Growth stalls when founders treat finance like a tax chore instead of a strategic engine. We sit down with Amy Spandau, founder of Ablaze Financial and veteran CFO, to unpack a practical playbook for turning messy books into clear decisions, healthy cash flow, and confident growth. Amy’s journey from CPA auditor to startup turnaround leader gives her a rare vantage point on what early and mid-stage companies under $10 million in revenue actually need—and what they don’t.
You’ll hear how to build a finance function that scales with you: start with cleanup and a timely monthly close, add a 13-week cash forecast, then introduce budget-to-actuals, unit economics, and scenario planning. Amy breaks common myths with crisp analogies—taxes are like the dentist, necessary but not the whole picture—and shows why 80 percent of the value of your books lives in management insight. We dig into the KPIs that matter most for small businesses, including gross margin clarity, operating leverage, and cash conversion cycle, and how these numbers tell a story you can act on.
We also talk about the human side: the isolation of founding, the power of community, and why a great partner teaches while doing. Amy outlines a staged path that ultimately graduates you to your first in-house accounting and finance team, ensuring continuity and control. If payroll timing keeps you up, if pricing feels fuzzy, or if your runway seems to shrink faster than revenue grows, this conversation gives you the tools to get calm, get clear, and get moving.
If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a founder who needs clarity, and leave a quick review so more builders can find it. Then connect with Ablaze Financial at www.ablazefinancial.com and say hello on Instagram for more practical finance tips.
