Last Updated on August 14, 2026 by Jason Andrew
SNAPSHOT
After acquiring Austral Herbs via a Search Fund, CEO Paige Kohalmont needed to raise capital, overhaul financial systems, and run a stock-heavy business with zero internal finance team. SBO Financial became her embedded VCFO and full-stack finance function — helping raise working capital, create financial clarity, and unlock consistent growth without stress.
The Founder’s Challenge
.Running a fast-moving, inventory-driven business is hard enough. Doing it right after an acquisition — with no in-house finance team, complex supplier terms, and multi-month inventory cycles — is even harder.
“I was making million-dollar purchasing decisions with no clear visibility into cash, margins, or even whether supplier invoices were correct. And I needed to raise money fast. It was overwhelming.”
Paige needed more than a bookkeeper. She needed a finance partner who could model, strategise, and operate — at speed.
What SBO Did
SBO stepped in as Paige’s VCFO + full finance function, building confidence from boardroom to balance sheet.
Strategic & VCFO Support:
- Built dozens of investor-grade financial models — used to raise both equity and debt
- Partnered with Paige on cash strategy, margin analysis, and board communication
- Created real-time dashboards and reports aligned to business drivers and investor expectations
Operational Finance Overhaul:
- Fixed mapping issues between Ostendo and Xero, uncovering costly errors in purchase orders, FX, and freight
- Built a cash flow forecasting system linked directly to the purchase planning process
- Automated reporting packs combining financial and non-financial KPIs
- Introduced weekly finance meetings and joined internal comms to stay tightly aligned with the team
The Outcomes
- 💵 Acquisition finance and working capital raised, underpinned by strategic modelling and investor-ready reporting
- 📦 Full visibility into inventory, AP, and cash flow for a business ordering stock 4+ months ahead
- 🧾 Accounting clean-up that prevented errors and smoothed supplier payments
- 🔍 Defined and tracked gross profit & margin, unlocking smarter pricing and promotions
- 🧘 Zero finance stress — despite rapid growth and external stakeholder demands
Want to scale with confidence?
Let SBO become your strategic finance partner — from daily operations to investor conversations.
👉 Book a call to explore the VCFO model.
