GrowCFO Show

Greg Kautz and Kevin Appleby discussed the challenges of lease accounting and the need for technology to streamline these processes. Greg highlighted the benefits of automating lease accounting, while Appleby questioned the need for separate accounting rules for lessees and lessors. Later, the pair discussed the benefits of leasing assets for business growth, emphasizing the importance of considering leasing as an option for expansion. Finally, they discussed the challenges of fundraising in the current market, with Greg sharing their company's journey and Appleby providing insights on market conditions.

Key topics covered include:

Greg Kautz's career transition from finance leadership roles to co-founding a lease accounting software company with his son

An overview of the lease accounting software they developed called Black Owl Lease Accounting, which aims to solve issues with existing solutions

A discussion of lease accounting standards and why lease accounting is important for businesses

How they developed the initial prototype, hired staff, and grew the company

Challenges they faced finding the right technical staff

Their plans for future fundraising, global expansion, and growth of the company

Reminiscing about the early days of accounting before technology from Kevin Appleby and Greg Kautz's perspective

https://youtu.be/gCOyz10LBp4

Links

Greg Kautz on LinkedIn

Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn

GrowCFO Mentoring

Timestamps

0:00 - Introduction of Greg Kautz and his career transition

4:20 - Overview of lease accounting software Black Owl Lease Accounting

7:30 - Discussion of lease accounting standards and importance for businesses

11:00 - Developing the initial prototype and hiring staff

14:15 - Challenges finding the right technical staff

17:10 - Future fundraising plans and market growth

19:50 - Reminiscing about early accounting days before technology

26:50 - Selling the software to CFOs and other buyers

29:15 - Greg Kautz's future plans and not retiring anytime soon

Find out more about GrowCFO

If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.

GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. 

Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here. 

You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Catherine Clark and Kevin Appleby discussed the importance of addressing personal and professional growth through holistic mentoring, emphasizing the role of emotional intelligence in decision making and relationship dynamics in business. Catherine is head of mentoring at GrowCFO. She frequently supports her mentees when they need to have a difficult conversation.

Key topics covered include:

Catherine Clark's holistic approach to mentoring, which involves unlocking a mentee's personal potential and limiting beliefs to enable professional success.

The importance of self-care, resilience, and mindfulness for professionals, and creating recovery time and daily routines to stay balanced.

Active listening techniques and authentic relating that Kevin and Catherine apply in their consulting and mentoring work.

The value of meditation, reflection, and forgiveness in personal growth and accessing inner wisdom and creativity.

Finding gratitude even in past struggles and applying lessons learned.

Catherine Clark's journey with Reiki and emphasizing energetic connection and self-healing.

Strategies for starting the day in a calm, focused state through activities like meditation and dog walks to boost productivity.

https://youtu.be/7EsU8F9mTuQ

Links

Catherine Clark on LinkedIn

Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn

GrowCFO Mentoring

Timestamps

Mentoring and unlocking personal potential for professional success. 0:11

The importance of self-care, resilience, and mindfulness in professional settings. 7:26

Mentoring, coaching, and personal growth. 15:41

Personal growth, energy, and gratitude. 23:07

Meditation, mindfulness, and productivity. 27:38

Find out more about GrowCFO

If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.

GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. 

Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here. 

You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Stephen Campbell, founder and chief solution architect at MacroFin, joins Kevin Appleby to discuss best practices for ERP implementation success. They share their experiences transitioning from accounting to technology consulting and implementation. Key topics covered include:

Common challenges clients face when outgrowing systems like Xero and the decision process for selecting a new ERP

Best practices for vendor selection and simplifying often lengthy and complex RFP processes

Tips for effective project scoping and limiting implementation risks through shorter 90-day phases

Emphasis on user training and testing to ensure knowledge transfer and benefits realization

Advice on identifying super users and continual process improvement post go-live

Perspectives on technology hype vs reality and potential for streamlining accounting through automation

High failure rates of ERP projects and how to avoid pitfalls through proper preparation and change management

Stephen will present on delivering impactful finance transformations at the upcoming GrowCFO Global Finance Summit on May 16th.

https://youtu.be/cMtkZHhmNYw

Links

Stephen Campbell on LinkedIn

Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn

MacroFin

GrowCFO Finance Transformation Bootcamp

GrowCFO Global Finance Summit

Timestamps

Introducing Stephen Campbell and MacroFin (0:11)

ERP implementation best practices and process reviews. (5:08)

Choosing an ERP system for growing businesses, focusing on NetSuite and Xero. (9:18)

The importance of simplifying the RFP process (13:24)

Implementing NetSuite ERP system with a focus on knowledge transfer and testing. (17:56)

Streamlining accounting processes with technology. (23:06)

ERP implementation challenges and best practices. (27:35)

Implementing NetSuite ERP system with a focus on process improvement and vendor selection. (31:35)

Find out more about GrowCFO

If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.

GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. 

Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here. 

You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Timothee Clement. USA Country Manager at Agicap joins Kevin Appleby on the GrowCFO Show as they discuss the business case for introducing specialist cash flow forecasting technology. Timothee is a returning guest, he discussed implementing cash flow forecasting in episode 119. In this episode he discussed the business case for investing in cash flow forecasting technology with podcast host Kevin Appleby.

Timothy explained how most companies still rely on error-prone spreadsheets due to the complexity of forecasting. This leads to inaccurate projections and a lack of visibility. By freeing up time spent on manual processes, finance teams can focus on optimizing cash flow through more accurate forecasting.

Kevin and Timothee evaluated the ROI of implementing a specialized system like Agicap. Costs are low compared to labor savings. Benefits include interest savings, investment gains, and allowing finance to partner strategically. ERP systems aren't designed for flexibility and scenarios required for forecasting.

They explored implementation process and timeline. Connecting data sources is quick due to open banking. Training occurs throughout. Risks include lack of stakeholder buy-in, so change management is crucial. Overall, a compelling case emerged for digital transformation in this area to empower finance teams.

Timothee Clement is a featured speaker at the GrowCFO Global Finance Summit on 15/16 May 2024

https://youtu.be/o_xZMi7XOAQ

Links

Timothee Clement on LinkedIn

Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn

Agicap cash flow management software

GrowCFO Show #119: How to Implement a Cashflow Forecasting system with Timothee Clement,

GrowCFO Global Finance Summit

Timestamps

Introducing the business case for cash flow technology(0:11)

Optimizing cash flow and reducing costs through advanced forecasting. (4:13)

Improving financial decision-making? (10:21)

What implementation options are available. (18:32)

Managing the digital transformation (26:29)

Find out more about GrowCFO

If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.

GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. 

Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here. 

You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Randy Wootton is an experienced technology executive with over 20 years of experience in corporate leadership roles. He joins Kevin Appleby as a guest on the GrowCFO Show ahead of appearing as a panellist at the GrowCFO Global Finance Summit. He has served as CEO of three startups: Rocket Fuel, Percolate, and Maxio. Randy spent 8 years in the U.S. Navy before transitioning to the corporate sector with Microsoft and Salesforce. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master's in Great Books.

At Maxio, Randy leads a business that helps B2B SaaS companies unlock their next stage of growth. Maxio's Billing and Financial operations platform is designed to meet the unique financial challenges of B2B SaaS companies. This includes billing, subscription management, revenue and expense recognition, and SaaS analytics.

Throughout his career, Randy has developed expertise in go-to-market strategies and helping technology companies scale. He advocates using AI to transform industries like marketing, finance, and accounting. He is passionate about leveraging technology to solve business problems and drive efficiency.

In conversation with Kevin, Randy discussed his experiences with AI and machine learning, including using it at a previous company for programmatic advertising. He shared how he now uses AI tools like ChatGPT to research and write articles. Randy and Kevin also discussed AI's potential impacts on industries like content creation, accounting, and finance. Specifically, they touched on how AI could address labor shortages in accounting by automating data processing and freeing up professionals for higher-level work.

Randy and Kevin outlined future AI use cases and will expand on these at the upcoming GrowCFO global finance summit. Previous podcast guest Aneal Vallarupali, CFO at Airbase also features in this session.

https://youtu.be/Aqahr5LvetA

Links

Randy Wootton on LinkedIn

Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn

Maxio

GrowCFO Show #171: What’s in Store for Fintech in 2024 with Aneal Vallurupalli, CFO at Airbase

GrowCFO Global Finance Summit

Timestamps

Career progression from military to CEO of 3 startups. (0:10)

AI and business leadership with a seasoned CEO. (2:19)

AI's impact on content creation, including the use of chatbots for research and writing. (7:03)

AI's impact on the accounting profession, including automation, labour shortages, and new roles. (12:07)

Charting the Future: Expert Perspectives on Finance and AI Trends at the Global Finance Summit (17:44)

Find out more about GrowCFO

If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.

GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. 

Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here. 

You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Chris Tredwell joins regular host Kevin Appleby on the GrowCFO Show. Chris is the Chief Sales Officer at ERP software provider Aqilla. Chris leads GrowCFO's Future of the Finance Function series of webinars and will be presenting the opening keynote at the upcoming Global Finance Summit on 15-16 May 2024.

Aqilla is a mid-market, Cloud-based, Accounting / Postmodern ERP solution that sits above well-known entry-level SME products such as Xero, Quickbooks and Sage. It has the capabilities of products like SunSystems (Infor FMS), SAP Business One, Netsuite, Microsoft Dynamics, Intacct and many others but at a fraction of the complexity and cost.

