accelerator programmes including Lightning Lab. The primary grant-funding interface for Wellington-based founders with R&D-intensive business models.
R&D Tax Incentive (15% NZ)
New Zealand's R&D Tax Incentive provides a 15% tax credit on eligible R&D expenditure, claimable by any NZ-resident company conducting qualifying research and development. Launched in 2019, it applies to a minimum NZD $50K of eligible expenditure with no cap. Unlike Australia's equivalent, the NZ credit is non-refundable - it offsets tax payable rather than generating a cash refund - but stackable with Callaghan grants. Correct classification of eligible activities is a standard early-stage CFO task.
NZ Growth Capital Partners (NZGCP)
NZ Growth Capital Partners is the Crown entity established to address capital gaps in New Zealand's tech startup ecosystem. Its Aspire Fund invests directly into high-growth tech companies at proof-of-concept, seed and early-expansion stages alongside private co-investors. The Elevate NZ VC Fund co-invests with approved private VC managers, channelling Crown capital through Icehouse Ventures, Movac, Blackbird NZ and others to Wellington-based founders.
Creative HQ and Lightning Lab
Creative HQ is Wellington's innovation hub and New Zealand's largest structured innovation programme provider. Its Lightning Lab division runs sector-focused three-month accelerators - including a fintech programme with Kiwibank - providing seed capital, mentoring and investor access. Creative HQ operates across government, corporate and startup programmes, with Callaghan Innovation as a primary funding partner.
Active Investor Plus Visa
New Zealand's Active Investor Plus Visa allows offshore investors committing NZD $5M+ in qualifying NZ investments - including venture capital and managed funds - to obtain residency. For Wellington founders raising from offshore angels and family offices, this immigration pathway is a meaningful additional incentive for prospective investors considering a NZ commitment, and occasionally shapes the investor-relations conversation at seed and Series A.
Wellington UniVentures
Wellington UniVentures is the commercialisation arm of Victoria University of Wellington, supporting the translation of university research into startups and licensing opportunities. Manages IP, company formation and early-stage investment for university spinouts in areas including AI, biomedical technology and public-policy-adjacent software - a direct feeder into the Wellington seed ecosystem.
Wellington startup accountants vs Flow fractional CFO
Most Wellington startups work with a chartered accounting firm for income-tax returns, GST filings, R&D Tax Incentive claims and Companies Office compliance. That role is essential - but it does not replace a fractional CFO.
Tax returns, GST, R&DTI credits and Companies Office filings. The accounting firms most used by Wellington venture-backed founders.
- BDO New Zealand (Wellington)
One of New Zealand's largest chartered accounting networks, with a Wellington office covering audit, tax and advisory for growth-stage technology companies and government-adjacent businesses.
- William Buck NZ
Chartered accountants and advisors with a New Zealand practice - used by Wellington tech founders for tax structuring, R&D Tax Incentive claims and growth advisory.
- RSM New Zealand
International mid-market accounting network with New Zealand offices covering tax, audit and advisory for technology companies and early-stage startups across Wellington and Auckland.
- Beany
Online-first NZ accounting firm specifically popular with Wellington tech founders and contractors - GST, income tax, payroll and advisory through a digital-first model well-suited to early-stage companies.
- Crowe NZ
Mid-market international network with New Zealand coverage for tax, audit and advisory - used by growth-stage Wellington companies preparing for institutional investment or cross-border structuring.
Financial modelling, FP&A and fundraise prep. We work alongside your accountant - not instead of them.
- Builds the financial model - revenue assumptions, headcount, unit economics, runway.
- Sets up the monthly FP&A cycle: budget, forecast vs actual, variance analysis.
- Puts together the monthly board pack - P&L, cash, KPIs and forward outlook.
- Prepares the fundraise: investor model, deck financials, data room and diligence prep.
- Keeps the cap table tidy and handles option grants and valuation work ahead of NZGCP or institutional co-investment.
- Reports on the KPIs that move the business - ARR, gross margin, CAC payback, retention.
- Pressure tests hiring, pricing and big spend decisions against the model before the founder commits.
- Sits in board meetings and is embedded week-to-week, not just engaged annually for compliance.
We provide fractional CFO services across Wellington and beyond
Simple pricing
No hidden costs, no complicated long-term contracts. We understand how important flexibility is for Wellington startups.
Per month
- Accounting / FP&A tech stack implementation
- Monthly financial statements and reporting pack
- Quarterly board pack with detailed financial analysis (with variance analysis vs. budget, relevant KPI observations etc.)
- Investor-friendly output
Per month
- Everything in Core, plus
- Operating model (via an online platform like Runway or Excel-based)
- Ongoing model maintenance, refining projections, burn/runway management
- Customer cohorts modelling, churn and retention analysis
- LTV / CAC, unit economics analysis
- Cap table management
Per month
- Everything in Grow, plus
- M&A / fundraising support; review of business plan
- Pitch deck preparation
- Investor approach strategy / list building
- Due diligence support and deal negotiation
- Valuation as required and free access to Multiples Pro
Packages shown are illustrative, final pricing is tailored to client requirements.
Recently completed fractional CFO projects
Selected fractional CFO engagements and prior CFO experience.
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