Shows
The Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 34: Daniya Stewart, Fractional CFO & Founder, Valor AdvisoryIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, host Stephen Aldridge is joined by Daniya Stewart - a former banker turned startup founder and now fractional CFO and advisor to early-stage businesses.
Daniya shares her fascinating journey from a 17-year career in renewable energy project finance to launching and scaling Phomo - a Vietnamese meal kit startup born in lockdown. She takes us behind the scenes of her founder experience: the initial idea sparked by missing her favourite lunch, raising over £300,000 in funding, securing retail interest from the likes of Selfridges and Whole Foods, and ultimately winding down the business a...
2025-03-271h 01The Forward Thinking CFONumeritas – Episode 33 - Can I Trust This Model? - Team DiscussionIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, we take a deep dive into a crucial question for finance professionals: Can I trust this model?
Stephen Aldridge is joined by Christine Donnet, a fellow modeller here at Numeritas, to discuss practical ways to assess the reliability of a financial model. Whether you're inheriting a model, conducting due diligence, or simply trying to validate your own work, this conversation provides valuable insights into identifying potential risks, inefficiencies, and hidden pitfalls.
Topics covered in this episode include:
- The importance of model quality in financial decision-making
- Quick techniques to assess a...
2025-02-0231 min
The Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 32 - Maria Ghibu - CFO & NEDIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, Stephen Aldridge is joined by Maria Ghibu, a fractional CFO, entrepreneur, and non-executive director at the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors.
Maria offers a fascinating account of her journey from financial auditor to fractional CFO, sharing her insights into post-merger integration, the robotics and biotech sectors, and the importance of good governance.
In this episode, Stephen and Maria delve into:
● Challenges of funding and scaling in the robotics sector
● Lessons in investor relations, scaling, and startup operations
● The impact of fractional CFOs on startup scaling and governance
● How AI supports but doesn’t replace...
2024-11-1742 min
The Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 31 - Jeremy Earnshaw - Clarendon Executive Coaching and MentoringIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, Stephen Aldridge is joined by Jeremy Earnshaw, former CFO and founder of Clarendon Executive Coaching and Mentoring.
With over 25 years of global C-Suite experience, Jeremy shares his journey from finance to executive coaching, offering invaluable insights on "Coaching with Purpose" and empowering leaders to achieve transformative results.
In this packed episode, Andrew and Jeremy explore:
- How coaching aligns with organisational goals
- Evaluating the ROI of coaching through financial and performance metrics
- Why building personal relationships between coach and coachee is crucial for success
- Case studies on coaching through...
2024-10-0436 minThe Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 30 - Andrew Lynch - Blue Light CardIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, Stephen Aldridge is joined by Andrew Lynch, Head of FP&A at Blue Light Card.
With a rich background in finance leadership across diverse industries - from wholesale to tech - Andrew shares invaluable insights on leveraging the finance function to enhance commercial performance.
In this packed episode, Andrew and Stephen explore:
- The pivotal role of financial planning and analysis in business strategy.
- How to distinguish between budgeting and forecasting, and their distinct roles in business planning.
- Techniques for optimising marketing spend and managing supply chains more efficiently.
...
2024-08-3045 minThe Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 29 - David Forbes - Corporate TreasurerIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, Stephen Aldridge is joined by David Forbes, a seasoned corporate treasurer and former financial modeller.
David's impressive career includes roles at Serco, Mitie, and Logicor, where he honed his expertise in modelling and treasury management.
During his long tenure at Serco, David worked on diverse projects such as public-private partnerships and PFI. His experience spans across a wide variety of sectors from aviation to healthcare and education. His move to Logicor in 2021, a logistics real estate business operating in 19 countries across Europe, meant a need to quickly adapt to the complexities of...
2024-07-1225 min
The Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 28 - Lawrence Edwards-Smajda - Haier UK & IrelandIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, Stephen Aldridge was joined by Lawrence Edwards-Smajda, CFO of Haier UK & Ireland, the mastermind behind a number of well-known big brands like Hoover and Candy.
Lawrence's journey to Haier is a fascinating one, beginning with what was essentially a 12-month interview that paved the way for a captivating story you won't want to miss.
An experienced finance professional and commercial leader who has performed and succeeded in many varied and pressurised positions and situations, Lawrence brings an incredible wealth of experience to this episode.
During their fascinating discussion, Stephen and Lawrence delve...