Chris and Kevin discussed how AI and automation are rapidly changing the finance function. They talked about the limitations of legacy on-premise accounting software and how modern cloud-based solutions are needed to take advantage of new technologies.

Speeding up month-end close remains a challenge for most businesses, and Chris and Kevin believe this is the biggest opportunity for automation in finance.

They emphasized the importance of real-time data access and analytics to drive better business decision-making. They also discussed the importance of benchmarking processes, having a single source of truth for data, and focusing on a few key actionable insights rather than excessive data

https://youtu.be/llPpRcJtsps

Links

Chris Tredwell on LinkedIn

Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn

Aqilla

GrowCFO Global Finance Summit

Timestamps

The Global Finance Summit. (0:11)

Cloud-based accounting software for mid-market businesses. (3:25)

Modernizing finance software for efficiency and time savings. (9:08)

AI in finance, automating tasks and improving accuracy. (13:58)

Focussing on real-time data and decision-making. (18:32)

Data accuracy and a single source of truth in business reporting. (23:24)

Modernizing finance functions with a focus on technology and automation. (28:17)

Find out more about GrowCFO

If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.

GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. 

Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here. 

You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Anthony Perrozi is an independent finance transformation advisor, author and coach. Anthony shares his vast experience and practical insights on how finance teams can evolve from mere reporters of results to crucial drivers of business value. He stresses the importance of mindset in transforming finance teams and lays out how to establish a project approach that optimizes existing processes and pinpoints areas needing improvement.

Anthony talks about his journey to becoming a full-time finance transformation expert. Anthony started in accounting but realized there was more to learn outside the textbooks. This led him to take on systems implementation roles and eventually lead transformation projects.

Anthony shared some common pitfalls like not committing enough resources to transformations. Organizations also struggle with requests for proposals that don't consider the level of effort needed. We discussed the need for client-side advisors to provide strategy and ensure different departments work together smoothly.

Anthony's approach involves listening sessions with subject matter experts to understand their pain points and map out processes. Fixing these is key before adding new technology like automation. Process improvement is so important for efficiency gains.

When it comes to automation and AI, Anthony stressed the importance of aligned processes and resources first. We can't just layer technology on top of broken processes. Robotics process automation is commonly used in early automation efforts.

Driving the need for change often comes down to issues like errors and wasted time on non-value activities. A big future challenge will be increasing understanding of what transformation really means and how to do it effectively. Our finance transformation bootcamp aims to help with that.

https://youtu.be/wijdStudh5g

Links

Anthony Perrozzi on LinkedIn

Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn

GrowCFO Finance Transformation Boot Camp

GrowCFO Global Finance Summit

Timestamps

Introducing finance transformation with expert Anthony Perrozzi. (0:11)

Finance transformation and intercompany accounting. (2:27)

Finance transformation challenges and solutions. (5:45)

Improving business processes through client-side advisors. (11:58)

Process improvement for business efficiency. (18:08)

Transforming businesses through automation and AI. (24:10)

Transforming finance teams and education. (31:21)

Find out more about GrowCFO

If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.

GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. 

Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here. 

You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Remote working is becoming ever more popular. Besides the trend of working from home, existing workers may want to move to other countries, either for a short period or long term, and the business may want to take advantage of the skills pool available by recruiting further afield. While there are many advantages of remote work, it also opens up new issues in legal and fiscal compliance. John Lee joins Kevin Appleby on the GrowCFO Show to discuss the problem and show how his company, Work From Anywhere, gives an effective solution.

John Lee speaks 6 languages and has travelled to 60+ countries. Over the last 20 years he has lived in Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Thailand. His previous start-up, CultureMee, an intercultural communication platform, won “Best Travel Technology Product” at the Global Youth Travel Awards in 2018. Prior to CultureMee, John held senior finance roles in FTSE listed CRH Plc. There, he travelled to over 150+ locations over a 10 year period and got to see first hand the challenges of dealing with complex corporate tax, individual tax and employment law across multiple jurisdictions.

Work from anywhere: solving the compliance problem

The conversation covered the challenges of managing compliance in remote and hybrid workforces. John Lee discussed his background in finance and startups, and how he enjoys working remotely with his family while navigating complex global tax laws.

John highlighted various tax, legal and employment risks companies face with international employees, such as visa requirements, individual and corporate tax, social security, and permanent establishment risks. Different countries have varying rules that can lead to penalties if not properly managed.

Kevin and John discussed the challenges of approving remote work locations and hiring overseas employees. John's platform provides real-time risk assessments and compliance checklists to help businesses navigate these issues. It also saves companies time and money compared to external advisors.

Other topics included evolving hiring models like employers of record and contractors, roles popular for remote work, and the future of work being more agile and flexible. John is excited by AI's potential but emphasizes human oversight for reliability in their legal/compliance domain.

