#277 How CFOs Scale to $100M+ Without Leaving Xero, David Tuck, Founder, Mayday and Kate Hayward, Managing Director UK, Xero
In this episode, Kevin Appleby talks with Kate Hayward, Managing Director of Xero UK, and David Tuck, founder of Mayday, about how finance teams can scale beyond $100 million in revenue while staying on Xero instead of migrating to a traditional ERP. They debunk the myth that Xero is only for micro‑businesses, citing the State of the Stack report which shows dozens of mid‑market firms (some with 30‑plus finance staff) successfully using Xero plus best‑in‑class add‑ons like Mayday, Easy Month End, and other reporting, operations, and planning apps. The discussion also highlights the CFO Tech Stack community, which provides psychological safety and practical guidance through newsletters, a Slack group, and webinars, helping CFOs build a robust Xero‑centric tech ecosystem. Ultimately, they argue that scaling with Xero plus a tailored app stack is increasingly the norm, with ERP migration becoming a rare exception.
#276 Why Information Security Is Now a CFO Responsibility, Howard Francioni, Lead Auditor, Akton Boundrie Group
In this episode, host Kevin Appleby talks with Howard Francioni, a lead auditor at Akton Boundrie Group, about why information security is now a core responsibility for CFOs. They discuss the real‑world impact of cyber incidents—such as the Jaguar Land...
#275 How to Choose Between AI-Native Tools and Proven Finance Platforms, Gavin McGahey, CTO & Co-Founder, AccountsIQ
In this episode, Gavin McGahey, CTO and co‑founder of AccountsIQ, discusses the evolution of finance technology from early cloud accounting to today’s AI‑enhanced platforms. He explains how AccountsIQ is integrating tightly scoped, audit‑able AI agents to automate routine tasks like...
#274 How to Value Brand Equity in an M&A Deal, Stevey Arroyo, Founder & Partner, The Brand Exit
In this episode, Kevin Appleby talks with Stevie Arroyo, founder of The Brand Exit, about the often‑overlooked asset of brand equity in M&A transactions. Stevie explains how brand equity—customers’ preference beyond product features—can be quantified using ISO 10668, which translates...
#273 How CFOs Can Increase Company Valuation, Matteo Turi, Chief Operating Financial Officer, Letoon Holding Ltd
In this episode, CFO Matteo Turi introduces the "valuation triangle," a three‑part framework he co‑developed with the University of Plymouth to turn companies into investable assets. The first side focuses on monetizing intellectual property—licensing, franchising, joint ventures—to create intangible value...
#272 How to Move From Finance Leader to CFO, Richard Turner, GrowCFO Mentor
In this episode, Richard Turner, a seasoned finance professional and new GrowCFO mentor, shares his 40‑year, multi‑industry journey from accountant to CFO, highlighting how humility, core finance fundamentals, and curiosity enable successful sector transitions. He outlines the universal finance leader...
#270 Why Almost Every New CFO Feels Like a Fraud, Alan Scholnick, GrowCFO Mentor
In this episode, Kevin Appleby talks with seasoned finance leader and GrowCFO mentor Alan Scholnick about why imposter syndrome is almost universal among newly appointed CFOs, especially during finance transformations. Alan draws on his 30‑year career at IKEA and his...
#267 Why Nonprofit Finance Is 10 Years Behind and How to Close the Gap with Ilana Esterrich, GrowCFO Mentor
In this episode, host Kevin Appleby talks with nonprofit finance veteran Ilana Esterrich about why nonprofit finance lags a decade behind for‑profit practices and how to modernize the CFO role. Ilana stresses that “no money, no mission,” urging nonprofits to...
#266 The CFO’s Secret Weapon Behind Higher Business Valuations: The Data Cube with David Whitcombe, Founder and Managing Director, Data...
In this episode, Kevin Appleby and data‑analytics expert David Whitcombe explain how a "data cube"—a unified, governed layer that pulls together ERP, CRM, and operational data—gives CFOs a single source of truth that drives higher valuations in private‑equity exits. By...