2024-06-0630 min
The FP&A Guy NetworkUnlocking Financial Model Secrets and Advanced Techniques with Stephen AldridgeWelcome to the Financial Modeler's Corner (FMC), where we discuss the Art and Science of Financial Modeling with your host Paul Barnhurst.Financial Modeler's Corner is sponsored by the Financial Modeling Institute (FMI), the most respected accreditation in Financial Modeling globally.In today’s episode, Paul engages in a conversation with Stephen Aldridge, to discuss developing and implementing Financial Modeling standards and best practices, including insights from his work on the Financial Modelling Code. This conversation is packed with practical advice and fascinating anecdotes.Stephen, the founder of Numeritas, has over 20 years of ex...
2024-05-2145 minFinancial Modeler's CornerUnlocking Financial Model Secrets and Advanced Techniques with Stephen AldridgeWelcome to the Financial Modeler's Corner (FMC), where we discuss the Art and Science of Financial Modeling with your host Paul Barnhurst.Financial Modeler's Corner is sponsored by the Financial Modeling Institute (FMI), the most respected accreditation in Financial Modeling globally.In today’s episode, Paul engages in a conversation with Stephen Aldridge, to discuss developing and implementing Financial Modeling standards and best practices, including insights from his work on the Financial Modelling Code. This conversation is packed with practical advice and fascinating anecdotes.Stephen, the founder of Numeritas, has over 20 years of ex...
2024-05-2145 minThe Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 27 - Cameron Miller - Carlton PowerIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, we go a little off-piste as Cameron Miller, the Hydrogen Development Manager at Carlton Power, joins us to discuss the current state and future of hydrogen in the UK.
As the shift from fossil-based to renewable energy sources gains momentum, Cameron's expertise sheds light on the pivotal role of hydrogen in this transition.
Carlton Power is an independent UK energy development company that develops and finances renewable energy and renewable-associated infrastructure projects, so it is at the forefront of the energy transition.
Cameron brings an innate passion for the ongoing changes in...
2024-04-2620 minThe Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 26 - Paul Lines - Garwood SolutionsIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, we were joined by the hugely knowledgeable Paul Lines, Corporate Finance Advisor and Consultant at Garwood Solutions, a firm that advises Professional Services and IT firms, as well as their investors.
Paul specialises in helping firms to grow and develop through mergers and acquisitions, and having been in the business for over 20 years, he’s practically a lifelong M&A practitioner, with a wealth of deals under his belt. In this episode Paul talks about his career to date, the many reasons why firms consider mergers and acquisitions, and the key steps in...
2024-03-2239 minThe Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 25 - Aneal Vallurupalli - AirbaseIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, we were joined by the hugely knowledgeable Aneal Vallurupalli, CFO at Airbase, a spend management software company.
Aneal brings a unique perspective to the table, as he not only holds the CFO position at Airbase but also works directly with CFOs and finance departments to streamline their processes, so gets to experience both sides of the coin.
Aneal’s career began in technology investment banking at Union Square Advisors, His background includes early to late-stage corporate finance, corporate development, operations, and tech M&A.
With over 12 years of experience in financial operations, An...
2024-02-2148 minThe Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 24 - Soufyan Hamid - SouFBPIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, we were joined by the inspirational Soufyan Hamid, founder and financial storytelling trainer at SouFBP.
With a background in auditing and consulting at top firms like PwC and Deloitte, Soufyan discovered the power of storytelling during his time as a finance business partner in the telecommunications industry.
Soufyan's journey taught him the importance of winning over internal stakeholders, and now he's on a mission to revolutionise finance presentations by transforming them into captivating business stories told by finance professionals.
During their discussion, Stephen and Soufyan delve into:
- Identifying and addressing the...
2024-01-1841 minThe Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 23 - Marco Torrente - WebBedsIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, Stephen Aldridge was joined by Marco Torrente, Global Chief Financial Officer at WebBeds, a global online marketplace for the travel trade.
Marco heads up the finance team of about 220 people spread across the globe. As a global finance leader and director who has provided strategic counsel to many blue chip companies, Marco has helped implement operational efficiencies that target growth for businesses listed on the FTSE100, NASDAQ, and ASX. Marco brings a wealth of experience to the episode.
During their fascinating discussion, Stephen and Marco delve into:
- Managing a global online...
2023-12-1925 minThe Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 22 - Magdalena Markiewicz - Eel PowerIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, we were joined by the inspirational Magdalena Markiewicz, CFO of Eel Power, providers of battery storage for the UK’s renewable energy supply.
Magdalena shares her fascinating, slightly non-traditional path to becoming a CFO with us on this episode. Magdalena's journey took her from New York to Barcelona and back to London where she joined Rothschild. Her ultimate goal was to become a CFO for a company making a difference, and she achieved it at Eel Power. Her journey has been truly remarkable.
