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In this insightful episode of the CFO 4.0 Podcast, host Hannah Munro is joined by Richard Sanders, Founder and Managing Partner at Sullivan Street Partners, for a no-holds-barred session of myth-busting in the world of private equity. This episode offers practical wisdom, experienced insights, and a refreshingly candid take on what it really means to lead in a PE-backed business.

Tune in to explore:

• Why growth and profit aren’t mutually exclusive in private equity strategy
• The real expectations around budgeting and how to balance ambition with achievability
• What kinds of mistakes are tolerated
• How equity structures work, and why understanding “good leaver vs bad leaver” clauses is essential
• Whether industry experience or private equity background matters more for CFO roles
• How values, trust, and transparency drive performance in today’s private equity landscape

Links mentioned:

• Richard's Linkedin
• Learn more about Sullivan Street Partners

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

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In this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro speaks with Karl Lloyd, fractional CFO and founder of Lloyd Consulting Limited, about his transition from full-time finance roles to a portfolio CFO career. Karl shares practical insights from working across sectors like e-commerce, SaaS, and travel, and reflects on the realities of life as a fractional CFO.

In this episode, Karl covers:

• The biggest differences and challenges between full-time and fractional CFO roles
• Building effective financial models and keeping them simple, flexible, and insightful
• Working with investors and managing expectations through clear reporting
• Lessons from multiple management buyouts and how to prepare early for due diligence
• Advice for aspiring fractional CFOs, including mindset, client management, and business development

Links mentioned:

• Karl's Linkedin
• Learn more about Lloyd Consulting Limted

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

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In this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro chats with Karla Smith, CFO at Ogilvy UK, about her unique path to CFO and how finance operates at the heart of a creative, people-driven organisation.

Key topics covered include:

• Karla’s career journey from audit trainee to CFO
• How to succeed in senior finance roles with flexible hours and build mutual trust with your organisation.
• The role of finance in creative industries
• Building financial literacy across teams through internal training
• Approaching talent investment and balancing short-term results with long-term value.
• Tips for new CFOs on strategic planning, effective delegation, and building strong CEO partnerships.

Links mentioned:

• Karla's Linkedin
• Learn more about Ogilvy

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

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In this episode of CFO 4.0, Neil Lynchehaun unpacks the Records-to-Report (R2R) maturity model and shares hard-earned insights from decades in finance transformation. He challenges traditional finance thinking and explores how finance teams can shift from compliance to strategic enablement.

What’s covered in this episode:

• Why maturity models are tools for inspiration, not evaluation
• The five levels of finance maturity, from statutory compliance to strategic insight
• How poor tagging and manual journals hold finance back
• The mindset shift from finance-led budgeting to operational-led planning
• Real-time accounting, continuous close, and eliminating month-end chaos
• Building finance functions that partner with, not trail behind, the business

Links mentioned:

• Previous session: Understanding the P2P Maturity Curve
• Connect with Hannah Munro
• Connect with Neil Lynchehaun
• Which Sage Product is Right For You Quiz!
• Book a discovery call

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

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In this episode of CFO 4.0, we dive into the critical 30 to 60 day phase of a CFO's journey with returning guest Jeremy Earnshaw, Founding Director of Clarendon and experienced CFO. Building on our previous conversation about the first 30 days, this episode explores how new CFOs can transition from learning to leading.

🔍 Key Takeaways:

• How stakeholder expectations shift after the first month
• Why your first management reporting pack matters
• Using the interest vs. power matrix to prioritise demands from senior stakeholders.
• The importance of understanding communication preferences
• How to evaluate finance processes for inefficiencies, single points of failure, and quick wins.
• Ways to check if you’re truly delivering on your CFO mandate

Links mentioned:

• Jeremy's Linkedin
• Learn more about Clarendon Executive Coaching and Mentoring

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

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In this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro speaks with David Wood, Chair of London Futurists, about the accelerating pace of AI and its profound implications for business, society, and the future of work. Together, they explore the near-term possibilities and longer-term consequences of artificial intelligence—from transformation to potential turmoil.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why some companies struggle with AI adoption
• The rise of neuro-symbolic AI and the combination of logic-based and intuitive systems
• Breakthroughs in video generation, self-prompting AI, and the future of AI-generated media
• What Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) could mean for jobs, skills, and human relevance
• How emotional intelligence and adaptability will be essential skills for leaders in the AI era

Links mentioned:

• David’s Linkedin
• Learn more about London Futurists
• London Futurists Meetups
• The Coming Wave: AI, Power and Our Future by Mustafa Suleyman
• Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the race that changed the world by Parmy Olson
• Uncontrollable : The Threat of Artificial Superintelligence by Darren McKee

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

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In this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro is joined once again by Rob Jackson, now Senior Associate Consultant at Protiviti UK. Rob reflects on his journey from leading finance operations at Sage to spearheading transformation projects in private equity-backed businesses. Together, they unpack what it really takes to deliver finance change, lead shared services, and balance organisational complexity.

In this episode, we explore:

• Rob’s experience transitioning from Sage to working in a private equity environment
• How to successfully drive incremental finance change
• The importance of defining clear goals and resisting the temptation
• Building and managing an effective Shared Service Centre
• The critical role of stakeholder management
• Rob’s top advice for new shared services leaders

Links mentioned:

• Rob's Linkedin
• Learn more about Protiviti

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

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In this episode of CFO 4.0 – The PE CFO Series, Hannah Munro is joined once again by Richard Sanders, Founder and Managing Partner at Sullivan Street Partners. Together, they dive into “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” of private equity—an honest conversation unpacking what it’s really like behind the boardroom doors of a PE-backed business.

With a wealth of experience across corporate, startup and PE environments, Richard shares practical insights on how CFOs can protect their teams, influence direction, and stay focused on long-term value—even in short-term funding cycles.

In this episode, they explore:

• The shift in relationships and leadership behaviours post-PE investment
• What to retain (and what to adopt) when transitioning into a PE environment
• The evolving role of the CFO and how it differs from a Finance Director
• Why month-end speed matters—and how it changes company mindset
• Balancing investor expectations with long-term business thinking
• The signs of disengagement from your PE house—and how to respond

Links mentioned:

• Richard's Linkedin
• Learn more about Sullivan Street Partners

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!