EY CFO Outlook: Scaling internationally, making an impact locally, with Anna Savage, CFO, Fexco

Founded in 1981, Fexco is Ireland’s most successful multinational financial and business solutions provider, operating in 29 countries and processing over €3bn in transactions annually. Yet, at heart, it is a family-owned business, proudly headquartered in Killorglin, Co Kerry, that values on curiosity, wellness and community impact.

After almost 20 years working in the traditional banking sector, Anna Savage joined Fexco as Group CFO and immediately noticed the differences in the structures and culture that a family-owned business can bring. Anna was able to understand exactly why the company was set up, what the vision for the company is, and therefore what drives all of the decision making. That has empowered Anna to “make value added decisions for the company, but yet kept the ethos and the values that they see strong in place.”

In this episode of The EY Podcast: CEO Outlook Series, Anna Savage, Group CFO of Fexco, joins host Jonathon Healy to talk about leading the finance function of one of Ireland’s most iconic family businesses, innovating for the future while securing the present, and making a positive impact on the local community.

They also discuss:

·       The Fexco story and its evolution from a local foreign exchange service to a global financial services player.

·       How strategic and carefully-nurtured partnerships have helped Fexco to scale internationally

·       Fexco’s investment into AI and how it is leading to the creation of new types of roles

·       The critical importance of cybersecurity and Fexco’s ‘three-pronged approach’ to achieving it

·       The company’s target is to double, not just the value of the company over five years, but also its impact to the local community

·       What Anna has learned about work-life balance, resilience and dealing with the unexpected