Send us your thoughts 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 strate...
Jun 24, 2025•37 min•Ep. 232
Send us your thoughts 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...
Jun 17, 2025•43 min•Ep. 231
Send us your thoughts 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 in...
Jun 10, 2025•42 min•Ep. 230
Send us your thoughts 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 poo...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr
Send us your thoughts 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 mat...
May 27, 2025•48 min
Send us your thoughts 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...
May 20, 2025•50 min
Send us your thoughts In this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro is joined once again by Rob Jackson , now Senior Associate Consultant at Protiviti UK . Rob reflects on his journey from leading finance operations at Sage to spearheading transformation projects in private equity-backed businesses. Together, they unpack what it really takes to deliver finance change, lead shared services, and balance organisational complexity. In this episode, we explore: Rob’s experience transitioning from Sag...
May 13, 2025•44 min
Send us your thoughts In this episode of CFO 4.0 – The PE CFO Series, Hannah Munro is joined once again by Richard Sanders, Founder and Managing Partner at Sullivan Street Partners. Together, they dive into “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” of private equity—an honest conversation unpacking what it’s really like behind the boardroom doors of a PE-backed business. With a wealth of experience across corporate, startup and PE environments, Richard shares practical insights on how CFOs can protect t...
May 06, 2025•45 min
Send us your thoughts In this episode of Financial Transformation Live, Neil Lynchehaun, Head of Transformation and Delivery at itas, takes you through a practical, experience-driven guide to understanding and improving the Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) process. You’ll discover: Why we use maturity models and how they can inspire achievable steps forward. How to evaluate the impact of process improvements across: The full scope of the P2P process, including: Master data creation and maintenance The 5 ma...
Apr 29, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 224
Send us your thoughts This episode kicks off our new CFO 4.0 series exploring the first 100 days in a CFO role. Host Hannah Munro is joined by experienced CFO and coach Jeremy Earnshaw , who shares practical, battle-tested guidance on navigating the critical first 30 days in a new CFO position. Key topics covered Making a strong first impression and shifting from finance specialist to strategic leader Why liquidity is non-negotiable and how to validate cash flow assumptions early How to uncover ...
Apr 22, 2025•55 min•Ep. 223
Send us your thoughts In this inspiring and practical episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro welcomes back Susana Serrano-Davey —career mentor, leadership trainer, and author of the newly released Confidence is Overrated . Drawing from her journey from CFO to mentor and author, Susana shares powerful insights on how senior finance leaders can develop the soft skills essential for leadership success. In this episode, Hannah and Susana explore: Why confidence is often misunderstood—and how to suppo...
Apr 15, 2025•47 min•Ep. 222
Send us your thoughts In this episode of CFO 4.0, Hannah Munro speaks with Gemma Doran, CFO at Savea Technology Ltd, about the realities of leading finance in high-growth SMEs. From her unexpected start in journalism to managing multi-million-pound fundraises, Gemma reflects on what it takes to thrive as a CFO in fast-moving environments, how to balance optimism with realism in forecasting, and why adaptability and clarity are vital when raising capital. In this episode, Gemma discusses Her care...
Apr 08, 2025•45 min•Ep. 221
Send us your thoughts In this episode of Financial Transformation Live, Hannah Munro dives into the critical steps for effective process mapping and how it can drive successful financial transformation. Discover practical insights on simplifying complexity and ensuring your processes are future-ready. Key takeaways include: The importance of involving sales, CRM, and IT leadership in process evaluations. How to identify, map, and validate use cases before redesigning processes. Strategies to pri...
Apr 01, 2025•45 min•Ep. 220
Send us your thoughts In this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro sits down with Richard Sanders , Founder and Managing Partner of Sullivan Street Partners , to explore how CFOs can navigate their first 100 days in Private Equity, set the right priorities, manage investor expectations, and lay the groundwork for long-term success. Key topics covered: What CFOs should focus on when stepping into private equity ownership. How to identify risks, uncover hidden issues, and turn challenges into opp...
Mar 25, 2025•37 min•Ep. 219
Send us your thoughts In this episode of CFO 4.0, Hannah Munro sits down with Peter Morgan , CEO of Deep Learning Partnership and head tutor at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, to explore the rapid rise of AI and its impact on finance. Key discussion points: Why advancements in AI have accelerated exponentially and what’s driving the change. The key differences and why generative AI is leading the conversation. How LLMs work and their evolving role in business and finance. The risks of ...
Mar 18, 2025•44 min•Ep. 218
Send us your thoughts In this fourth instalment of the Mastering M&A series, host Hannah Munro is joined by Jeremy Earnshaw , Founding Director of Clarendon and experienced CFO, to explore the journey from CFO to Non-Executive Director (NED) . Whether you're considering your first NED role or want to understand the challenges and opportunities that come with it, this episode is packed with valuable insights. In this episode, we discuss: How the role differs from an executive position and the...
Mar 11, 2025•53 min•Ep. 217
Send us your thoughts In this episode of Financial Transformation Live Hannah Munro explores how finance leaders can step up and take a more strategic role in driving change and process improvement across their organisations. With AI and automation set to reshape finance, CFOs and finance teams must shift their focus beyond transactional tasks and become catalysts for business transformation. Hannah dives into the opportunities for finance to lead cross-departmental change, break down silos, and...
Mar 04, 2025•41 min•Ep. 216
Send us your thoughts In this episode of the CFO 4.0 Podcast, host Hannah Munro sits down with Phil Moses, CFO at Octavius , to discuss his fascinating career journey from working in PLCs to Private Equity-backed businesses . With experience spanning insurance, telecoms, infrastructure, and construction, Phil shares his lessons on managing investors, driving financial strategy, and adapting to different ownership models . Key topics covered in this episode: How Phil approached investor engagemen...
