CFO 4.0 Podcast

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For this CFO 4.0 Revisited episode, Hannah Munro is joined by Oliver Deacon, Executive Coach and Founder of Oliver Deacon Coaching, to explore what the future of finance leadership really looks like over the next five years.

As finance teams continue to face rapid technological change, increasing pressure to deliver insight, and evolving expectations from the wider business, technical expertise alone is no longer enough. Oliver shares why the most successful finance leaders of the future will be those who combine commercial thinking, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and strong leadership skills alongside technical capability.

What’s covered in this episode?

• Why soft skills are becoming one of the most valuable assets in finance leadership
 • The growing importance of leadership and communication across finance teams
 • How process engineering and operational thinking will shape future finance functions
 • Practical ways finance professionals can build resilience and adapt to constant change
 • Creating a culture of continuous learning within finance teams
 • How emerging technologies can help finance leaders drive greater business impact

Links mentioned in this episode

• Oliver's LinkedIn
• Oliver Deacon Coaching 
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For this CFO 4.0 Revisited episode, Hannah Munro is joined by Shaun Hayes, author of The Gray Choice, to explore the realities of leadership, resilience, and decision-making in high-pressure environments. 

What’s covered in this episode

•  Why taking calculated risks is essential for long-term success 
•  Lessons learned from major setbacks and how to recover stronger 
•  The importance of building a trusted circle of advisors and mentors 
•  Why happiness and fulfilment do not always come from constant growth 
•  The role discipline and standards play in financial leadership 
•  Insights from Shaun’s book The Gray Choice and his leadership philosophy

Links referenced in this episode:

• Shaun Hayes LinkedIn
• Visit Shaun’s Website
• Shaun’s YouTube Channel
•  Shaun’s Book: The Gray Choice

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For this CFO 4.0 Revisited episode, Hannah Munro is joined by Catherine Clark, Lead CFO Mentor at GrowCFO and Director of Cristallum Limited, for a grounded and practical conversation on the power of mentoring in modern finance leadership.

As the role of the CFO continues to evolve beyond technical expertise, the need for strong communication, self-awareness, and leadership capability has never been greater. Catherine draws on her extensive experience to explore how mentoring provides finance leaders with something often missing in their day-to-day roles, a trusted space to step back, reflect, and grow.

What is covered in this episode

• The difference between mentoring and coaching, and when each is most valuable
• The soft skills finance leaders need when stepping into more senior roles
• How to build clear, effective communication within your finance team
• Why finance leaders must understand their wider impact across the organisation

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For this CFO 4.0 Revisited episode, Hannah Munro is joined by Cécile Parker, Group CFO at Vital Energi Utilities, to explore how finance leaders can play a far more integrated and influential role across the business.

Cécile shares her journey to CFO and offers a clear view on how the function must evolve. This is not about finance sitting on the sidelines. It is about stepping forward, embedding into operations, and driving meaningful change across people, processes and sustainability.

 What’s covered in this episode

•  Why finance leaders must stop underestimating the impact of automation
•  How to find and define your niche as a CFO
•  The importance of embedding finance across the wider business
•  Building the skills and capabilities within a modern finance team
•  Understanding and influencing finance’s role in sustainability and carbon impact 

 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Cécile’s LinkedIn
• Learn more about Vital Energi
• Vital Energi on LinkedIn

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In this CFO 4.0 Revisited episode, Hannah Munro is joined by Mark Lockton‑Goddard, now Founder & CEO at embracent, to explore what successful digital transformation really looks like for finance teams.

With over 25 years’ experience across global organisations, Mark shares practical insight into how CFOs can approach transformation decisions, gain buy‑in from their teams, and avoid common pitfalls when introducing new technology and processes.

Relaunched ahead of the new financial year, this episode is a timely listen for finance leaders reviewing how prepared their finance function is for what lies ahead.

