Finance Unscripted

Stacks

Finance Unscripted is a podcast by Stacks. Stacks is an AI-powered accounting tool designed for accounting teams, transforming the month-end close process. By automating journal entries and account reconciliation, it helps companies close their books 50% faster, improving efficiency and accuracy. Backed by world-leading investors including General Catalyst and EQT Ventures, Stacks is recognized by Sifted as one of the leading AI companies transforming CFO Tech Stack. We believe accounting AI will fundamentally reshape how businesses operate and make decisions.

Episodes

  1. John Watkins (Altima): 70% of CFOs Say AI Fluency Will Be Non-Negotiable Within 12 Months

    5D AGO

    John Watkins (Altima): 70% of CFOs Say AI Fluency Will Be Non-Negotiable Within 12 Months

    ⁠John Watkins⁠ (Founder and CEO at Altima) has spent over two decades building Europe's leading executive search firm specialising in CFOs for growth stage companies. His first client was Nick Robertson, a 20-person internet startup founder who had no idea what a finance lead even was. That company became ASOS. In this episode, John breaks down how the CFO role is being fundamentally reinvented. Only 40 percent of growth stage CFOs now come from a core finance background, with ex-consultants and bankers increasingly taking the seat. The lack of major European exits has created a scarcity of experienced talent that is driving double digit compensation growth year on year, with European salaries closing the gap on the US fast. The biggest shift though is AI. Over 70 percent of senior finance leaders now name AI fluency as their single biggest priority for the next 12 to 36 months, above fundraising, above hiring, above everything. John explains what that actually means in practice, which workflows disappear first, and why the ability to interpret data and influence decisions will define the CFOs who thrive in the decade ahead. Topics we’ll explore: 01:35 John's origin story and why he started Altima 05:34 First client: Nick Robertson and the ASOS placement 09:46 The hardest moments building the firm 12:14 How Altima structures a CFO search 15:46 How the CFO role has changed over 25 years 16:29 Why only 40% of CFOs come from a finance background 18:04 What is driving the shift in CFO backgrounds 19:47 Europe's shift from bookkeeper to strategic partner 21:38 Will more CFOs become CEOs and founders? 22:58 The CFO role in an AI native world 26:20 The AI fluency gap across finance leaders 28:13 Advice for the next generation of finance leaders 35:03 How to assess whether finance has a seat at the table 37:11 Hiring for potential over experience 40:33 Compensation dynamics and the talent scarcity problem 43:47 Europe vs US CFO salaries 45:25 Tooling and AI as part of the CFO hiring brief 48:48 Which finance workflows get automated first 51:19 Rapid fire About: ⁠Stacks⁠ is an agentic close management platform that helps enterprise finance teams reduce close time by 70%+ through agentic workflows for account reconciliations, automated journal entry posting, AI flux analysis, and more. We're trusted by enterprise finance teams at Future Ltd, Cleo, and Epidemic Sound, supporting complex high-volume, multi-entity, multi-currency close operations with strict control and audit requirements.

    54 min
  2. Peter Grausgruber (CFO of SoSafe): Traditional ERP Vendors Will Buy Their Way Into The AI Future

    MAR 4

    Peter Grausgruber (CFO of SoSafe): Traditional ERP Vendors Will Buy Their Way Into The AI Future

