In this episode of FinTalk, Ivan Jesus, Founder and CEO of Finalytics, sits down with Andrew Timlin, former CFO at NEOM. Together, they explore how finance leaders can become strategic partners and help transform their organisations.
Key takeaways
Earn a seat at the table
A CFO can build trust by learning how the business works, understanding its customers and bringing useful insights to colleagues. Andrew’s approach is to challenge and support, then help the team act on its shared decisions.
Put people alongside technology
Finance transformation depends on coaching and developing people, not just implementing new systems. Where the organisation has enough scale, separating controllership from FP&A and business partnering can help people focus on the work they do best.
Start with practical automation
Andrew found that automating repetitive tasks can reduce errors and give finance teams time for more valuable work. He recommends looking beyond traditional finance systems and starting with processes where automation can make a clear difference.
Turn plans into action
The CFO can bring teams together around a plan, then use regular reviews and reliable data to spot when results are off course. Andrew stresses that finance leaders should work with colleagues to understand the causes and agree what to do next.
“I think it's about being curious and looking outside what would be seen as the traditional finance tech.” Andrew Timlin
Why it matters for founders
For an owner-led SME, finance can do more than keep records and manage compliance: it can help shape plans and guide decisions. Investing in the right people, processes and tools can free up time and give the business clearer information to act on.
Our take
Most founder-led businesses don't need a full-time CFO. They need CFO thinking on every big decision. That thinking only works on numbers you can trust, so strategy starts with a clean close every month.
See it in practice: A finance function built from scratch (healthcare case)
Watch or listen
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