March 13, 2025

How This CFO Saved $100,000 in Expenses Per Month

In this episode of the Gross Profit Podcast, James engages in a compelling conversation with Jane Kiatkina from Modo Finance. They explore Jane’s dynamic journey from being an intern in finance to founding an agency specializing in providing fractional CFO services to startups. Jane shares her hands-on experiences dealing with various aspects of finance, including accounts receivable, financial planning and analysis, and the challenges of budgeting in fast-growing companies. Tune in for insightful anecdotes and practical advice for navigating the financial complexities of startups.
The Gross Profit Podcast
The Gross Profit Podcast
How This CFO Saved $100,000 in Expenses Per Month
Loading
/

Show Notes

Welcome back to the Gross Profit Podcast! In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Jane Kiatkina, founder of Modo Finance, to discuss how strategic financial planning and fractional CFO services can dramatically cut costs and drive startup growth.

Jane shares her incredible journey—from intern to founder—and reveals how she helped one company save $100,000 per month by optimizing financial processes, streamlining expenses, and implementing smarter budgeting strategies.

What You’ll Learn:

🔹 The Power of a Fractional CFO – Why startups and fast-growing companies need expert financial leadership without the full-time cost.
🔹 Cash Flow Optimization – Key financial strategies that improve profitability and reduce waste.
🔹 Accounts Receivable & Budgeting – How proper planning and tracking can transform your startup’s financial health.
🔹 Financial Modeling & Valuation – Why understanding your company’s worth is crucial for fundraising and growth.
🔹 Investment & Capital Raising – The best ways to secure funding while keeping your finances under control.

Episode Highlights:

💬 “A startup’s survival depends on financial clarity—without it, you’re just burning cash.” – Jane Kiatkina

💬 “You don’t need a full-time CFO to make smart financial decisions—fractional finance leadership is the future.”

💬 “Cutting costs isn’t just about reducing expenses—it’s about optimizing resources and scaling efficiently.”

At Modo Finance, Jane and her team specialize in CFO-as-a-Service, helping startups with financial modeling, valuations, budgeting, strategic planning, and investment strategies. Their mission is to make high-level financial expertise accessible to tech startups, helping them save time, money, and energy—especially when securing funding.

Join us for more episodes of the Gross Profit Podcast!

We bring you insights, strategies, and real-world stories from top finance leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode! 🎧

This podcast is tagged under:

The Gross Profit Podcast

More Episodes

Merushka Chetty

Debbie Rosler – CEO Embezzled $1.5M From His Own Startup

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Debbie Rosler, fractional CFO at Burkland, to dig into the uncomfortable but critical topic of waste, fraud and abuse inside venture-backed startups. Drawing on a career that spans investment banking, private equity, Levi Strauss, dot-com startups and a career-defining embezzlement case where a CEO “borrowed” $1.5M from his own company, Debbie walks through exactly how it happened, why the board didn’t catch it, and the practical controls that saved the business. They also explore how SaaS founders can use “two sets of eyes,” approval matrices and even purchase orders with lawyers and contractors – and why phishing, payment-redirection scams and AI deepfakes make 2025 a dangerous time to be casual about controls. James closes by introducing redflag.procurementexpress.com, a 30-second AI QuickBooks scan that flags unusual spending patterns before they blow up into a crisis.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Nick Bilotta – The Medieval Accounting Trick That Still Works Today

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Nick Bilotta, Founder of Bilotta & Co. CPAs, to explore two powerful concepts often misunderstood in the accounting world: fund accounting and financial storytelling. Nick shares why fund accounting – often dismissed as an “old-school” practice – is becoming more relevant than ever for nonprofits, contractors, and organizations that need transparency, donor confidence, and better decision-making. He also breaks down how great accountants don’t just report numbers – they translate financials into narratives that inspire trust, secure funding, and shape an organization’s future. From motorcycle technician to SEC reporting leader to firm owner, Nick’s unconventional journey gives him a unique perspective on the role of modern CPAs, fractional CFOs, and the importance of clarity in financial communication.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Andy Mellor – The Truth About Fractional CFOs

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with UK-based portfolio CFO Andy Mellor, founder of Summit17, to tackle a controversial question: what actually makes a “real” fractional CFO? Drawing on Andy’s journey from big corporate finance to PE-backed gym chains and nursery groups, through to running his own packed portfolio practice, they unpack how to separate serious CFOs from title-only pretenders, why great financial models should drive day-to-day decisions (not gather dust in Excel), and how fractional CFOs can build real equity instead of just selling hours. Along the way, Andy shares a live MBO case study where a retiring partner was bought out without private equity and how smart forecasting and cash planning made it possible.

Listen Now »