CHRIS CATHIE
CFO Advisory Services & Process Automation Expert
As an audit-trained Chartered Accountant, I spent 13 years transforming finance operations for established businesses. I saw the same problem everywhere: leaders were trapped in the past, buried in spreadsheets and manual reports, and making decisions based on outdated information.
They didn't just need their "month-end fixed"; they needed a clear path forward.
I founded Lyros to be that strategic partner. My approach is different. I build a fully automated finance engine first, eliminating the manual work that bogs down the team. That provides real-time, accurate data, so the time goes on what matters: forward-looking strategy, cash flow management and the next stage of growth.
MY DIFFERENCE
Where finance meets IT: the bridge you're missing
I work in the gap between the finance team and the IT team: process, controls and systems implementation. Chartered Accountant on one side of the table, proven product builder on the other, systems thinker in between, designing controls at the organisation level with an in-house IT team that's not afraid to talk jargon with me. That bridge is how real change gets through.
What I do
High-level strategic guidance, built on a solid foundation of automated accounting.
Strategic leadership (the "what")
Financial Strategy & Forecasting: I build the financial models, budgets and what-if scenarios that map the path to profitability and sustainable growth.
Cash Flow & Treasury Management: Move beyond money in the bank. I put in a cash management system that optimises working capital so you can invest in growth.
KPI & Performance Insights: I build simple, focused dashboards covering the three to five metrics that drive your business, letting you make data-driven decisions.
Stakeholder & Team Leadership: I act as the financial voice in board meetings, investor pitches and bank negotiations, and mentor the existing finance team.
The automation engine (the "how")
Finance Automation & Integration: I design and implement the tech stack (Xero or QBO, n8n, Microsoft) to automate the whole workflow, from invoice to reconciliation.
Process Improvement: I do not automate a bad process. I redesign the finance operation to be faster, simpler and more resilient.
Audit-Ready Compliance: My audit background means the books are clean, compliant and ready for diligence at any time, without the last-minute fire drills.
Ongoing Systems Management: I do not just build the engine. I maintain and optimise it as you scale, so the tech stack grows with you.
Your stack, not mine
There is no required toolset. The design happens at the system level, in whatever your business already runs. That is the point of working the gap between finance and IT.
My own practice is the proof:
Microsoft 365, Xero and n8n wired into one automated finance engine.
The same design, translated to whatever your environment requires:
Microsoft 365 → Google Workspace
Xero → MYOB, NetSuite, Dynamics, SAP or whatever ERP you run
n8n → Power Automate
Most businesses already own more automation than they have ever switched on.
If you're running enterprise AI, I work hands-on in Claude Code, Codex and Copilot, under your enterprise agreement or inside your own hosted, DLP-controlled environment.
Why my approach is different
Why hire a separate CFO and an automation consultant? With Lyros, you get both in one strategic partner. I combine executive-level financial leadership with deep expertise in systems automation. This unique blend delivers powerful results:
Decision-Ready Insights: I move beyond basic reports. You get clean, accurate, real-time data, allowing you to make confident decisions faster.
Investor-Grade Assurance: Your financials will be clear, defensible and ready for board meetings or diligence at a moment's notice.
An Accelerated Close: By automating the manual work, I turn month-end from a 15-day fire drill into a 3-day non-event.
A Flexible Strategic Partner: You get flexible, executive-level support that scales with you, from a high-impact project to an ongoing leadership role.
How I work
Discovery and diagnosis
A concise 30 minute deep dive into your business goals, strategic challenges and immediate financial pain points.
Rapid financial health check
I review the current systems, processes and financials to identify the bottlenecks and the opportunities.
Strategic roadmap and proposal
I set out a clear, phased plan. That covers the project to build the automated foundation and the advisory work that follows it.
Automation and execution
I implement the tech stack and redesign the workflows so the finance function runs itself, freeing the team for higher-value work.
Ongoing CFO partnership
Once the foundation is set, the work settles into a rhythm: reviewing forecasts, analysing performance and moving the business forward.
Something here worth discussing?
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