🇺🇸

US Companies in Australia

🇦🇺

CFO oversight for US companies operating in Australia

Local expertise. US GAAP capability. Strategic financial leadership — without the full-time cost.

Give your US parent company full visibility and confidence in your Australian operations.

Book a Discovery Call → Download Free US Subsidiary Guide

Fellow CPA Australia (FCPA) | 30+ Years Senior Finance Experience

Specialist in US multinational subsidiary CFO engagements

Melbourne-based — serving Australian operations of global companies

$250k–$350k+

Annual cost of a full-time Australian CFO — before 11.5% superannuation, bonuses and on-costs

$4k–$10k

Typical fractional CFO retainer per month — month-to-month, no superannuation, no long-term commitment

Week 4

First US-ready management report delivered to your parent company

Bridging US GAAP expectations with Australian statutory compliance since 1994.

The Challenge

📊
US GAAP vs Australian statutory reporting gapsLocal accounts prepared under Australian standards don't map cleanly to what your US parent needs for consolidation or SEC reporting. Reconciliation gaps accumulate each quarter.
🔍
Transfer pricing scrutiny — the ATO's #1 audit targetCross-border transactions between related parties are the ATO's primary audit focus for foreign-owned subsidiaries. Undocumented arrangements create serious tax and penalty exposure.
🏛️
Australian tax obligations that don't translateGST, payroll tax, superannuation guarantee, FBT and franking credits operate very differently from US tax obligations. Non-compliance penalties are substantial.
💸
Cash repatriation and dividend structuring complicationsMoving money back to the US involves dividend planning, franking credit optimisation, FIRB considerations and withholding tax under the US–Australia tax treaty.
🗣️
No credible local finance voice at board levelWithout a CFO present in Australia, your US parent makes strategic decisions without proper local financial input or representation in audits and regulatory matters.
📋
ASIC and Corporations Act obligations often missedForeign-controlled entities have specific Chapter 2M financial reporting obligations to ASIC that many US parent companies are unaware of until they receive a compliance notice.

What We Deliver

Fractional CFO services built specifically for US subsidiaries

Dedicated fractional CFO support for US-owned businesses in Australia — whether you are an established subsidiary, a growing operation, or a new market entrant setting up from scratch.

US GAAP & Cross-Border Reporting

Monthly management reporting in US GAAP format (10-Q / 10-K ready)
Reconciliation between Australian statutory accounts and US GAAP
SEC reporting support and pro-forma financial statements
SOX-style internal controls advisory
Intercompany elimination and consolidation support
Multi-currency financial reporting and FX management

Local Compliance & Risk Management

Full ATO compliance — GST, BAS, income tax, payroll tax, FBT, superannuation
ASIC corporate secretarial and Chapter 2M annual reporting
Transfer pricing documentation and risk management
Tax-efficient dividend repatriation and cash movement strategies
R&D Tax Incentive claims
Resident Public Officer obligations

Strategic CFO Oversight

Cash flow forecasting and KPI dashboards for US leadership
Budget vs actual analysis with clear variance commentary
Board-ready reporting for US and Australian stakeholders
CFO representation — audits, banking, and regulatory matters
Strategic growth, M&A diligence, and exit advisory
Direct liaison with US parent CFO and Controller

Full Finance Function Setup & Management

End-to-end finance function build for new Australian market entrants
Entity structure advice, ABN, GST and ATO registration
Accounting system selection and implementation (Xero, NetSuite, MYOB)
Chart of accounts aligned to US parent reporting requirements
Finance team recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing management
Scalable finance infrastructure as your Australian operations grow

Board Advisory & Governance

Australian resident director and independent board advisory
Board pack preparation and presentation for local Australian boards
Audit committee support and independent financial oversight
Corporate governance frameworks aligned to the Corporations Act
Risk management reporting and internal controls for the Australian board
Independent financial voice between local operations and US parent

Treasury, Banking & Capital Management

Australian banking relationships and debt facility establishment
Working capital and liquidity management for local operations
FX hedging strategy and intercompany funding structures
Cash repatriation planning under the US–Australia tax treaty
Capital allocation decisions between Australian and group operations
Financial modelling for investment, expansion, and exit scenarios

Why Fractional

Why CFO Direct vs the alternatives

The fractional model gives you senior strategic capability without the full-time overhead — at a fraction of the cost.

Feature	CFO Direct (Fractional)	Full-Time Local CFO	Local Accountant
Monthly cost (AUD)	$4,000 – $10,000	$20,000 – $30,000+	$3,500 – $6,500
Superannuation obligation	None	Yes — 11.5%+	Yes — if employed
US GAAP & cross-border expertise	✓	Varies	Rare
Strategic & board-level focus	✓	✓	✗ (compliance only)
Full Australian compliance coverage	✓	✓	Basic only
Transfer pricing documentation	✓	Varies	✗
Board-ready reporting for US parent	✓	✓	✗
Month-to-month flexibility	✓	✗	✓
Finance function setup capability	✓	Varies	✗

💡 The fractional model also eliminates recruitment costs ($30,000–$60,000 for a CFO hire), salary review risk, and the 3–6 month gap if a full-time CFO resigns. You get continuity, expertise and flexibility in one engagement.

Frank Manti

Principal — CFO Direct, Melbourne

Fellow CPA Australia (FCPA)
Bachelor of Business — Accounting & Law
30+ years senior finance leadership
Specialist in foreign subsidiary CFO engagements
US GAAP reporting for multinational consolidations
Transfer pricing documentation and ATO defence
ATO compliance and dispute resolution
Finance function setup for inbound foreign companies

"I understand exactly what US corporate offices need to see — and how to deliver it within Australian compliance requirements."

Built for the complexity of cross-border finance

With over 30 years of experience as a senior finance executive, I have spent the majority of my career working with multinational and international businesses — including serving as the de facto CFO for Australian subsidiaries of US, UK, and European parent companies.

I understand what your US parent company needs to see — and I know exactly how to deliver it within Australian compliance requirements. No learning curve. No translation layer. I speak their language because I've worked in their world.

The gap no one else fills

Most fractional CFO services in Australia are built for local SMEs. They don't understand US GAAP consolidation requirements, SEC reporting cadences, SOX-style controls, or the specific transfer pricing obligations that apply to foreign-controlled entities under Australian law.

CFO Direct is built specifically for the inbound market — for US parent companies that need a trusted, experienced finance executive on the ground in Australia who can operate across both regulatory environments without compromise.

Selected experience and outcomes

US GAAP reconciliationManagement packs structured to plug directly into parent consolidation workbooks

Transfer pricingDocumentation and defence of cross-border related-party transactions with the ATO

Subsidiary setupFinance function establishment for multiple inbound US and European multinationals

ATO negotiationSuccessful resolution of complex ATO compliance matters on behalf of foreign-owned entities

Cash repatriationStructured dividend and cash movement strategies minimising withholding tax exposure

Board representationOngoing CFO representation in board, audit, and banking meetings for US-owned subsidiaries