CFO 4.0 - The Future of Finance
Hannah Munro
Welcome to CFO 4.0, where we explore the dynamic landscape of Financial Leadership in the era of Technology 4.0. I'm your host, Hannah Munro, Managing Director of itas, a pioneering Financial Transformation consultancy. In this podcast series, we unravel the intricate connection between cutting-edge technologies and the financial domain. It's more than just adopting tools; it's about cultivating the skills necessary to navigate and spearhead the transformative journey within Finance. CFO 4.0 embodies the archetype of the Financial Leader in the future — a fusion of strategic visionaries and tech-savvy innovators. As the CFO role swiftly evolves from a mere cost controller to a strategic influencer, each transition opens up novel possibilities. Tune in as we share valuable insights and guidance from inspirational CFOs and finance leaders every episode, empowering you to revolutionise your processes, people, and data. Seize the opportunities, propel your business and career forward, and lead with unwavering confidence. Join us in shaping the future of Finance — this is CFO 4.0, your guide to the Future of Finance. We’d love for you to join our community, and if you like what you hear (which I’m sure you will 😉) it would be great if you rate and share.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 17, 2022 • 39min
80. Why Finance Needs to Invest in its People - with Ash Noah, CIMA & AICPA
Send us your thoughtsIn this episode of CFO 4.0, we have a return guest, Ash Noah, Vice President, CGMA External Relations at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association), representing AICPA & CIMA, to talk to us about finance, mindset vs skills, and how the existing workforce needs to adapt.In his role as Vice President, Ash serves as a liaison to CFOs and CEOs to understand how finance teams are evolving and guides the Association’s initiatives to help management accountants create more value for their organisations. What else is covered in this episode?What new skills/mindsets does the finance workforce need for the future?What does the structure of this new organisation look like?What's driving the urgent need for change? What will happen if we don’t?Where is the next generation of finance teams going to come from?How does the existing workforce need to adapt?How do we address the non-technical skillsets needed?Links mentioned in this episode:Download the slides PDFFollow Ash on LinkedInSign up for our CFO Briefing and Podcast newsletters Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here. Subscribe to our Podcast!
May 10, 2022 • 44min
79. Future of the CFO Role - Research Discussion with Clive Webb, Head of Business Management, ACCA
Send us your thoughtsClive Webb, Head of Business Management at ACCA, returns to the CFO 4.0 Podcast, to chat about the future of the CFO role, and discuss the key insights which came from Clive’s research.Also covered in this episode:The gap of perception between what a CEO wants and what a CFO thinks a CEO wants in the roleWhat are the areas CFOs aren’t focusing on, but they should?How to grow the next generation of CFOs?The virtual CFO and what they can bring to an organizationWhat skill sets are valuable to a CFO?Links mentioned in this episode:Clive's LinkedInACCA Website Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here. Subscribe to our Podcast!
May 3, 2022 • 55min
78. Financial Transformation Live - Re-engineering your Finance Processes
Send us your thoughtsMissed our last Financial Transformation Live session over on LinkedIn or YouTube?No need to worry, you can listen to it here on our CFO 4.0 Podcast!In this Financial Transformation Live session, Hannah covers how you can rethink and redesign your existing finance processes to improve productivity and allow your team to focus on the things that add value.Also in this episode:How to identify where to focus your process improvement effortsTools & techniques for brainstorming solutions to process problemsTop tips for implementing process changesLinks mentioned in this episodeLearn more about Financial Transformation LivePDF Presentation for this sessionGetting started guide to streamlining your finance processes | Free download!The 11 biggest benefits of finance process mapping | BlogAutomating your finance team with Sage Intacct | On-demand WebinarSign up to our mailing list to receive podcast alerts Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here. Subscribe to our Podcast!
Apr 26, 2022 • 44min
77. Making the shift from CFO to Board with Fiona Hathorn, CEO of Women on Boards UK
Send us your thoughtsIn this episode of CFO 4.0, Hannah sits down with Fiona Hathorn, CEO of Women on Boards UK, to chat about balancing the cultural fit with bringing something different to the Board, and top tips on setting out on your Board journey.Fiona is the CEO of Women on Boards UK alongside advising a number of different boards and organisations, including Advisory Panel Member for the FRC, Advisory Board Member to Spktral, advisor to Peel Hunt, and Chair of Hanx's Nominations Committee.This episode also covers:What skills & knowledge do you need to be on a Board? And how do you get them?How to find and identify Board opportunities? And how to identify if it’s a good opportunity for youHow to make yourself stand out as a potential Board candidate?What does a typical Board recruitment process look like?Top tips on interviewing wellLinks mentioned in this episode:Fiona's LinkedInWomen On Boards UK Websiteitas Website Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here. Subscribe to our Podcast!
