Episodes

Welcome back to the podcast, where we explore the strategies, insights, and decisions that shape successful businesses. Today’s episode is all about one of the most critical hires any company can make: the Chief Financial Officer. Whether you’re scaling fast, preparing for investment, or simply trying to gain better control over your finances, hiring the right CFO can transform your business. And today, we’re diving into how CFO recruitment really works, based on insights from FD Capital’s dedi...

Welcome back to the show. Today we’re diving into a topic that’s becoming increasingly important for startups, scale-ups, and SMEs—CFO as a Service. Now, if you’re running a growing business, you’ve probably felt this tension: your revenue is increasing, your operations are getting more complex, but your financial visibility isn’t keeping up. You’ve got reports, maybe a bookkeeper or accountant, but you’re still making big decisions without full clarity. That’s exactly where CFO as a Service c...

Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re diving into a topic that can completely transform a business—yet many founders and CEOs delay it far too long: hiring a Chief Financial Officer. Now, when you hear “CFO,” you might think spreadsheets, compliance, and someone buried in numbers. But that perception is outdated. Today’s CFO is often described as a “Chief Future Officer”—a strategic partner who helps shape the direction of your business, not just report on it. So why does this matter? Becaus...

Welcome back to the podcast. Today, we’re talking about a powerful shift happening in modern business—one that’s helping companies grow faster, make better decisions, and stay financially resilient. It’s called the Virtual CFO. Now, traditionally, a Chief Financial Officer was a full-time, in-house executive. Someone embedded in the business, leading finance, strategy, and reporting. But for many growing companies, that level of hire can be expensive, sometimes unnecessary, and often too early....

Welcome back to the podcast. Today, we’re tackling a topic that’s no longer just for big banks or heavily regulated industries—risk and compliance. In today’s world, every business faces increasing scrutiny. Regulations are expanding, technology is evolving, and the consequences of getting things wrong are bigger than ever. Whether it’s data protection, financial reporting, or ESG requirements, the reality is simple: risk and compliance are now core to business success. And that’s exactly why ...

Welcome to today’s episode where we discuss an essential topic for modern organisations: compliance recruitment. In highly regulated industries, compliance is no longer just a support function. It plays a central role in protecting businesses, managing risk, and ensuring companies operate within the rules set by regulators. For firms in financial services, fintech, and other regulated sectors, building a strong compliance team has become a strategic priority. This is where specialist recruiter...

Welcome to today’s episode, where we’re unpacking one of the most important regulatory tools in UK financial services: the Section 166 Skilled Person Review. If you’re a regulated firm, compliance professional, or senior leader in financial services, this is a topic you can’t afford to ignore. Today’s episode is inspired by the insights shared on the FD Capital page about Section 166 reviews, and we’ll walk through what they are, why they happen, and how firms can respond effectively. A Sectio...

Welcome to today’s podcast episode, where we’re focusing on a critical topic for growing businesses in the UK’s largest commercial hub — London FD and CFO recruitment. London is one of the world’s most competitive business environments. Companies operate across industries such as finance, fintech, technology, real estate, and professional services. In such a fast-moving market, strong financial leadership is essential for managing growth, raising capital, and navigating regulatory complexity. ...

Welcome to today’s episode, where we’re talking about one of the most important leadership roles within a school that often stays behind the scenes — the School Bursar. Every successful school relies on strong financial management. While teachers focus on learning and headteachers guide academic strategy, the bursar ensures the financial and operational foundation of the school remains strong. Today we’re exploring why this role is so critical and how specialist recruitment can help schools fi...

Welcome to today’s podcast, where we’re discussing a vital leadership role within higher education — the University Bursar. While academic leadership often takes the spotlight, strong financial leadership behind the scenes is essential for universities to operate effectively and plan for the future. In this episode we’ll look at why the bursar role is so important and how specialist recruitment can help universities find the right candidate. To learn more about this topic, you can visit: https:...

Welcome to today’s podcast episode, where we’re exploring a growing trend in executive leadership — the Fractional Chief Risk Officer, often known as a fractional CRO. As businesses face increasing regulatory requirements, cybersecurity threats, and operational uncertainties, risk management has become a board-level priority. Yet not every organisation needs, or can justify, hiring a full-time Chief Risk Officer. In this episode we’ll discuss how fractional risk leadership works and how specia...

Welcome to today’s podcast episode, where we’re exploring an essential resource for businesses building strong financial leadership — finance job descriptions. When organisations begin hiring finance professionals, one of the biggest challenges is defining the role clearly. Finance teams include many specialised positions, from Chief Financial Officers to management accountants, and each role carries different responsibilities and expectations. In this episode we’ll discuss why clear finance j...

