Accountant, executive coach or CFO: what support is actually missing?
Start with the unanswered need. Accounting, executive support and recurring financial management can complement one another. Some accounting firms already offer advice and dashboards, so check their scope before adding another provider or changing firms.
“I need an accountant who helps me more.” That can mean understanding this month’s profit, anticipating payment dates, choosing priorities or managing a team. Choosing a job title before defining the problem can duplicate work while leaving the actual need unanswered.
When reliable accounts are missing
Start with your accountant or Swiss accounting adviser. Ask what information is missing, when it will be available and which analysis is included. Adding a CFO dashboard does not itself make incomplete records reliable.
Accounting firms can also provide financial management support. The French accounting profession describes dashboard and cash management assignments. The relevant distinction is the agreed scope, not a blanket opposition between professions.
When the issue concerns leadership or organisation
Depending on their specialism, an executive coach may address perspective, management or organisation. Examine the method and deliverables. A large audience or testimonials do not establish that a provider will produce a cash forecast reconciled to your data.
Financial support likewise does not resolve every leadership issue. If you know what you can afford but struggle to delegate, organisation may be the obstacle rather than numbers.
When decisions need current financial information
Financial management connects accounting records, invoices, the order book and future commitments. Its value lies in concrete questions: why contribution fell, when cash could become tight, whether a hire can be funded and which actions changed the position.
- Regular interpretation of profit and explained variances.
- A cash forecast with visible collection assumptions.
- Scenarios for significant decisions and their cash consequences.
- Assigned actions reviewed at subsequent meetings.
Five questions before changing support
- Who reconciles data and flags uncertainty?
- How often will I receive an analysis, and how current will it be?
- Who explains differences and prepares decisions with me?
- What data and time will my team need to contribute?
- How will we avoid duplicating my accountant, team and other advisers?
When ongoing support matters more than a one off review
A diagnostic can identify a problem. When prices, hiring, collections and margins change each month, decisions also need follow through. For established SMEs and startups, an annual relationship can provide continuity through monthly reviews and an appropriate cash review frequency. Timing and responsibilities depend on available data.
Mercova focuses on finance and the strategic decisions it informs. We begin with your situation and the work your advisers already provide. See our fictional monthly financial report and financial management support to compare with what is missing today.
Frequently asked questions
Must I change accountants to receive more advice?
Not necessarily. First review scope, available information, timing and the possibility of adding a management review. Consider changing if the need and the service remain incompatible.
At what revenue level is a CFO necessary?
There is no universal threshold. Complexity, the weight of decisions, data quality and available resources matter more than revenue alone.
Can a coach and CFO work together?
Yes, when the roles are useful and clearly distinct. Mercova focuses on numbers, scenarios and ongoing financial decisions. A referral intermediary is not required.
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