Board Advisory & Governance
Sydney & Remote
Boards need more than financial reports — they need financial perspective. The difference between a board that governs well and one that doesn't is often not the quality of the information they receive, but whether someone is translating it into language they can understand, act on, and be held accountable to.
What board advisory and governance support covers
Board paper review and financial narrative
We review board papers and management accounts to ensure the financial narrative is accurate, clear, and appropriate for a non-financial audience. Directors should be able to read a board pack and understand the organisation's financial position — not just file it.
Governance frameworks for growing organisations
Many NFPs and SMEs grow faster than their governance structures can keep up with. We help organisations design and implement governance frameworks that are proportionate to their size, risk profile, and strategic direction.
Audit and risk committee support
Audit and risk committees carry significant responsibility. We provide independent financial expertise to support committee members in discharging their obligations — including reviewing audit findings, assessing risk appetite, and challenging management where appropriate.
Independent financial advice directly to the board
We prepare financial reports and presentations that translate complex data into clear, decision-ready information — for CEOs, boards, funders, and other stakeholders.
Director liability and risk communication
Directors carry personal liability for the financial decisions of their organisations. We help boards understand the financial risks they are carrying — clearly and without alarm — and put in place the frameworks to manage them appropriately.
A board adviser who has
sat at the table?
Marianna Agostino is a Certified Chair™ (Advisory Board Centre) — a credential that reflects not just knowledge of governance best practice, but the practical experience of operating as a board director and chair. She served as Board Chair at the Education Centre for Christian Spirituality and continues as Adviser to the Board at Sydney Coastal Councils Group.
That means the advice she gives boards is grounded in the reality of what it's like to sit in the chair — not just the theory of what good governance looks like.
Marianna has spent over 20 years advising private company boards across the SME sector, and a decade supporting CFOs and serving as a trusted financial adviser to boards in her capacity as a Chartered Accountant. It is a depth of experience that is genuinely rare in a single adviser.
Who needs board advisory
support?
NFP boards navigating financial complexity or governance risk
SME boards that need independent financial perspective
Audit and risk committees requiring specialist support
Directors who want to better understand their financial obligations and liability
Organisations whose governance structures haven't kept pace with their growth
Want independent financial
perspective at board level?
Whether you need a one-off review or ongoing advisory support, the starting point is a conversation about what your board needs.