GrowCFO members can take advantage of a range of member discounts, including an exclusive 10% discount on a Work From Anywhere subscription

https://youtu.be/dopfdelaWv0

Links

John Lee on LinkedIn

Work From Anywhere

Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn

10% discount for GrowCFO members

Episode 147 Hybrid Working: Getting the Best from Your Finance Team with Alex Triplett, CFO/COO at Appfire

Timestamps

Introducing John Lee (0:11)

Remote work challenges and solutions. (2:39)

Tax and employment risks for multinational companies. (6:37)

Hiring models and workforce strategies in international expansion. (10:37)

Hiring overseas risks and solutions. (14:36)

Remote work and its challenges in various locations. (19:04)

AI impact, remote work, and company benefits. (23:19)

Find out more about GrowCFO

If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.

GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. 

Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here. 

You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Tim Merryweather joins Kevin Appleby on the GrowCFO Show ahead of a Webinar in April about how to value your business. Tim is an experienced CFO. He describes his career journey, including working in London, Singapore, and the Middle East, and highlights his practical experience in valuing and acquiring businesses.

Tim and Kevin discussed Tim's early experience at Mouchel, a highly acquisitive former FTSE250 company with a high valuation multiple. They talked about valuing a business being acquired, with Tim explaining that they looked at market indications, valuation metrics, and the combined business's worth.

Tim emphasizes the importance of securing relationships and staff during the acquisition process to maximize value. Companies that make frequent acquisitions may increase risk profiles, leading to a lower valuation multiple.

When dealing with Private Equity, valuation multiples are based on earnings visibility and forecastability. The quality of a company's management team is a key factor in determining its valuation multiple. Valuing early-stage businesses requires balancing DCF techniques with market experience and size of opportunity as cashflows are uncertain.

https://youtu.be/juhLmo9r5mg

Links

Tim Merryweather on LinkedIn

Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn

GrowCFO Business valuation webinar

Timestamps

Business growth and expansion with a South African finance leader. (0:11)

Career progression in finance, from controller to CFO. (3:25)

Valuing a business through acquisition. (8:19)

Acquisition strategies and valuation multiples. (13:35)

Private equity valuation techniques and market trends. (18:05)

Startup valuation and investment strategies. (22:37)

Find out more about GrowCFO

If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.

GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. 

Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here. 

You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

In the final part of the series on scaling FP&A, Catherine Marks brings together her old team from Virgin Media O2 to discuss the merger of the two organisations and what this meant for the finance teams within each merged company.

Regular podcast host Kevin Appleby chats with Catherine, formerly Head of Group FP&A at Virgin Media O2 and now FP&A and Team Training Lead at GrowCFO. They are joined by Julie Parker, who before the deal, was Pre-merger Planning Integration Lead, Finance at O2 and remains in the merged organisation as Head of Finance Integration & Transformation; Tom Writer, who took on the role of Head of FP&A - Consumer Commercial in the merged organisation; and Ed Dannan formerly Central Finance Director at Virgin Media, now CFO at Voneus Broadband.

The conversation covered key challenges and strategies for integrating finance teams after a merger or acquisition. The guests discussed their experiences bringing together Virgin Media and O2, highlighting cultural differences, resource allocation challenges, and the importance of speed during integration while managing change.

Other topics included measuring synergies, navigating systems integration, and maintaining motivation. The group agreed that having a clear integration strategy and dedicated leadership is crucial to avoid uncertainty during the transition period. Communicating authentically and focusing on both outputs and people aspects were also emphasized as important factors for success.

https://youtu.be/lnSXr6up3tw

Links

Catherine Marks on LinkedIn

Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn

Julie Parker on LinkedIn

Tom Writer on LinkedIn

Ed Dannan on LinkedIn

Episode 175 Scaling FP&A 2 Choosing the Right FP&A Tools

Episode 174 Scaling FP&A 1 Building Your FP&A Team

GrowCFO FP&A Competency Framework

GrowCFO FP&A Bootcamp

Timestamps

Scaling FP&A with guests from Virgin Media and Phineas. (0:11)

Post-merger integration challenges and strategies. (3:17)

Merger challenges in the telecommunications industry, including cultural differences and resource allocation. (6:59)

Cultural challenges after merging two companies. (9:12)

Cultural differences in mergers and acquisitions. (14:17)

Implementing change in organizations, managing uncertainty. (15:49)

Challenges and strategies for merging financial systems. (18:01)

Merger planning, baseline, and operational metrics. (20:07)

Communication and team alignment. (22:26)

Finance Processes in Mergers and Acquisitions. (25:25)

Finance transformation and change management. (28:54)

Mergers and acquisitions in the finance industry. (30:43)

Find out more about GrowCFO

If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.

GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. 

Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here. 

You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net