    ⁠Peter Grausgruber⁠ (CFO of SoSafe) has built and scaled finance functions at the heart of Europe’s fintech and crypto ecosystem. After starting his career in the Big 5 and the traditional Oil and Gas, he made an unconventional move into crypto, joining Bitpanda in 2019 shortly after its €43.6M BEST token raise. As one of the first finance hires, Peter built the function from scratch and stayed through its hypergrowth journey, helping raise a total of 485 million dollars and scaling the company to a 4.1 billion dollar valuation. In this episode, he breaks down the differences between finance in tech and traditional corporates, and why modern CFOs must evolve from reporting into real time analytics and strategic partnership. He shares a practical fundraising playbook, reflects on navigating the FTX collapse through strong risk management and treasury discipline, and explains how he scaled finance from zero to 350 people in under two years. Finally, Peter discusses the evolving finance tech stack, why incumbent ERP vendors will adapt through acquisition, and how AI is shifting the CFO role from data preparation to judgment, quality control, and strategic decision making. Timestamps: 01:02 Transitioning from the Oil and Gas industry into the crypto ecosystem 04:32 Differences in the finance function between tech and traditional companies 10:51 Fundraising playbook lessons from raising 485 million dollars at Bitpanda 16:24 The FTX collapse and Bitpanda’s reaction 18:46 Treasury discipline internal controls and the role of finance in crisis moments 21:00 Building a finance function from 1 to 350 FTEs in less than 24 months across all finance departments 23:25 Hiring for hypergrowth mindset collaboration and comfort with uncertainty 31:36 The evolving finance tech stack in an AI native era 36:33 Why incumbent ERPs will remain relevant through acquisition and adaptation 44:56 Rapid fire questions About Stacks: Stacks is an AI-powered accounting tool designed for accounting teams, transforming the month-end close process. By automating journal entries and account reconciliation, it helps companies close their books 50% faster, improving efficiency and accuracy.

    43 min
  3. The Future of Finance is Systems Building

    FEB 24

    The Future of Finance is Systems Building

    Stephen Ruegg⁠ (CFO at Podimo) began his career at UPS before moving into FP&A at Amazon, where he was shaped by a culture of disciplined metrics, ownership, and radical accountability. He later joined Flexport during its hypergrowth phase, learning how those principles must evolve inside a capital constrained scale up where focus, trade offs, and execution matter more than ever. His journey from the US to Amsterdam and now Copenhagen reflects a career built on operating at scale while adapting to very different environments. In this episode, Stephen unpacks the cultural contrasts between Amazon and high growth startups, the role of finance as an accountability engine for the business, and how sharper prioritization drives long term outcomes. He also argues that the future of finance belongs to builders. As automation and AI handle the repeatable work, the real edge will come from leaders who combine deep business understanding with the ability to design systems, build automations, and create decision support tools. Off the shelf software may solve most of the problem, but the final 20 percent must be invented. Timestamps: 01:17 Career journey from UPS to Amazon to Flexport to Podimo 03:31 Moving from the US to Amsterdam and Copenhagen 08:09 Amazon culture disciplined metrics ownership and accountability 10:03 Adapting Amazon's principles inside a capital constrained scale up 11:11 Focus, trade offs, and execution when every bet matters 14:18 Finance as translator and accountability engine for the business 17:17 Building high performing finance teams skill and will 20:17 Technical fluency and why finance professionals must become builders 23:09 Where AI and automation fit first accounting and forecasting 28:12 Europe versus US innovation talent access capital and scale About Stacks: ⁠Stacks⁠ is an AI-powered accounting tool designed for accounting teams, transforming the month-end close process. By automating journal entries and account reconciliation, it helps companies close their books 50% faster, improving efficiency and accuracy.

    35 min
  4. IPOs, Building the Modern Finance Function, and Angel Investing with Upvest CFO Julian Lange

    JAN 1

    IPOs, Building the Modern Finance Function, and Angel Investing with Upvest CFO Julian Lange

