Episode Archive - ProcurementExpress.com

Stephen Newland – Travel, Debt Freedom & Building a Fractional CFO Business

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Stephen Newland, founder of Money Path, to unpack what it really takes to keep a nonprofit financially healthy as it grows. They cover Stephen’s unusual early-career work at Delta Air Lines, what he learned running a financial education program at a large church, and why money is never “just numbers on a spreadsheet.” From cashflow forecasting to grant reporting to board-ready financial clarity, this episode is a practical guide for nonprofit leaders who want better control without burning out.

Anna Tiomina – AI Finance Revolution: How CFOs Are Saving 75% of Their Time

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Anna Tiomina (Blend to Balance) a former CFO who turned a career curveball into a new mission: helping finance teams adopt AI responsibly and effectively. They unpack how AI is already changing finance work (reporting, commentary, document review, and more), why finance leaders shouldn’t wait for the tech to “mature,” and how to keep human controls in place so speed doesn’t come at the cost of accuracy.

Angela Satterfield-Sexton – How to Win Government Grants: A CFO’s Survival Guide

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Angela Satterfield-Sexton from Burkland to unpack fund accounting and why it matters even if you’re not a nonprofit. Angela breaks down how grant funding really works (pre-award → mid-award → post-award), what causes the most compliance pain, and how the right systems (and habits) can keep your funding safe, your reporting clean, and your team sane.

From time tracking and class coding to receipts, audits, and spend deadlines, this episode is a practical guide for founders, finance leaders and grant-funded operators who want to stay compliant and move fast.

Luca Aversa – Beyond Budgeting: Italian CFO’s Method

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Luca Aversa, corporate finance advisor and fractional CFO based in Northern Italy, to explore why banking relationships, timing, and disciplined financial strategy can be a true superpower for growing businesses. From Luca’s early career inside major Italian banks to advising SMEs across manufacturing, construction, real estate, and distribution, this episode dives into how founders can secure funding, choose the right financial partners, and move beyond rigid budgeting toward more adaptive, strategic finance models.

Drawing parallels between karate and CFO decision-making, Luca explains why timing matters more than force, how scenario planning builds lender confidence, and why concepts like Beyond Budgeting, North Star metrics, and OKRs are reshaping modern finance leadership.

Patrick McCarthy – How This Fractional CFO Navigated a $111M Acquisition

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Patrick McCarthy, founder of My Startup Consulting, to explore what it really takes to be a fractional CFO for early-stage startups – where chaos is constant and clarity is priceless. Patrick shares how his love of metal music and the “rules of the mosh pit” mirror startup leadership, why he left M&A for the unpredictable world of startups, and what founders must do to operationalize budgets so forecasts become reality. They also dig into fundraising realities, making tough cost-cutting decisions, EOS Rocks alignment, and Patrick’s firsthand experience helping guide a major acquisition exit.

Vincent Biscaye – Why Food Startups Fail (Finance Secrets)

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Vincent Biscaye, founder of Two Step Advisors and former commodities trader who walked away from a high-flying career to help entrepreneurs build real, sustainable businesses in CPG (especially food & beverage). Vincent shares how growing up across multiple countries shaped his leadership style, why finance in CPG is uniquely brutal (and why so many brands get blindsided), and what founders must understand about working capital, distributor deductions, promotions, and inventory accounting. They also unpack the fundraising reality for beverage brands, the pivot Vincent made from building a cold-pressed juice brand to launching his advisory firm, and the exact stage where fractional finance support becomes a game-changer.

Rachel Phillips – Lawyer Turns CEO: Building a 52-Person Accounting Firm

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Rachel Phillips of Fully Accountable – a trained M&A attorney who now helps lead a 52-person outsourced accounting and CFO services firm. Rachel shares how a background in competitive Irish dancing shaped her endurance and consistency as an operator, why she chose entrepreneurship over a traditional law career, and how Fully Accountable evolved into a metrics-driven, values-led team built for modern businesses. They also dig into 13-week cash-flow forecasting, budget discipline (without rigidity), purchase orders as a control mechanism, and what founders should know when preparing to sell a business.

Phil Trowler – The $1M Surprise Invoice Crisis

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Phil Trowler, financial strategist and early finance leader at Olipop, to unpack the realities of scaling a high-growth CPG brand and why storytelling, cash-flow foresight, and purchase-order discipline can make or break a business. From Phil’s unconventional journey through EY, government finance, and Silicon Valley startups, to hard-earned lessons from hypergrowth, inventory risk, and sales forecasting, this episode is a masterclass in strategic finance for founders navigating rapid expansion.

Susanne IJkema – How to Exit When Your Back’s Against the Wall

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Susanne IJkema-Hilgenkamp, Regional Director at The CFO Centre / CFO Center and a fractional CFO based in the Netherlands, to unpack what great stakeholder management really looks like – especially when the stakes are high. From boardrooms that include government and global corporates (including a joint venture where the CEO of the board was the Crown Prince of Brunei) to fast-moving SMEs, Susanne shares how to avoid surprises, align shareholders, and guide major decisions. They also dive into a compelling exit story: helping a 79-year-old founder sell urgently due to health reasons – without selling from a position of panic.

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