CFO Insights

In this episode we're joined by Rob Collings — chartered accountant, former Head of Finance and CFO at tech startups including Packfleet, and now founder of Flexal, an AI-native accounting firm built specifically for early-stage companies. Rob reveals his insights on where AI genuinely moves the needle in finance — and where it doesn't. We dig into the build vs buy decision for finance teams, why...

In this episode, we to talk to Pete Donell - fractional CFO and founder at Duet. In this discussion we have a deep dive into why CFOs accel when focusing on data, analytics and RevOps. We talk through the way AI spend is a positive trigger for CFOs exploring the return on investment in R&D. You might be surprised to hear what steps leading finance leaders are expected to take in this important...

In this episode, we talk to John Gronen is CFO at Yooz, the purchase-to-pay automation platform. John brings 25+ years’ experience across finance, operations, sales and M&A, including previous CFO roles. We explore his views on AI deployment in procure to pay and mitigating against fraud. Many CFOs will be fascinated to hear how he shapes the growth of his team and mentors others to help navig...

In this episode, we talk to Spela Priyon, one of the co-founders at EquityPeople a business focused on team incentives and recently acquired by Optio. In this discussion we cover a range of challenges in the incentivisation space, from salary benchmarking to share option schemes. She shares her views on what it takes to make incentives drive the right behaviours and she shares her refreshing persp...

In this episode, we’re going to talk to Alexander Wulff CEO & Co-founder at Scaleup Finance and Nume. The businesses he has founded span the world of fractional CFOs supported by Tech platforms and the hive-mind. And most recently the first steps towards an AI CFO. We discuss a range of financial challenges for smaller businesses and those at seed stage. We cover what it takes to incorporate a...

We explore Freddie Dixon’s career journey and the experiences that have shaped his leadership as CFO at Bright Network. He shares practical insights on how to run effective board meetings, from defining a clear purpose to aligning on what each stakeholder wants to achieve. The conversation highlights the guiding principles that turn board sessions into focused, high-impact discussions.

Arnon Shimoni has an unusual background for someone talking about billing infrastructure. Engineer turned solution consultant turned growth leader. That mix matters because billing sits at the intersection of product, engineering, and finance, and most companies let the wrong team drive. In this conversation, Arnon explains what CFOs need to understand about billing complexity, why it's a multi-di...

In this episode, we to talk to Joel Nordstrom, founder at Atlar, the AI-native treasury platform, built for scaling finance teams. In our conversation we discuss the Treasury function in scaling businesses, sharing lessons from businesses that find efficiencies being supported by the latest platforms, as well as harmonising their work on an international basis. We learn about what AI can do now to...

In this episode, we to talk to Atish Patel from Feeld. This hugely successful business is a dating app for the curious. In this discussion we uncover his unique perspective on how to take an intentional mindset on growth, margin development and protecting that gross margin so it can be reinvested on the key levers to drive the future of the business.

Emma Game, Partner at Wilson Sonsini in London, where she focuses on tax advice for high growth startups. In this discussion we talk about considerations CFOs in Tech need to keep front of mind.  We explore permanent establishment risks and learn when sales taxes and VAT might kick in. Taking the perspective of a UK based Tech business expanding internationally. We highlight typical...

In this episode, we talk to Albert Malikov, founder and CEO of Stacks. He shares his view on the future of finance from the perspective of a former product lead at Uber and Plaid. In building Stacks he has leveraged that deep fintech and product-management background to automate and modernise month-end financial close. We discuss challenges in scaling finance teams from those lurking inefficiencie...

In this episode, we’re going to talk to Vivek Manipadam who both founded and runs the boutique M&A advisory firm Gemfield Partners.  Vivek shares lessons from his experience of M&A and funding rounds, with his acquisition experience being on both the sell side and the buy side. He works with leadership teams on exit readiness and appraising the buyer-universe. This episode is a great...

