From compliance to strategic finance partnership

Engagement Framework

The firm’s services are arranged in four levels, from statutory compliance to an ongoing strategic finance relationship. Each level includes the one before it. A business can choose the level that matches its current needs and maturity, and move between levels as it grows.

1Essentials
2Financial Clarity
3Performance Intelligence
4CFO Partnership

Scope is agreed after the firm understands the business

The levels describe how involvement typically increases. The services, reporting calendar and review frequency for a particular business are set out in an engagement letter once the firm has reviewed its records, systems and priorities.

Businesses that already have an in-house accounting team may enquire about a separately scoped advisory engagement, subject to the firm confirming availability.

The four levels

What each level is designed for

Each level includes everything in the level before it.

Essentials

Financial hygiene for compliant growth

Intended for: Businesses looking for disciplined compliance and accurate records without management involvement.
Reporting: Accurate books and statutory returns. Management reports are not part of this level.
Reviews: No structured review calls are part of this level.
Intended outcome: Accurate books and compliance discipline with minimal management time.

Service areas

Monthly accounting
Monthly GST returns (GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B)
Monthly TDS payment
Quarterly TDS returns
Payroll processing
PF and ESI payments and monthly returns
Routine ROC compliances

Boundaries and dependencies

Compliance-focused: management analysis and advisory are part of later levels.
Covers routine ROC compliances; non-routine corporate actions are scoped separately.
Depends on source documents and bank information being provided on time each month.

Financial Clarity

Monthly financial visibility and expense control

Intended for: Growing businesses that want monthly visibility of profitability, expenses and cash position.
Reporting: Monthly profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow statement, department-wise expenses and a basic MIS snapshot.
Reviews: One structured review call each month.
Intended outcome: A clear view of where money is earned, spent and held up.

Service areas

Everything in Essentials, plus:

Monthly profit and loss statement
Monthly balance sheet
Department-wise expense breakup
Cash flow statement
Basic MIS (a monthly financial snapshot)
Processing of operational expenses (monthly or bi-monthly)
One structured monthly review call

Boundaries and dependencies

Reporting describes results; forward planning and decision support are part of later levels.
Department-wise reporting depends on how transactions are coded in the books.

Performance Intelligence

Turning numbers into business decisions

Intended for: Business owners who want to use financial data actively for cost control, cash management and growth decisions.
Reporting: Advanced MIS with graphical and trend-based reporting, in addition to the Financial Clarity reports.
Reviews: Two structured review calls each month.
Intended outcome: Decisions on profitability, liquidity and efficiency that are supported by data.

Service areas

Everything in Financial Clarity, plus:

Advanced MIS with graphical and trend-based reporting
Expense analysis and cost control guidance
Working capital review
Profit and cash flow planning
Payment governance and cash control framework (maker–checker mechanism)
Decision support on pricing, hiring and expansion
Two structured review calls per month

Boundaries and dependencies

Recommendations are implemented by the business; decisions remain with management.
Planning relies on assumptions provided or confirmed by management.

CFO Partnership

Strategic finance leadership

Intended for: Founder-led businesses seeking ongoing strategic finance support and senior-level involvement.
Reporting: Budgets, forecasts and business performance tracking, in addition to the Performance Intelligence reports.
Reviews: Weekly or bi-weekly review meetings.
Intended outcome: An ongoing finance relationship supporting long-term strategy, growth and capital decisions.

Service areas

Everything in Performance Intelligence, plus:

Budgeting and forecasting
Business structuring and expansion planning
Business performance tracking
Owner-level finance discussions
Weekly or bi-weekly review meetings
Priority involvement and proactive support

Boundaries and dependencies

Does not, by itself, constitute appointment as the company’s CFO or key managerial personnel.
Capital-raising and IPO work, where required, are scoped as separate engagements.

Comparison

The levels side by side

Comparison of the four engagement levels by service area and review frequency
Service area	1 Essentials	2 Financial Clarity	3 Performance Intelligence	4 CFO Partnership
Accounting and statutory compliance	Included	Included	Included	Included
Monthly financial statements and basic MIS	Not included	Included	Included	Included
Advanced MIS with trends and graphics	Not included	Not included	Included	Included
Working capital review and cash planning	Not included	Not included	Included	Included
Payment governance (maker–checker)	Not included	Not included	Included	Included
Decision support: pricing, hiring, expansion	Not included	Not included	Included	Included
Budgeting, forecasting and structuring	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included
Structured reviews	None	One call a month	Two calls a month	Weekly or bi-weekly meetings

Fees, timelines and service levels are set out in the engagement letter agreed with each business.

Separate engagements

Services scoped outside the framework

Some services are agreed as separate engagements with their own terms, alongside or independently of the four levels.

Audit and assurance

Statutory audit under the Companies Act
Tax audit under the income-tax law
Internal audit and certifications

Subject to eligibility and independence. Not combined with accounting or Virtual CFO services for the same company where restricted.

Related service page

Transfer pricing and international transactions

Transfer pricing audit
Preparation of transfer pricing study reports
Inter-company agreement drafting
Foreign transaction advisory

Related service page

IPO and startup advisory

IPO feasibility assessment and planning support
Review, reconciliation and strengthening of financial records, reporting processes and internal controls for IPO readiness
DPIIT startup recognition
Startup valuation for fundraising

Related service page

Contact

Discuss which level fits your business

Share a brief description of your business and what you would like to understand better. The firm will respond to discuss whether and how it can help.

Contact the Firm

Or call +91 92132 33744