Her incredible expertise, straightforward attitude and passion for low-carbon en...
2023-10-2541 minThe Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 21 - Guy Ellis - Rockpool InvestmentsIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO we spoke to Guy Ellis, Partner at Rockpool Investments, a private equity business specialising in £5-15m investments into lower-mid market companies.
Returning to the subject of sources of finance for business in this episode, Guy is the perfect guest to share his incredible knowledge of the world of private equity. With over a decade of experience in the sector, having previously worked at Goldman Sachs and Alcuin Capital, Guy shares practical insights and tips to make private company investing accessible and transparent.
In this insightful episode, Guy and Stephen delve into:
...
2023-08-3036 minThe Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 20 - Daniel QuintIn the latest episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, we catch up with Daniel Quint, Chief Financial Officer at Staffline Group PLC.
Staffline Group PLC specialise in developing and deploying highly flexible, robust and skilled workforces to organisations. They are the UK’s leading provider of flexible blue-collar workers, supplying approximately 40,000 staff per day on average.
Daniel joined the company when it was in a distressed state in 2019 and has executed an award-winning turnaround, moving from a material risk to a going concern, to a stable, profitable business. Daniel applied all his experience from previous roles as Finance Director at th...
2023-04-2528 min
Climb In ConsultingEpisode 122: From the Factory to Financial Modelling with Stephen AldridgeIn this week’s episode of Climb in Consulting, Nick chats to Stephen Aldridge, Managing Director at financial modelling consultancy, Numeritas.
If you’re a regular listener of the podcast, you’ll know that we often explore the different routes to success that many of our guests have followed. Stephen’s journey has been one of the most interesting we’ve encountered, taking him from factory-based engineering to running his own successful boutique consultancy – with a stint as a painter and decorator thrown in for good measure!
During his time as an engineer, Stephen got to know his products inside out, but he...
2023-03-091h 20
The Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 19 - Team DiscussionIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, we’ve got a special edition for you. Taking a different approach, we've gathered some of the Numeritas team's leading experts for a roundtable discussion on the impact external environmental factors have had on the sector in recent times.
The last few years have certainly been turbulent, from Brexit and the pandemic to the war in Ukraine and everything in between, but what can we learn from it?
In this episode Stephen Aldridge is joined by colleagues Denver McCann and Tushar Naik to share their experiences from supporting clients through these challenging ti...
2023-02-2826 minThe Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 18 - Janene Liston - The Pricing LadyIn the latest episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, we catch up with Janene Liston, a highly trusted Pricing Consultant & Business Coach.
Janene’s company The Pricing Lady specialises in supporting businesses with their pricing, and offers workshops, mentoring and strategies to help SMEs and large-scale businesses improve their relationship with profits.
This is something Janene has been doing since her early days in corporate management. After starting out her career as an engineer, she worked her way through various marketing jobs to become a Pricing Manager at Siemens and Syngenta AG.
In 2016, Janene decided to take the plunge and co...
2023-01-2027 minThe Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 17 - Chris Roling - CoinmeIn the latest episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, we speak with Chris Roling, Chief Financial Officer at Coinme.
Thanks to careful pivots in the business model, Coinme continues to go from strength to strength. Offering safe and accessible methods to buy and sell cryptocurrency, Chris has steered Coinme forward to become the world's largest, fully licensed, cryptocurrency cash network.
It’s been a natural step for Chris, who has represented some of the biggest brands in the world during his career. He’s previously worked as a CFO for Pepsico and Getty Images, as well as Kellogg’s and EMI Mu...
2022-11-2240 min
The Forward Thinking CFONumeritas - Episode 16 - Mark Gilham - EnableIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, we speak with Mark Gilham, Director and Evangelist at Enable.
This unusual title has given Mark an opportunity to act both as an ambassador and a consultant for Enable simultaneously. At Enable, Mark helps businesses use rebates as a strategy to drive growth and trust between trading partners. By promoting their innovative software, he helps manufacturers, distributors, and retailers optimise the commercial value of their rebate programs.
Mark started out his career at major financial institutions Barclays Bank and Royal Bank of Canada where he qualified as a chartered accountant. From there...
2022-10-2732 min
The Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 15 - Ryan Whitworth - Leumi ABLIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, we speak with Ryan Whitworth, Regional Sales Director at Leumi ABL.
Leumi ABL is a specialised, award-winning asset-based lending company that helps both small and large businesses achieve their goals. The company adopts a flexible and personal approach to structuring effective asset-based lending solutions that supports refinancing, restructuring, growth, and acquisition.