In this episode, we to talk to Arti Modhwadia who now has a career path as a fractional CFO in the Tech space, having founded her career working with EY and Harvey Nichols. She has focused on working with purpose-driven founders helping them to scale their ventures sustainably and raise finance for growth. Arti shares some really important lessons for those who might be deciding to embark on a por...

We've brought Berlin based finance leader, Rory Ribeiro onto the podcast to bring to the fore his insights on how telling key narratives in high growth businesses and tech enablement for finance. He shares his learnings from Marley Spoon, a business at significant scale, and how AI and a systems perspective frames decisions around ERP and systems implementation.

In our discussion with Sanjay we learn about the key steps on his journey to becoming CFO at Gravitee. We discuss his perspective on career milestones and how to focus on the most essential capabilities that can make you a great CFO operator. Sanjay brings some fascinating insights on the practical steps anyone can take to become an amazing partner to the CEO.

Steve talks to Guy Hutchinson about his career and the key learnings moving from the CFO role to being CEO/Founder. We dip into how he tapped into his capabilities to found a business from scratch, moving through the emotional stress of those early months pre-traction and shares some really tangible insights on focusing on your health and forming a balance to those inevitable work pressures. Steve...

In our discussion with Saagar Mehta we share the key principles of pricing. And introduce CFOs into the most important concepts and approachesto optimize pricing, aligning it with commercial goals and target segments. We discuss approaches to Packaging structure, Price model, and Price levels as key levers to optimize both Sales Velocity (Land) and Net Revenue Retention (Expand). And share how a C...

Kiran shares some insights into his business background, starting in engineering and then moving to venture capital. In this episode we talk about how the operational CFO can partner closely with the founder and lead a focus on gating important investment decisions and targeting the right metrics for success. We dip into the why rev ops must always be on the radar and the optimal approach to hirin...

In this episode we talk to Paul Barnhurst, the FP&AGuy, and a thought leader in training and content that helps FP&A and Finance leaders drive better business decisions. We dive into the critical ‘whats’ of FP&A, discuss the upside of seeking out those all important leading indicators and you might be surprised why FP&A leads and CFOs alike need to adjust their communications to br...

In this episode we talk to Joe Knowles, VC and partner at Smedvig. We learn about the Smedvig approach to investing and make a deep dive into the challenges making that first finance leadership hire. Joe explains how the CFO role is different from others in the C-suite and how the team at Smedvig seek to persuade founders of the ROI in that hire. He talks through what the investor director looks f...

In this episode Guy Hutchinson steps into the guest seat to share some insight on why the Startup CFO community is such an amazing resource for Tech CFOs. Guy had an accomplished career as a CFO building startups from seed-to-scale. On this journey he founded a meet-up group with three other CFOs, and that group became Startup CFO the leading community in the space. We discuss in detail how this t...

In this episode we talk to Eleena Broadfoot. Eleena is the CFO at Beauty Pie, a great success story with their direct to consumer proposition. She has had an accomplished career, including some great experience working within Virgin Group.  Always working closely with passionate founders, she takes us through her personal journey and how she has focused on her career development.  We dis...

We have an in depth talk with Anthony Danon, an investor running the Cocoa fund and focusing on fintech. For CFOs in our community, he shares some remarkable tips on identifying a great tech business to work with …..… as well as laying down key identifiers for successful founders. Anthony has spent >9 years in fintech as an operator, VC and angel, having done 34+ investments. He is a pre-seed/s...

In this episode, we speak with Douglas Squirrel, super experienced Consulting CTO. We focus the discussions on his work in developing a high-performing tech leaders. He includes some remarkable stories from his Tech career on how CTOs can support business outcomes. CTOs and CFOs are often kindred spirits and can drive business transformation when they unlock a close business partnership

Christian Wattig is an FP&A expert with 14 years of leadership experience at P&G, Unilever, and Squarespace.  He is the founder and managing director of FP&A Prep, where he teaches FP&A skills to finance teams and business leaders through on-site training and public online seminars.  In this wide-ranging conversation, Guy and Christian discuss what differentiates exceptio...