Feb 25, 2025•46 min•Ep. 215
Send us your thoughts In this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro welcomes back Private Equity expert Richard Sanders , Founder and Managing Partner of Sullivan Street Partners, for the next episode of The Private Equity CFO. Together, they break down the key considerations for businesses looking to secure Private Equity investment, the challenges of the process, and how CFOs can prepare to maximize returns. Key topics covered include: Is Private Equity the right option for your business? What...
Feb 18, 2025•56 min•Ep. 214
Send us your thoughts In this episode of CFO 4.0, Hannah Munro speaks with Stuart Mellis , CFO of Optalysis, about his journey to CFO, the challenges of scaling deep tech startups, and navigating fundraising, investor relations, and financial planning in an emerging market. Key topics covered: Private equity vs venture capital – key differences in expectations and investment approaches Managing investor relationships – balancing trust, communication, and transparency Fundraising in deep tech – n...
Feb 11, 2025•53 min•Ep. 213
Send us your thoughts In this third instalment of the Mastering M&A series, Hannah Munro is joined by Jeremy Earnshaw , Founding Director of Clarendon and experienced CFO, to delve into the complexities of business disposals. Key topics discussed: The difference between being sought out by a buyer vs proactively seeking a sale. Essential preparations for making your business attractive to potential acquirers The critical role of the CFO in managing the disposal process and overseeing data fl...
Feb 04, 2025•52 min•Ep. 212
Send us your thoughts In this episode of CFO 4.0, Hannah Munro is joined by Alwyn Jones , Group CFO at Luno and returning guest on the podcast. Alwyn shares his journey of broadening his perspective by stepping into a Non-Executive Director (NED) role and reflects on how it has shaped his leadership approach. This engaging conversation covers a range of topics, including: The evolving responsibilities of CFOs Key insights into the dynamics of a Non-Exec role, The challenges and surprises of step...
Jan 28, 2025•50 min•Ep. 211
Send us your thoughts In this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro is joined by Richard Sanders , Founder and Managing Partner of Sullivan Street Partners, for the second instalment in our The Private Equity CFO series. Together, they delve into the complexities of private equity and its implications for CFOs. Key topics covered include: Exploring the balance between capability and comfort zone, and what CFOs can do to prove their value. How private equity-backed businesses differ in their expe...
Jan 21, 2025•46 min•Ep. 210
Send us your thoughts In this episode of CFO 4.0, Hannah Munro sits down with Danyaal Shah , CFO of Nokkel, to explore his unique journey from investment banking to becoming a strategic financial leader. Danyaal shares valuable insights into the evolving role of CFOs, offering actionable advice for those aiming to excel in financial leadership. Topics covered include: How his background in investment banking and M&A shaped his approach to the CFO role. Key steps to ensure your business is in...
Jan 14, 2025•41 min•Ep. 209
Send us your thoughts In this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro welcomes back Jeremy Earnshaw , Founding Director of Clarendon, for the second instalment of the Mastering M&A series. Jeremy, a seasoned CFO coach and mentor, shares invaluable insights into structuring deals and preparing for a successful merger or acquisition. Join us as we explore: The key steps in structuring a deal, including understanding objectives, optimal exit strategies, and assessing readiness. The critical role ...
Jan 07, 2025•48 min•Ep. 208
Send us your thoughts In this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro speaks with Mark Blakemore, CFO at Compleat Software, about the unique challenges and opportunities of working in SaaS finance. Mark shares valuable insights from his 30+ year career in finance, offering a detailed look into the world of SaaS, including practical advice for CFOs and finance professionals aspiring to break into the sector. Key topics covered in this episode: Mark's journey to becoming a CFO and his transition fro...
Dec 31, 2024•48 min•Ep. 207
Send us your thoughts In this episode of CFO 4.0 , Hannah Munro kicks off The World of CFOs in Private Equity series by exploring the fascinating world of PE with Richard Sanders , Founder and Managing Partner of Sullivan Street Partners. Dive into the dynamics of private equity and learn what it takes to succeed as a CFO in this unique investment environment. Key discussion points include: An overview of private equity The internal structures of private equity firms How CFOs can understand the ...
Dec 17, 2024•42 min•Ep. 206
Send us your thoughts Join Hannah Munro in this thought-provoking episode of CFO 4.0 as she sits down with Clive Webb, Head of Business Management at ACCA, to explore the latest insights from ACCA's ground breaking research, Finance Evolution. Together, they discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the finance function of tomorrow. Key discussion points include: How finance teams can position themselves as custodians of reliable data. Emerging roles like Sustainability Controllers and Da...
Dec 10, 2024•52 min•Ep. 205
Send us your thoughts In this episode of Financial Transformation Live , Hannah Munro explores how to assess and optimise your current financial systems to support your organisation’s goals. As the final live session of the year, this episode is packed with actionable advice and frameworks to help finance leaders plan their next steps for system improvements. Tune in to learn: The four key components of a financial technology stack: controls, compliance, reporting, and process efficiency. A comp...
Dec 03, 2024•42 min•Ep. 204
Send us your thoughts In this episode of CFO 4.0, Hannah Munro is joined by Jeremy Earnshaw, Founding Director of Clarendon in the first instalment of a series of discussions on the complexities and challenges of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Jeremy draws on his wealth of experience in executing over 25 transactions to offer practical advice for CFOs embarking on their M&A journey. Key topics covered include: The importance of aligning M&A activity with organisational strategy Unde...
Nov 26, 2024•56 min•Ep. 203