Whilst Ryan hasn’t come from a banking background, he’s utilised his time in retail to learn more about how behaviours and activities can impact financial performance. He joined the senior management team at Leumi ABL after moving out of reta...
2022-09-0820 minThe Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 14 - Pardip Khroud - Voyager Capital PartnersIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO we speak to Pardip Khroud, CEO & Founder of Voyager Capital Partners.
Pardip draws on her experience from accounting, banking, and private equity to provide cost-effective help to small and medium-sized businesses to support them in driving growth and securing investment.
With a career spanning three decades, Pardip has substantial expertise in both the investment and business world. She has generated gains in excess of £500m in public equity and private equity transactions during her career so brings some incredible insights to this episode.
Having worked with a range of companies, from start-ups t...
2022-06-3040 minThe Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 13 - Jonathan Keeling - CrowdcubeIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, we speak to Jonathan Keeling, VP at Crowdcube.
Crowdcube specialises in democratising access for both businesses and investors to buy shares in start-ups, and with their 1000+ portfolio having raised in excess of £7bn worldwide, they are one of the leading voices in crowdfunding.
A two-time TED talker, early on in his career Jonathan left what many would see as a dream job for a graduate at Centrica to join the founding team at the start-up Pavegen instead. He wanted to be somewhere where he could make as much impact as possible.
It’s c...
2022-05-1633 minThe Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 12 - Alistair Brew - Business Growth FundIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, we speak to Alistair Brew, an Investor at the Business Growth Fund.
Growing businesses will always need funding, which means that Alistair’s role as one of the key figures at BGF is to help CFOs at burgeoning organisations get their hands on all-important cash. At the last count, the fund had made over 400 investments since its launch in 2011.
Before joining the BGF, Alistair worked with Close Brothers and Octopus Ventures, building a seasoned career in small company investment. With so much experience in helping to fund businesses at important stages of th...
2022-03-1031 minThe Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 11 - Our Best Bits From The SeriesIn this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO we’re doing something a little different.
With the end of 2021 on the horizon, we’re revisiting some of our favourite moments from across the series to highlight the brilliant insight and advice our guests have given, all focused on what it takes to build a successful career as a CFO.
You’ll hear from some of the most experienced and skilled CFOs and industry experts out there, including:
• James Davis, advisor to investment firm BGF
• Sahil Rishi, CFO at Sedgwick International UK
• Richard Evans, Finance Director at Excalibur Communications
• Mark Stevenson, Director of VT...
2021-12-2128 minThe Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 10 - Chris Milne - Orbital Marine PowerIn the latest episode we speak to Chris Milne, the CFO at Orbital Marine Power.
Orbital Marine Power are pioneering tidal energy at a time when climate change is nearing the top of the government’s agenda. And with the right backing, it could conceivably become a case of being in exactly the right place at the right time – one of the many reasons why we were so excited to catch up with Chris for our podcast.
Before joining Orbital, Chris worked with SSE Generation and Scottish Renewables, so very much built his career in the Energy sector. With so much...
2021-10-0755 min
The Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 9 - Rob Haxton - Blast.TVIn today’s episode we speak to Rob Haxton, a Board level Group Finance Director, currently working at Blast.TV.
Rob’s career is about as varied as they come. He’s always kept an eye on his CV with his career moves – making sure he builds on his experience and becomes as well-rounded as possible. As he points out, being a great CFO means understanding the whole business, not just your own area of expertise.
With such a successful career in so many areas of the entertainment and publishing sector, Rob has amassed a wealth of expert knowledge.
In today’s...
2021-09-0938 min
The Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 8 - Brian Jones - Microsoft Excel - Part 2Welcome back, for the second part of our conversation with Microsoft Excel’s Head of Product, Brian Jones.
In today’s episode, we delve deeper into the evolution of Excel and the innovations that are keeping it ahead of the competition.
We discuss what the future holds for Excel and the various opportunities for its customers, including:
- How it’s catering to a range of different users and making more complex tools more accessible for different customer groups.
- The increasing ability to build automated processes in Excel without the need for coding skills.
- And the drive to bring...
2021-04-2229 minThe Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 8 - Brian Jones - Microsoft Excel - Part 1Today’s guest is the first non-CFO to feature on the podcast, but it’s fair to say he has a profound impact on almost every Finance professional’s working life.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Microsoft’s Head of Product for Excel, Brian Jones and we had so much to talk about that we’ve decided to split this episode into a two-part special for you.
Having started his career at Microsoft more than 20 years ago, Brian now leads all Excel development and is responsible for keeping Excel at the cutting edge of what’s possible.
In today’s p...
