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Talking to Hannah on this week’s CFO 4.0 podcast is Director of Sales at Yaypay, Raj Harash. 

Raj is a whizz at simplifying and streamlining processes. He says that he can make collecting money fast, easy and highly predictable by using inbuilt AI technology. 

The issue of non-payment can be a sticky one, but Raj believes it can all be avoided if the right tools and software is implemented.

Topics Covered

• AI and Machine Learning in Finance
• CRM and ERP software
• Integrating Credit Control into the business
• CCJ and bad payers
• CFOs and automation
• Forecasting and predicting financial models

Links referenced in this episode
First 90 days as a CFO: Ultimate Blueprint
Raise your game with Sage Intacct
Raj's LinkedIn
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In this episode of CFO 4.0 Hannah talks with Executive Coach, Alexandra Bond-Burnett who’s helped develop leaders in the Finance, Tech and Accounting space. She gives guidance on how to approach difficult conversations and deal with different personality types. When dealing with complex transformational projects it’s not only the systems you have to work on – Emotional Intelligence is part and parcel of the process too.

Topics Covered

• Emotional intelligence
• Neuroscience and Psychology
• Change Management Skills
• Team Engagement
• Process and project Management

Links referenced in this episode:

First 90 Days as a CFO: Blueprint for Success - Download for free now!
Alexandra's LinkedIn
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In this episode of CFO 4.0 we speak to Chris Beeley, practice lead for financial transformation and automation at embracent. Chris has worked for the world’s largest Accountancy firms, recently ending a 20-year stint at KPMG.

He gives us the lowdown on how tech is transforming finance and the dangers of putting mass faith into spreadsheets!

Chris and the team at embracent have conducted a piece of research with a number of leading CFOs on the revolution of automation in finance. They found that although most use tech to drive cost efficiency, many also wanted to improve customer experience and create a happier workforce.

Topics covered:

·         Financial transformation and automation

·         Use of Artificial Intelligence, Bots and redesigning processes

·         CFO vision and creativity

·         Limitations of Spreadsheets and Excel

·         Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

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In this episode of CFO 4.0 Hannah gets an update from the returning Ian Stewart, Chief Economist at Deloitte, on how the bounce back from the pandemic is playing out in the minds of some of the country's leading financiers.

Ian produces a quarterly survey questioning some of the UK’s leading CFO’s on issues such as Climate Change, Brexit planning and workplace practices.

This survey shows how the big corporates have built up cash and strengthened their balance sheets during the downturn and how they’re planning to grow their businesses.

 Topics Covered:

• The ever-changing role of a CFO
• Bomb proofing the balance sheets and reducing debt
• V shaped economic recovery
• Employee retention and hybrid working
• The impact of Climate Change in corporate decision-making
• Inflationary risks and pressures.

Ian's LinkedIn
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Previously having worked in Government, CFO Jane Cunliffe talks with Hannah about her first 12 months at Oxfam.

Her journey into finance is a little unorthodox. Starting off as a policy professional at the Department of Education, she went on to work for Nick Clegg’s office – Deputy PM at the time, then moving on to the Treasury where she developed her passion for finance.

In a whirlwind first year, Jane describes how she’s had to make some tough decisions as part of the restructure at Oxfam; letting colleagues go, withdrawing from certain countries and delving into the reserves to make ends meet as COVID took hold.

This episode covers:

• Restructuring a global not-for-profit company
• The advantages and disadvantages of remote communication
• Streamlining the finance function
• Creative finance strategy
• Translating data and information for non-finance colleagues

Links referenced in this episode:
Jane's LinkedIn
Oxfam
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This week on CFO 4.0 Hannah talks with the energetic Tosha Anderson who's known as the founder and CEO of The Charity CFO. She heads up a business that matches non-profit organisations with accountants who are looking for career change, either because they 'don't want to make the rich richer' or have had enough of working in the profit sector.

Tosha began her career helping out charities but was soon consumed by everything but financial work; having to deal with flooded bathrooms to tech problems and beyond!

She's spent almost 15 years in the non-profit sector and believes it's the most rewarding career in terms of relationships as well as all round character building.

Topics discussed:

• Non-profit accounting
• Multi-tasking CFO beyond finance
• Transitioning from profit to non-profit sector
• Managing relationships with CEOs, Volunteers and Boards

Links referenced in this episode:
Tosha's LinkedIn
The Charity CFO Website
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 This episode sees Hannah speaking to Victor Wong, CFO of Flipp, a planning and savings app that helps shoppers.

As CFO, Victor is responsible for leading the development and successful execution of Flipp’s strategy as well as the operational effectiveness of the company.

Prior to assuming the role of CFO, Victor established and scaled both the Content Operations and Finance teams. Leading Content Operations, he formed a 140 member team, working with 1,500+ retailers to deliver local savings and deal content to shoppers across North America. 

Before joining Flipp, Victor spent eight years at Ernst & Young, six years in the Assurance practice, and two years in the Transaction Advisory Services group working on both buy-side integration and transaction diligence.

This episode covers: 

• Top tips on how to support a finance team
• Creating realistic mission statements
• The symbiotic relationship between a CFO and their team
• Listening to new ideas and implementing them effectively 
• Building an environment of collaboration and engendering new disruptive mentalities

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Host Hannah Munro speaks to Ash Noah, Vice President, CGMA External Relations at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association), representing AICPA & CIMA, about the crucial steps CFOs can take to change their mindsets and become more productive.

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 organizations. 

Prior to the Association, he served as CFO of the international unit of TNT Express, the global transport and logistics provider and led finance teams in 45 countries through significant transformation.

This episode covers:

• How different mindsets can enhance value creation and digital transformation projects
• A CFO first 90 days and why the right attitude will help to hit the ground running
• What does the current business environment look like for CFOs
• Challenges CFOs are facing and best ways to overcome them
• The right mindsets CFO will need to be a success

Links referenced in this episode:

• CGMA designation 
• CFO Programme
• Re-inventing finance for a digital world report
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This episode of CFO 4.0 sees CEO of embracement Mark Lockton-Goddard discuss digital transformation strategies, giving an overview of the right and wrong ways to approach change.

Mark has over 25 year's experience providing business and technology advice to a range of global businesses. With senior roles at KPMG, PwC and PageGroup Mark has helped a multitude of businesses with digital transformation projects. Mark's current role as CEO at embracent, a technology consultancy firm, sees him take a hand-on approach to help businesses embrace the opportunities that technology brings.

This episode covers:

• What the decision making process should look like for companies implementing financial transformation solutions
• How to convince employees to accept new technology and processes
• Best ways to make a digital transformation project a success for CFOs
• Main focus areas when starting a digital overhaul of finance departments
• How companies are changing to meet the modern business environment

Links referenced in the episode:
Mark's LinkedIn
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 In this edition of CFO 4.0 Hannah speaks to Ian Stewart, Partner and Chief Economist at Deloitte, about his role as chief architect of the CFO Survey, a quarterly review that acts as a barometer of UK corporates’ sentiment and strategies.

As part of his role at Deloitte, Ian advises boards and companies on macroeconomics and writes a popular weekly economics blog, the Monday Briefing. His previous roles include Chief Economist for Europe at Merrill Lynch, Head of Economics in the Conservative Research Department and Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

This episode covers:

• What the CFO Survey reveals about CFOs biggest challenges and concerns?
• What impact future economic trends may have on CFOs?
• An in-depth look into Deloitte's CFO survey process
• How the CFO role has changed over the years survey?
• What external factors are CFOs most focused on?

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