In this episode, we cover:

• How CFOs should approach decision‑making for finance transformation
• Gaining employee buy‑in for new systems and processes
• Common mistakes that cause digital transformation projects to fail
• Key focus areas when modernising finance departments
• How finance teams are adapting to meet today’s business demands

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Mark's LinkedIn
• Sign up for our CFO Briefing and Podcast newsletters

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
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For this CFO 4.0 Revisited episode, Hannah Munro is joined by Paul Lee, Partner at Deloitte UK, to explore one of the most debated shifts in modern working life – the move to hybrid.

Drawing on his experience at Deloitte, Paul challenges the idea that there is a single “right” answer. Instead, he highlights the importance of asking better questions – around productivity, collaboration, employee expectations, and long-term business impact.

What’s covered in this episode

• Working from home, hybrid, and returning to the office – how to assess the right approach
• Key questions finance leaders should be asking about hybrid working models
• The role of technology in enabling the future of work
• How developments like 5G and WiFi 6 could reshape how and where we work

Links referenced in this episode

• Paul's LinkedIn
• Raise your game with Sage Intacct
• First 90 Days as a CFO: Ultimate Blueprint (FREE download)
• Sign up for our CFO Briefing and Podcast newsletters

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 For this CFO 4.0 Revisited episode, Hannah Munro is joined by James Owen, Global CFO of the Profiles Division at Kantar, to explore how modern finance leaders are reshaping planning, forecasting, and decision-making in an increasingly data-driven world. 

What’s covered in this episode

• Why market data is essential for meaningful performance benchmarking
• How to improve communication and understanding of financial insights across the business
• The role of Integrated Business Planning in driving better forecasts and decisions
• Why data science is becoming a core capability within finance teams
• How to assess finance talent beyond technical skills
• The importance of scenario planning across ambition, realism, and prudence

Links mentioned in this episode:

• James’ LinkedIn
• Learn more about Kantar
• Chief Financial Officer UK Flagship Summit

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For this CFO 4.0 Revisited episode, Hannah Munro is joined by Claire Bodanis, Founder and Director of Falcon Windsor and one of the UK’s leading authorities on corporate reporting. Claire shares a practical and honest view of what it really takes to produce an annual report that cuts through the noise. 

What’s covered in this episode

• The biggest challenges organisations face when producing the annual report today
 • How to create a report that is engaging, clear and valuable to investors
 • Balancing regulatory requirements with meaningful communication
 • How to handle and communicate difficult or negative news
 • Common mistakes businesses make in their annual reporting
 • What is changing in the world of corporate reporting and what it means for finance teams

Links referenced in this episode:

• Claire's LinkedIn
• Falcon Windsor
• Monthly Reporting Webinars
• Book: Trust Me, I'm Listed
• Sign up for our CFO Briefing and Podcast newsletters

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In this episode of CFO 4.0 Revisited, Hannah Munro reconnects with Brent Dykes, Founder and Chief Data Storyteller at AnalyticsHero, to explore one of the most important skills modern finance leaders must master – turning data into meaningful stories that drive action.

In this episode, we explore

• What a Chief Data Storyteller actually does
• Brent’s journey into analytics and the creation of AnalyticsHero
• Why data storytelling is becoming essential for finance leaders
• Practical frameworks for communicating insight across finance teams
• How to turn financial data into compelling, decision-driving stories
• Brent’s top tips for getting started with data storytelling in finance

Links mentioned in episode

• Brent's LinkedIn
• Brent's Forbes articles

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In this CFO 4.0 Revisited episode, Hannah Munro is joined by experienced finance leader Martin Spiller to explore what funders are really looking for in a CFO.

From common funding mistakes to the differences between start-up and scale-up investment, Martin shares practical insight on securing funding, choosing the right partners and positioning your business for sustainable growth.

• What funders look for in a CFO
• Common mistakes when applying for funding
• Start-up vs scale-up funding expectations
• Seed, Series A and Series B funding explained
• How to find the right funding partner
• Tips for improving your chances of securing investment

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Martin's LinkedIn

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
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