2021-04-1540 minThe Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 7 - Duncan Hayward - Pacific Life ReIn today’s episode we speak to Duncan Hayward, CFO at Pacific Life Re.
Duncan’s impressive career is testament to the importance of spotting opportunities when they arise. As he points out in this episode, he has only had five job interviews in his entire life, and while in almost every case he’s been offered a role, it’s not always been the one he initially went in for.
With such a successful career, Duncan has many great insights for anyone aiming to become a CFO. In this episode we discuss a whole range of them, including:
- How he o...
2021-03-1154 minThe Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 6 - Darrell Cox - Vena SolutionsIn episode 6 of the Forward Thinking CFO, we speak to Darrell Cox, Chief Financial Officer at our technology partner, Vena Solutions.
Vena is a leading cloud technology platform in the corporate performance management arena and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
Darrell joined Vena in 2014 as CFO at the very early stages of its growth journey and was the first non-founding member of the management team. He has since overseen the scaling up and rapid growth of the business. This experience and his early adventures in finance, and even door to door sales, have shaped him into the down to earth...
2021-01-2156 minThe Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 5 - Richard Evans - Excalibur CommunicationsIn today’s episode we speak to Richard Evans, Finance Director at IT specialists, Excalibur Communications. Richard joined the team in 2017 to help make their latest management buyout a success, within just 18 months.
Successfully managing a disposal, acquisition and management buyout is a career-defining moment for many finance professionals. Richard has ticked all three off his list already, gaining a wealth of expertise along the way.
With such a range of experiences, there were plenty of topics for us to dive into and Richard had some brilliant insights for fellow Finance executives, including:
- How you can overcome the challenges of...
2020-12-1056 minThe Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 4 - James Davis - BGFWe speak to Finance professionals on a daily basis and almost all of us got into the industry because we were good with numbers. But as today’s guest will tell you - to successfully progress to the top and become one of the very best CFOs, there’s many more skills you’ll need to master.
In today’s episode, we speak to James Davis, Advisor at BGF, one of the UK’s most active investment companies, providing venture capital for high growth small and medium-sized businesses.
After spending 8 years at one of the UK’s leading accounting firms, James took t...
2020-09-1742 minThe Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 3 - Sahil Rishi - Sedgwick International UKIn today’s episode, we speak to Sahil Rishi, CFO at Sedgwick International UK, the leading provider of insurance and company benefits solutions to businesses all over the world.
Unlike many who know that Finance is the career for them from the time they go to university, Sahil’s journey was rather different. He was set on making it in the world of entertainment before a chance call from a recruiter which led him down a different path.
After training with Moore Stephens, Sahil jumped out into industry with MF Global. Finding himself in the middle of a high-profile chapter 11 bank...
2020-08-1330 minThe Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 2 - Sean Watherston - UENIIn today’s episode, we speak to Sean Watherston, CFO at UENI – the London based tech company, dedicated to shifting the balance between independent business and larger franchises, by helping small businesses find the services and tools they need to succeed.
Sean started his career at Ernst and Young, before moving into investment banking with Credit Suisse and then Commerzbank.
Following his time at Commerzbank, he became the in-house banker at Avanti Communications, where he was involved in a number of high-profile equity raises for communications satellite launches, including one for Elon Musk’s Space X.
In 2013, Sean landed his first...
2020-07-0941 minThe Forward Thinking CFOEpisode 1 - Mark Stevenson - VTG AGIn today's episode, which is the very first episode of our brand new series, The Forward Thinking CFO, we had the pleasure of speaking to Mark Stevenson, Director of VTG AG – one of Europe’s leading rail logistics companies.
Mark’s rise through the ranks to CFO is fascinating, especially considering he studied Modern Languages at University – not the most obvious springboard for a future CFO.
Mark started his finance career at Price Waterhouse, before a stint in consulting where he worked as an advisor to AAE, later joining them as CFO in 1994.
In 2006, Mark became AAE’s CEO before the compan...
2020-07-0928 min
Climb In ConsultingEpisode 51 - Rob Garner - Garwood SolutionsIn today’s episode, the first of 2020, we’re heading back to our usual format as I chat with a fantastic new guest.
I was introduced to today’s guest by our mutual clients, Stephen Aldridge and Denver McCann at Numeritas who, having worked with him first hand, knew that he’d make a great guest for the show.
Today’s guest is Rob Garner, serial consulting entrepreneur, board advisor and most recently founder of Garwood Solutions, the advisory enablement and delivery consultancy focused on performance improvement in the professional services sector.
Having climbed the ranks in KPMG Rob left to launch...
2020-02-041h 38