The CFO Playbook

Being a finance leader is no longer just about controlling costs. 2025’s CFOs are trusted business leaders and innovators that drive growth throughout the organisation. Hosted by technology reporter, presenter and consumer champion, David McClelland, The CFO Playbook features interviews with world-class CFOs, finance leaders and founders from some of the fastest growing companies. The CFO Playbook is brought to you by Soldo.

The CFO Playbook is a general podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 108 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts The CFO Playbook, a general show with 108 episodes published.

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  Episode #7

  The CFO as Storyteller: Why Numbers Alone Aren’t Enough

  Apr 30, 202641 minS6

  <p>How does a CFO help turn startup chaos into scale-up structure, translate numbers into action, and support growth across every part of the business?</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of The CFO Playbook, David McClelland is joined by Brad Channer, CFO at UBIO, the automation company helping businesses connect systems that were never designed to work together.</p><p><br></p><p>Brad shares why the CFO role in a startup or scale-up is far broader than finance alone. At UBIO, that means working across fundraising, sales, legal, HR, operations, board reporting, and exit planning — often al...

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  Episode #3

  Why Operational CFOs Win: Strategy, Speed, and Leading Through Change with SmartRecruiters' Tom DiDesidero

  Mar 26, 202638 minS6

  <p>How does a CFO help a business stand out in a crowded market, execute a bold AI strategy, and lead the company through acquisition without losing focus? </p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of The CFO Playbook, David McClelland is joined by Tom DiDesidero, CFO at SmartRecruiters, the hiring platform focused on making recruitment easier and more effective for enterprise customers. </p><p><br></p><p>Tom explains why the most effective CFOs are deeply operational, not just financial stewards. He reflects on joining SmartRecruiters at a pivotal moment, partnering closely with CEO Rebecca Carr, and helping the comp...

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  Episode #2

  From Metrics to Meaning: Building a Customer-Centric Finance Org

  Feb 26, 202634 minS6

  <p>How do you keep finance customer-centric—especially when you’re scaling fast, operating across regulated markets, and navigating crisis moments?</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of The CFO Playbook, David McClelland is joined by Mohamed “Mo” Omaizat, CFO and Managing Director at Taxfix, the Berlin-based, AI-first tax platform helping customers file taxes more easily across multiple European markets. </p><p><br></p><p>Mo shares why customer-centricity isn’t a slogan - it’s a leadership system: calendar time with frontline teams, regular rituals, and tying financial models directly to customer behaviour (retention, frequency, cohort dynamics). He also expla...

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  Episode #1

  CFO Leadership: Asking Better Questions Instead of Saying No with John Glasgow

  Jan 29, 202631 minS6

  <p>How do you raise $100m fast and still keep finance discipline as you scale?</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of The CFO Playbook, David McClelland is joined by John Glasgow, CFO and CEO at Campfire (a Silicon Valley scale-up building a modern ERP for growing companies). John shares what it really looks like to run both the vision and the purse strings, including how Campfire raised $100m across Series A and B in rapid succession, why investors sometimes want you to spend more, and how finance leaders can enable speed without becoming the “office of no.”</p><p...

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  Episode #13

  Reflecting on progressive finance with Sacha Herrmann

  Dec 29, 202533 minS5

  <p>How do finance leaders move from reporting the past to shaping the future — and what will truly matter for CFOs in the year ahead?</p><p><br></p><p>In this special end-of-year episode of The CFO Playbook, host David McClelland is joined once again by Sacha Herman, Chief Financial Officer at Soldo, to reflect on the most powerful themes and insights shared by finance leaders throughout 2025. Drawing on conversations from across the season, David and Sacha revisit how the role of finance is evolving — from strategic partnership and collaboration, to technology adoption, talent, diversity, and innovation — and look ahead...

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