Apr 19, 2022 • 40min
76. CFO Stories: The Unconventional CFO with Jeremy Foster, CFO, Talroo
Send us your thoughtsIn this episode of CFO 4.0, Hannah Munro chats to Jeremy Foster to discuss the role of the CFO, and the benefits of not thinking like a traditional CFO. Jeremy is Chief Financial Officer at Talroo. He has more than fifteen years of experience as a senior executive, mainly in the technology and banking field. Jeremy has been CFO or COO for 3 Inc. 5000 companies, two of which have made the Inc. 500. Also covered in this episode:Jeremy’s unconventional journey to becoming CFOBenefits of not thinking like a traditional CFOOptimising finance structure and team design to achieve an agile finance functionInsights into financial and resource strategy for high growthTop tips on how to approach marketing investmentsJeremy’s essential tool list to create agile finance functions Links referenced in this episodeJeremy's LinkedInTalroo Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here. Subscribe to our Podcast!
Apr 12, 2022 • 41min
75. The Pandemic and Beyond with Clive Webb, Head of Business Management, ACCA
Send us your thoughtsIn this episode of CFO 4.0, Hannah Munro talks to Clive Webb, Head of Business Management at ACCA. Clive deals with business and technology-related matters from the perspective of the CFO. This episode covers the Pandemic and Beyond for finance, and also explores the research Clive carried out about the pandemic, and also the future of finance as a function.Also covered in this episode:Update on current research in the ACCA professional insights teamCOVID and the shift it has created within the role of financeImpact of volatility has had on the demands from the finance organisationNew data skill sets needed within finance teamsThe importance of technology to the future of financeLinks referenced in this episode:Clive's LinkedInACCA WebsiteFinance's Journey to the Future Article Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here. Subscribe to our Podcast!
Apr 5, 2022 • 46min
74. Financial Transformation Live - Getting started with mapping out your finance processes
Send us your thoughtsJoin us for the next instalment of Financial Transformation live where Hannah Munro talks about how to get started with mapping out your finance processes!Topics Hannah covers include: Top tips for getting started with process mappingWhat process mapping tools do we use?How to approach process mapping within your team...and so much more!Links referenced in this episode:Webinar: Automating your finance team with Sage IntacctTop 5 Process Mapping Tools for Beginners - BlogRemember to follow us on LinkedIn so you don't miss out on our future sessions!Learn more and sign up for live alerts for our sessions here Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here. Subscribe to our Podcast!
Mar 29, 2022 • 42min
73. How to deal with shifts and transformations within finance teams with Chris Argent, Founder of Generation CFO
Send us your thoughtsOn our newest episode of CFO 4.0, Hannah sits down and chats with Chris Argent, Founder of Generation CFO.In 2009, Chris was frustrated by poor systems, poor reporting, and lack of time. It was in 2009 that he created Generation CFO. It started off as a small group over on LinkedIn, and is now a huge community with almost 70,000 members!What else is covered in this episode?Chris’s journey to Generation CFOThe shift in finance Chris has seen during his time at Generation CFOWhat changes are happening in finance teams today?Importance of people to the technological shift that’s happeningFixing processes vs automating themGetting started on your transformation journeyLinks referenced in this episodeJoin the Generation CFO Group on LinkedInFollow Chris on LinkedInFind out more about Generation CFO here Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here. Subscribe to our Podcast!
Mar 22, 2022 • 43min
72. CFO Stories: Getting that first CFO role with Billy Scanlan, CFO at The Marketing Practice
Send us your thoughtsOn this episode of CFO 4.0, Hannah chats to Billy Scanlan, CFO at The Marketing Practice.Billy joined The Marketing Practice in 2021, but has previously helped scale fast-growth, private equity-backed B2B businesses. In this episode, the two talk about getting that first CFO role, and how you can build your skills and capabilities to make you a good candidate for your first CFO role!What else is covered in this episode?What is The Marketing Practice?Why Billy chose The Marketing Practice as his first CFO role?How to build the skills and capabilities to make you a good candidate for your first CFO role?How to find your first CFO role?What questions to ask before accepting the offer?How to make your first 90 days a success in your new role?Links referenced in this episodeBilly's LinkedInThe Marketing Practice Website Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here. Subscribe to our Podcast!
Mar 15, 2022 • 34min
71. Building an impactful & commercially focused finance team with Monica Arora, EVP of Commercial Finance, Sage
Send us your thoughtsOn this week’s episode of CFO 4.0, we have returning guest, Monica Arora, EVP of Commercial Finance at Sage. Monica has been at Sage for almost six years helping build and develop out the commercial finance function and supporting the shift to a subscription focussed organisation. Prior to that she also worked for both Schneider Electric and Invensys PLC.In Monica's current role at Sage, she sits on both the CFO leadership, as well as the COO leadership and we talk about what it takes to grow and develop an impactful commercial function. Also covered in this episode:How has the commercial part of finance developed over the last few yearsThe changing criteria Sage now use to recruit people who give the right kind of insightHow to identify the commercial skillset during the interview processTop tips on developing existing finance talent into more commercial rolesImportance of educating the wider organisation on core finance skillsLinks referenced in this episode:Monica's LinkedIn Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here. Subscribe to our Podcast!
