The Corporate Autopsy, Vol. II: Saatchi & Saatchi Following our forensic examination of Nike’s asset-light model, we turn to a spectacular British success story—and subsequent crash—that perfectly dissects the greatest financial challenge in the media and creative sectors: monetising and measuring intangible assets. We are performing the autopsy on one and only Saatchi & Saatchi….
The Historian’s Ledger, Vol. II: The South Sea Bubble, 1720 A Fractional CFO is more than a financial advisor, they are your modern-day governance firewall. If last week’s lesson from Constantinople was about the fatal cost of ignoring innovation, this week addresses something more corrosive: the catastrophic cost of dishonesty and greed in the boardroom….
The Corporate Autopsy, Vol. I: Nike If our Monday series, The Historian’s Ledger, explores the fundamental truths of finance from the past, our new Wednesday series, The Corporate Autopsy, conducts a forensic examination of modern corporate triumphs and failures. Outsourcing operations can transform a company’s financial trajectory, and no brand illustrates this better than Nike….
(The Historian’s Ledger, Vol. I: The Siege of Constantinople, 1453) We are constantly bombarded with conversations about the Future CFO, finance transformation, the future of AI, and the future economy. It’s exhausting. Frankly, this obsession with what’s coming next often makes us lose sight of the timeless, fundamental truths. My solution? Stop staring anxiously at…
The greatest risk in finance today isn’t avoiding AI; it’s blindly trusting it. The conversation around Artificial Intelligence in finance has finally matured. It is no longer a question of if it will change the CFO function, but how. For scaling businesses in the £1M–£10M revenue bracket—particularly in the volatile tech, media, and creative sectors—AI…
This week, I’ve had two separate inquiries for Fractional CFO support in Saudi Arabia. This piqued my interest, leading me to delve into Saudi Vision 2030. It raises some interesting questions: What exactly is Saudi Vision 2030? Is this leading to a surge in business activity? And, more specifically, could this translate to a growing…
Scaling a business is the dream, isn’t it? Visions of rapid expansion, dominating your market, and sipping celebratory cocktails on a tropical beach fill the minds of entrepreneurs everywhere. While scaling undoubtedly signifies success, this rapid expansion can also expose hidden cracks within your organisation, particularly in the often-underestimated realm of finance. Imagine a beautiful…
Financial forecasts are meant to guide your decisions, but too often, they mislead. And it’s not just the spreadsheet’s fault. And why it’s not just the spreadsheet’s fault The Illusion of Precision Most financial forecasts look impressive on the surface—sleek spreadsheets, tidy charts, and a reassuring upward curve. But beneath the formatting lies a problem:…
Business risks are always on a CFO’s radar. As a CFO, my remit isn’t solely poring over the figures; it’s about looking ahead, spotting potential dangers, and charting a course to avoid them. Q4 2025 is shaping up to be particularly interesting, with a unique mix of opportunities and challenges. This isn’t about creating undue…
Unmasking the Secrets to a Solid Business Valuation with WrightCFO Ever watched The Emperor’s New Clothes? That’s how we, at WrightCFO, often feel when we see some business valuations floating around these days. Too often, hype overshadows reality! As CFOs, we’re committed to helping business owners ensure their business valuation is grounded in a defensible,…