Welcome to today’s podcast episode, where we’re discussing one of the most important challenges facing financial services organisations — recruitment for FCA regulated firms. Companies operating under the supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority must meet strict regulatory standards, maintain strong governance, and ensure their leadership teams understand compliance responsibilities. Because of this, hiring the right people is absolutely critical. In this episode we’ll explore why recrui...

Welcome to the FD Capital Podcast. Today’s episode is an invitation to experienced Finance Directors, CFOs, and senior finance professionals who are shaping the future of finance leadership. At FD Capital, we work closely with growth companies, SMEs, and investors to appoint high-quality finance leaders. Every day, we see the impact that experienced Finance Directors and CFOs have on organisations — improving financial visibility, strengthening controls, supporting strategic decision-making, ...

Welcome to the FD Capital Podcast, the show where we explore the trends, insights, and leadership strategies shaping finance teams across the UK and beyond. Today’s episode focuses on a topic that is especially relevant right now — the growing importance of London CFOs and why businesses across the capital are increasingly relying on their expertise to navigate uncertainty and drive growth. London remains one of the world’s most important financial centres. Despite economic headwinds, including...

Welcome to the FD Capital Podcast, the show where we explore finance leadership, career progression, and the evolving role of Finance Directors and CFOs in modern businesses. Today’s episode focuses on an important platform that helps us share our insights with a wider business audience — Business Matters Magazine, available at bmmagazine.co.uk. At FD Capital, our mission is not only to connect businesses with experienced Finance Directors and CFOs, but also to educate the market. We work with ...

Host: Welcome back to Business Insight Labs — the podcast that brings you practical strategies and expert thinking to grow smarter, faster, and with more confidence. Today, we’re focusing on a topic more UK leaders are asking about in 2026: Fractional CFOs — what they are, how they help, and why they could be the strategic advantage your business has been missing. 🔹 What is a Fractional CFO? Let’s start with the basics. A fractional CFO — sometimes called a part-time CFO — delivers senior finan...

Welcome back to the show, where we explore the realities behind leadership, finance, and business growth. Today’s question sounds simple on the surface: What is the cost of a UK CFO? But as with most things in business, the real answer goes far beyond a single salary number. Because the true cost of a CFO isn’t just what you pay them. It’s what they deliver, what they enable, and what they potentially save—or cost—you. Let’s start with the headline figure. In the UK, a full-time Chief Financi...

Welcome back to Business Unlocked, the show that brings expert insights straight to founders, CEOs, finance leaders and anyone who wants a smarter way to grow their organisation. I’m your host, and today we’re diving into a resource every business leader should know about — the FD Capital Knowledge Centre. 🎯 What is the FD Capital Knowledge Centre? The FD Capital Knowledge Centre isn’t another dry finance blog. It’s a practical, plain-English financial hub created by FD Capital, a boutique rec...

Welcome to The Growth & Finance Podcast, where we explore how smart financial leadership drives business success. I’m Adrian Lawrence, and today we’re tackling a question every growing company faces: When’s the right time to hire a Finance Director or CFO? We’ll explore what these roles actually do, when you should bring one in, and how FD Capital helps you find the perfect fit — full-time, part-time, or fractional. Segment 1: Why financial leadership matters When businesses start out, founder...

Host: Welcome to Finance Leadership Unlocked, the podcast where we explore how businesses can build smarter, scalable, agile finance teams without overcommitting. I’m your host, Adrian Lawrence, and today we’re diving into a topic that more and more companies are embracing — hiring fixed-term, interim, or fractional FDs and CFOs. We’ll talk through when this makes sense, how to make it work, and why FD Capital is uniquely positioned to help you get it done right. 1. The Problem: Full-Time CFOs ...

Welcome to Boardroom Resilience, the podcast where we unpack leadership roles that guide organizations through their toughest moments. I’m your host, Adrian Lawrence. Today, we’re diving into a specialized boardroom role—the Crisis Management Non-Executive Director—and how they help steer firms through turbulent waters. Host: A Crisis Management NED is a Non-Executive Director brought onboard specifically to help organizations manage, respond to, and recover from crises. They’re not temporary s...

Hello and welcome to Boardroom Breakthroughs—the podcast where we explore how leadership, strategy, and expertise drive growth in today’s competitive business world. I’m your host, Adrian Lawrence, and in this episode, we’re diving into a topic that can change the trajectory of your business—Non-Executive Directors, or NEDs. You might be thinking, “Do I really need a NED?” If you’re a founder, a CEO, or part of a growing leadership team—yes, you just might. And today, we’re going to explore wh...

Hey there, and welcome back to FD Capital— where we talk strategy, leadership, and the future of business. I’m your host, and today we’re diving into a topic that doesn't always make the headlines — but might just be one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make for your business. I’m talking about non-executive directors, or NEDs — and more importantly, how to find the right ones. So if you're a founder, CEO, investor, or even part of a growing startup looking to take things to the nex...