Female CFOs: The Missing Bench

In boardrooms and finance teams across Australia, a quiet but powerful shift is reshaping leadership.

Senior women—former CFOs, Finance Directors, Controllers and Consultants—aren’t stepping away from responsibility. They’re stepping into a smarter, more empowered way of working.

They’re building portfolio careers as Fractional and Interim CFOs- advising high-growth startups, driving finance for Small Caps, stabilising mid-market businesses and guiding capital strategy for SMEs. They're earning well, working flexibly, and delivering real results—without the bureaucracy, burnout, or politics of full-time corporate life.

At Boardroom Bench, we’ve created a platform where high-performing women in finance can re-engage on their own terms—working 1–3 days per week, remotely, and with full strategic impact.

Startups, Small Caps & SMEs Don’t Need Full-Time CFOs—They Need Smart Ones

Capital raises. Cash burn. Board reporting. Strategic pivots. Risk control.

Fast-moving businesses need financial firepower. But they don’t always need (or want) a full-time executive with a corner office and a $400K salary.

They need:

• A seasoned CFO who’s led capital raises and managed external stakeholder reporting (private investors, VCs, public markets, private equity, financiers).

• Financial models that stand up to investor scrutiny.

• Scenario planning, board reporting and governance uplift.

• A commercial advisor who speaks fluent founder language.

That’s where fractional CFOs shine- and women are leading the way.

“Startups are lean. They want value, not hierarchy. I work directly with founders, solve real problems, and then switch off.”

— Clare, remote CFO for a high-growth ecommerce brand.

Why More Women are Choosing Fractional & Interim Finance Work

Earn Well Without Burning Out

Boardroom Bench CFOs typically earn $1,500–$3,000 per day, working just 2–3 days per week. That’s high six-figure income potential—without the full-time grind.

Work When & How You Want

Choose engagements that fit your life, not the other way around. Skip the commute. Skip the politics. Show up for what matters.

Remote-First, Execution-Focused

Today’s finance stack (Xero, Power BI, Zoom, Slack, Asana etc) means location is irrelevant. Delivery is what counts.

Do Real Work with Real Impact

Be the finance brain behind a successful Series A. Stabilise a distressed SME. Lift board reporting to investor standards. These are real challenges—with real outcomes.

The Stats Back It Up

• 84% of senior female finance professionals prefer flexible, project-based or advisory work over full-time employment.

  – Deloitte Women@Work Survey, 2023

• Only 18% of ASX 200 CFO roles are held by women.

  – ASX Gender Equality Scorecard, 2023

• Women make up nearly 50% of Australia’s accounting and finance graduates.

  – CA ANZ Workforce Trends, 2022

• Over 60% of women say rigid work structures and lack of flexibility are key reasons they’ve left or considered leaving their role.

  – Deloitte Women@Work Global Outlook, 2022

• 49% of women say flexibility is a top-three reason for staying in a role; lack of it is a leading reason they leave.

  – McKinsey & Lean In: Women in the Workplace Report, 2023

• Boardroom Bench talent data confirms that women in fractional CFO roles earn $1,500–$3,000 per day, typically working 2–3 days per week.

These roles aren’t a fallback. They’re a premium career strategy—for professionals who know their value.

Reclaim Your Career—Your Way

If you’re a woman with senior finance leadership experience—whether returning from a break, stepping away from full-time corporate life, or ready to lead on your own terms—Boardroom Bench is your next step.

This is not a return-to-work program. It’s a reframe of what senior leadership can look like.

You’ve earned the experience. You’ve built the capability. Now it’s time to lead with flexibility, autonomy, and impact.

Join the Bench. Step Back In—On Your Terms.

💼 High-paying🏡 Remote-friendly🚀 Startup-savvy🙅‍♀️ No politics

Let’s connect: As a Chartered Accountant, tech investor, and founder of several start-ups, I understand both the demands of senior finance roles and the landscape you’re stepping back into.

📩 Email: damian@boardroombench.com

 🌐 Visit: www.boardroombench.com

 📞 Phone: 0413 092 511