Are you an aspiring finance leader having to prove yourself in your current finance job, taking the leap into the hectic startup or scaleup world or looking for your next strategic role? Financial Leadership Fundamentals is the essential handbook to support you as you progress from operations to strategic management as a CFO. Packed with actionable steps, it lays out a clear blueprint for navigating the challenges you will face and evolving into an exceptional finance leader in a startup or scaleup. Read this book and learn how to: Communicate effectively and improve your relationships with the board, investors and the leadership team Prepare effectively for fundraising, whether for equity or debt Evaluate and implement the right finance tech stack for your team Go beyond just reporting numbers - actually influence decisions Develop a scalable finance function that grows with the business
Alysha Randall is the founder of Fast Growth Consulting and a seasoned CFO with over fifteen years' experience working with startups and scaleups. Before launching her own consultancy, Alysha held finance leadership roles at companies including LoveFilm, which was acquired by Amazon, and Funding Circle, which achieved a successful IPO on the London Stock Exchange. These experiences have given her first-hand insight into the challenges and opportunities of scaling businesses from startup to exit.
Foreword - Introduction - Part One: Leadership And Mindset - 1 What Is Leadership? - 2 Developing A Leadership Mindset - 3 Communication, Communication, Communication - 4 The Role Of A CFO In A Startup Or Scaleup - Part Two: Keeping The Lights On - 5 The Boring Stuff You Can't Ignore - 6 Risks And Controls - 7 All Things Cash - Part Three: Monitoring And Reporting - 8 The Leader's Role In Monthly Reporting - 9 Processes And The Finance Tech Stack - Part Four: Adding Value - 10 Business Partnerships - 11 Budgets, Forecasting And Growth Models - 12 Preparing To Fundraise - Part Five: Strategy - 13 Developing Your Finance Team - 14 Putting On A CFO's Hat - Conclusion - Glossary - References - Acknowledgements - The Author
'Any finance professional embarking on a career in a high-growth business will benefit from reading Financial Leadership Fundamentals. Alysha Randall shares personal lessons emphasising the importance of a growth mindset, learning how to add strategic value and developing leadership skills applicable to finance careers. It's an accessible read for any busy executive full of practical tips. This book will become a formative text for all CFOs of the future.' - Guy Hutchinson, tech CFO and Co-founder, Startup CFO Community 'In Financial Leadership Fundamentals Alysha encapsulates both the magic and the harsh realities of being a CFO in the startup world. Covering the breadth of the role, from managing tough relationships to the technical skills of financial reporting and audits. This is the handbook every CFO or aspiring CFO needs in their bag.' - Jennifer Pearson, Founder, Treasury Edge 'This book is a toolkit for being an effective CFO in a startup and scaleup. Drawing on her experiences from startup, scaleup CFO and fractional CFO roles, Alysha provides hugely valuable guidance on how to grow towards the CFO level. She provides direct examples and an honest presentation of the CFO role, including the less glamorous aspects. My favourite part: the action lists at the end of each chapter, which allow you to check where you are and refresh your learning quickly. As an experienced CFO in corporate, scaleup and startup environments, I would have loved to have had this practical framework to facilitate my journey.' - Natacha Robert, Director and Fractional CFO, Evergreen Consulting 'Financial Leadership Fundamentals is awesome! I love this book and I can't wait to shout about it. The information in here is brilliant, and I genuinely wish I'd had this advice when I was at GoCardless. I love the case studies included as well.' - Corinne Thompson, Founder and CEO, Ecap Financia
