The Fractional CFO Show with Adam Cooper

In this episode, I am joined by Sam Lenox, the Head of Employee Incentives at Harper James, a modern law firm, purpose-built to support entrepreneurial businesses in their growth from startup to scale up and beyond. In this conversation, Sam and I explore the world of employee share options, looking at the structure, their implementation and an important insight for businesses who may be new to this world of incentives to better understand what is available. 🌟 Some of my favourite parts were:✅ How to educate and manage expectations of young staff around share options;✅ Understanding the not insignificant tax benefits of the EMI scheme;✅ How an internal market typically works for these kinds of schemes;✅ Managing Share Option schemes with an International hat on;✅ Marrying long term ESOPs with shorter term bonus scheme. Business Book Bonus Recommendation –  Legacy – James Kerr - https://amzn.eu/d/5xTOA4B

In this episode, I'm delighted to be joined by Jason Miles, SVP Finance at Conde Nast, the global media company with a portfolio including brands such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ, Wired, among others.In this conversation, Jason and I dive into some of the complexities of multinational expansion and how businesses can effectively manage those challenges that come with that. 🌟 Some of my favourite parts were:✅ Considerations around when a business is ready to enter a new market;✅ How to ensure the vision and values of your business are respected as you grow;✅ Maintaining control over your cash as you enter markets with different payment practices;✅ The benefits of a federated vs. centralised model to ensure consistent & accurate information;✅ In house vs. External – insights into setting up offices and the trade-offs around speed, cost and risks to compliance.Business Book Bonus Recommendation – The Culture Map – Erin Meyer - https://amzn.eu/d/0YWNcg5 

As we kick off the new year, I'm thrilled to be joined by Magda Dillon, the Owner-Director and Head of Consultancy at Pain Free IT, experts in leading and delivering best in class business solutions.  In this broad ranging conversation, Magda and I cover all that you need to know about selecting, implementing and launching a new agency finance and project management system. 🌟 Some of my favourite parts were:✅ Why and When Businesses should consider rolling out a new system;✅ How Magda views AI impacting the world of Finance and PM systems;✅ How to best avoid a garbage in / garbage out situation with data migration;✅ How to get the wider business teams involved in the project for optimum buy in;✅ The need for a bespoke, iterative approach to launching a successful product roll out.

In this, our fifth and final episode before we break for the holidays, I'm joined by Dan Kalms, an experienced Finance Leader, currently Financial Controller at Sullivan and Stanley, the award-winning specialist change consultancy. In this broad ranging conversation, Dan and I cover all that you need to know about good Corporate Governance in small and growing businesses. 🌟 Some of my favourite parts were:  ✅ The benefits of a limited company structure; ✅ How your company structure impacts and affects your access to finance;✅The challenge, importance and impact on behaviour of setting strong KPIs; ✅The roles, duties and benefits of having strong and diverse Board of Directors; ✅ The importance of Non Exec Directors and particularly of the diversity of that group. Business Book Bonus Recommendation – The Future Business Formula: How to change faster and accelerate business success -  https://amzn.eu/d/c3jMbAy 

In this, our fourth episode, I'm joined by David Blois, the Founder and Managing Partner at M&A Advisory, the specialists advising on company sales, mergers and acquisitions in the marketing communications, media and martech sectors.  In this broad ranging conversation, David and I cover all that you need to know about selling your agency business.  Some of my favourite parts were: ✅ The best time to engage an M&A Advisory firm; ✅ The steps in the sale process from Offer through to Completion; ✅ The importance and value of structuring the incentive part of the deal correctly; ✅ The structure of deals and earn out periods David is seeing at the moment; ✅ The importance of getting your books in shape to help you run your business and expedite the sale process.  

In this, our third episode, I'm joined by @Rich Nicholas, Global CFO & COO @Ridley Scott Creative Group, the Creative Group led by the legendary Director Sir Ridley Scott. In this conversation, Rich and I cover all that you need to know about running a production profitably from commercials all the way through to episodic TV. Some of my favourite parts were: ✅ The (£75 grand) risks of going over budget on filming;✅ Rich’s insights and tactics for setting budgets on Productions;✅ How Rich balances the conflicting demands of cash and creative;✅ The value and importance of a strong, experienced Head of Production;✅ Finance being responsible for the sweets and the petrol - don’t worry, it makes sense on the pod! Subscribe now to make sure you don’t miss out on future episodes. #FractionalCFOShow #ProductionFinance #PodcastAlert #RichNicholas #AdamCooperCFO 🚀 

In our second episode, I'm delighted to be joined by Merley Okine, Group General Counsel of Ebiquity plc, the media investment analysis firm. In this conversation, Merley and I cover a plethora of topics that you won’t want to miss. Some of my favourite parts were: ✅ What legal support a business needs as it scales;✅ Budgeting tips for Legal and other Departments as well;✅ When to bring Legal into strategic commercial situations;✅ How the Finance and Legal teams should best collaborate;✅ Insights into how to manage legal and compliance across an international entity. Merley's Business Book recommendation: Radical Candor by Kim Scott: https://amzn.eu/d/g73NzUJ Where to find Merley: Web: https://ebiquity.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merleyokine/

In our premiere episode, I was joined by Richard Carpenter, CEO of Bladonmore, the specialist stakeholder communications agency.In our wide ranging conversation, Richard and I dive into the dynamic relationship between the Finance team and the CEO.Some of my favourite parts were:✅ How job profitability is a team sport;✅ The financial metrics Richard can’t live without;✅ How Richard looks at the business post pandemic;✅ Insights into successful budgeting and forecasting;✅ Some pearls of wisdom around recruiting and retaining staff.Richard's Business Book recommendation: Thinking Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman - https://amzn.eu/d/iiaqYICWhere to find Richard: Web: https://www.bladonmore.com/contact/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bladonmore/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bladonmore/

Every small business owner needs advice and guidance. Each week successful Operators join fractional CFO Adam Cooper, to share their experiences, tips and tricks to help improve your business cash flows, profits and help reach your financial goals.