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In this episode of CFO 4.0, Hannah Munro is joined by Matt Topham, Director of Practical CFO, to explore what makes a modern CFO truly effective—from KPIs to strategic decision-making.

Key topics covered:

• Matt’s unconventional journey to CFO
• The realities of working as a fractional CFO and identifying clients ready for change
• How to use KPIs like productivity, overhead rate, and LTV to CAC to guide decisions
• Why speed and imperfection often beat precision in fast-moving environments
• Managing cash, growth, and risk
• Practical tips for new CFOs on building meaningful KPIs and driving strategic clarity

Links mentioned:

• Matt's Linkedin
• Learn more about Practical CFO

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

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In this month's Finance Transformation Live host Hannah Munro explores how finance leaders can design scalable, resilient systems that adapt to change and support long-term growth.

Key topics covered:

• The four pillars of future-proof finance architecture: data, APIs, expandability, and maintenance
• Why multi-dimensional data structures are essential for reporting, AI, and agility
• How to evaluate API strength, integration flexibility, and vendor transparency
• Avoiding common pitfalls like over-customisation, poor data design, and dead-end system configurations
• Building layered tech stacks to support FP&A, BI, automation, governance, and collaboration
• Planning for continuous improvement: training, upgrades, and staying ahead of business needs

Links mentioned:

• Previous session: Finance Record to Report Maturity Model
• Connect with Hannah Munro
• Building Out Your Finance Data Strategy
• Reporting Tools in Sage Intacct
• Which Sage Product is Right For You Quiz!
• Book a discovery call

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

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In this insightful episode of the CFO 4.0 Podcast, host Hannah Munro is joined by Richard Sanders, Founder and Managing Partner at Sullivan Street Partners, for a no-holds-barred session of myth-busting in the world of private equity. This episode offers practical wisdom, experienced insights, and a refreshingly candid take on what it really means to lead in a PE-backed business.

Tune in to explore:

• Why growth and profit aren’t mutually exclusive in private equity strategy
• The real expectations around budgeting and how to balance ambition with achievability
• What kinds of mistakes are tolerated
• How equity structures work, and why understanding “good leaver vs bad leaver” clauses is essential
• Whether industry experience or private equity background matters more for CFO roles
• How values, trust, and transparency drive performance in today’s private equity landscape

Links mentioned:

• Richard's Linkedin
• Learn more about Sullivan Street Partners

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

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In this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro speaks with Karl Lloyd, fractional CFO and founder of Lloyd Consulting Limited, about his transition from full-time finance roles to a portfolio CFO career. Karl shares practical insights from working across sectors like e-commerce, SaaS, and travel, and reflects on the realities of life as a fractional CFO.

In this episode, Karl covers:

• The biggest differences and challenges between full-time and fractional CFO roles
• Building effective financial models and keeping them simple, flexible, and insightful
• Working with investors and managing expectations through clear reporting
• Lessons from multiple management buyouts and how to prepare early for due diligence
• Advice for aspiring fractional CFOs, including mindset, client management, and business development

Links mentioned:

• Karl's Linkedin
• Learn more about Lloyd Consulting Limted

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

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In this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro chats with Karla Smith, CFO at Ogilvy UK, about her unique path to CFO and how finance operates at the heart of a creative, people-driven organisation.

Key topics covered include:

• Karla’s career journey from audit trainee to CFO
• How to succeed in senior finance roles with flexible hours and build mutual trust with your organisation.
• The role of finance in creative industries
• Building financial literacy across teams through internal training
• Approaching talent investment and balancing short-term results with long-term value.
• Tips for new CFOs on strategic planning, effective delegation, and building strong CEO partnerships.

Links mentioned:

• Karla's Linkedin
• Learn more about Ogilvy

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

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In this episode of CFO 4.0, Neil Lynchehaun unpacks the Records-to-Report (R2R) maturity model and shares hard-earned insights from decades in finance transformation. He challenges traditional finance thinking and explores how finance teams can shift from compliance to strategic enablement.

What’s covered in this episode:

• Why maturity models are tools for inspiration, not evaluation
• The five levels of finance maturity, from statutory compliance to strategic insight
• How poor tagging and manual journals hold finance back
• The mindset shift from finance-led budgeting to operational-led planning
• Real-time accounting, continuous close, and eliminating month-end chaos
• Building finance functions that partner with, not trail behind, the business

Links mentioned:

• Previous session: Understanding the P2P Maturity Curve
• Connect with Hannah Munro
• Connect with Neil Lynchehaun
• Which Sage Product is Right For You Quiz!
• Book a discovery call

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

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In this episode of CFO 4.0, we dive into the critical 30 to 60 day phase of a CFO's journey with returning guest Jeremy Earnshaw, Founding Director of Clarendon and experienced CFO. Building on our previous conversation about the first 30 days, this episode explores how new CFOs can transition from learning to leading.

🔍 Key Takeaways:

• How stakeholder expectations shift after the first month
• Why your first management reporting pack matters
• Using the interest vs. power matrix to prioritise demands from senior stakeholders.
• The importance of understanding communication preferences
• How to evaluate finance processes for inefficiencies, single points of failure, and quick wins.
• Ways to check if you’re truly delivering on your CFO mandate

Links mentioned:

• Jeremy's Linkedin
• Learn more about Clarendon Executive Coaching and Mentoring

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

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In this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro speaks with David Wood, Chair of London Futurists, about the accelerating pace of AI and its profound implications for business, society, and the future of work. Together, they explore the near-term possibilities and longer-term consequences of artificial intelligence—from transformation to potential turmoil.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why some companies struggle with AI adoption
• The rise of neuro-symbolic AI and the combination of logic-based and intuitive systems
• Breakthroughs in video generation, self-prompting AI, and the future of AI-generated media
• What Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) could mean for jobs, skills, and human relevance
• How emotional intelligence and adaptability will be essential skills for leaders in the AI era

Links mentioned:

• David’s Linkedin
• Learn more about London Futurists
• London Futurists Meetups
• The Coming Wave: AI, Power and Our Future by Mustafa Suleyman
• Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the race that changed the world by Parmy Olson
• Uncontrollable : The Threat of Artificial Superintelligence by Darren McKee

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!