    Julian Lange (CFO at Upvest) has built and scaled finance teams across some of Europe’s fastest-growing tech companies. He shares how he started his career in the U.S. at General Electric, became CFO of a business unit, and then took a high-risk move back to Europe to join the Berlin startup ecosystem. Julian breaks down the lessons from taking Marley Spoon, a German company with U.S. operations, public on the Australian Stock Exchange just four years after founding. Julian also shares a practical fundraising playbook from leading late-stage rounds at scale-ups like Aiven (Series C and D) and Upvest (Series B+ and C). Beyond operating roles, Julian talks about his approach to angel investing, the energy he draws from working with founders and why giving back to the startup community matters to him. He closes with his perspective on how AI is starting to reshape the finance tech stack, including changing tools, workflows, and how finance teams work and scale. Timestamps: 04:50 How Julian got into finance 09:01 Has the CFO role changed in the last 10 years? (Julian’s take: fundamentals stay the same) 11:01 Career advice for aspiring CFOs: breadth + depth, and going deep on hard problems 14:16 Fundraising best practices: start early, be conservative, and raise more than you think 16:19 Marley Spoon IPO: going public after 4 years, and why the ASX fit 23:32 Differences between raising for ops-heavy vs pure software businesses 26:02 How Julian started angel investing: network flywheel + “consulting for equity” first deal 30:29 Where he’d place bets in finance tech: Modern ERPs, FP&A, Intelligence layer on top of ERPs 34:25 Building high-performance finance teams: first 3 hires + why data/BI matters early 39:00 Hiring traits: curiosity, learning ability, and handling stress in startup environments 41:11 AI in finance 46:40 Rapid-fire questions About ⁠Stacks⁠ Stacks is an AI-powered accounting tool designed for accounting teams, transforming the month-end close process. By automating journal entries and account reconciliation, it helps companies close their books 50% faster, improving efficiency and accuracy.

    54 min
  5. Andras Mecser on leaving McKinsey to build world-class finance teams in hypergrowth companies

    11/18/2025

    Andras Mecser on leaving McKinsey to build world-class finance teams in hypergrowth companies

    Andras Mecser (CFO of Leapwork) shares his unexpected journey from mathematician to consultant to CFO, and the lessons he learned while building finance teams across regulated fintech and fast-growing SaaS companies. He reflects on the shift from consulting to operating inside high-growth startups, the realities of scaling a complex business, and what it takes to evolve finance from a control function into a true commercial partner. Andras also offers an inside look at major transactions, including leading the $500M acquisition of Sendwave while at WorldRemit during Covid. He breaks down what truly drives value in M&A, how he evaluates the modern finance tech stack, and why reliability still matters even as AI reshapes the tools, workflows, and skills of the next generation of finance leaders. Timestamps: 02:37 Life as a CFO in Regulated vs Non-Regulated Industries 05:15 The Accidental Journey Into Finance & Startups 10:38 Consultant to Operator: The 18-Month Reality Check 16:06 Building a Modern Finance Team From the Ground Up 17:27 Hard Lessons Learned: Audits, Accounting Complexity & Scaling Pains 22:04 Inside the Santander Deal: Why Selling Made Sense 23:54 Leading a $500M Acquisition During COVID 26:06 Integration, Synergies & Value Creation Playbook 31:36 Modern Finance Tech Stack: What Actually Scales 39:23 Future of Finance: AI Workflows, Skills & the Next CFO Generation About Stacks Stacks is an AI-powered accounting tool designed for accounting teams, transforming the month-end close process. By automating journal entries and account reconciliation, it helps companies close their books 50% faster, improving efficiency and accuracy.

    49 min
  6. Hanno Damm on Navigating Trustpilot’s IPO and Optimizing Capital Structure

    09/22/2025

    Hanno Damm on Navigating Trustpilot’s IPO and Optimizing Capital Structure

    Hanno shares his unexpected journey to becoming a CFO, the lessons learned along the way, and his transition from investor to finance leader. He opens up about the complexities of guiding a company through the IPO process, the realities of life after going public, and the strategic balancing act between debt and equity financing. What We Explore in the Podcast: - How Hanno’s path to CFO was unplanned and shaped by unexpected turns. - The value of learning from others’ mistakes and how it influenced his leadership style. - Why communication skills are critical for effective leadership in finance. - What it takes to successfully transition from investor to CFO. - Behind the scenes of the IPO journey: preparation, strategy, and execution. - The realities of life post-IPO, including new challenges and heightened expectations. - Importance of optimizing Capital Structure - Why profitability in software is not only possible but increasingly essential. - How AI will transform finance teams, shifting the focus toward strategy and insights. About Stacks Stacks is an AI-powered accounting tool designed for accounting teams, transforming the month-end close process. By automating journal entries and account reconciliation, it helps companies close their books 50% faster, improving efficiency and accuracy.

    50 min
  7. Robertjan Dekker on Building Netflix’s International Finance Team as One of Its First Non-US Hires

    09/11/2025

    Robertjan Dekker on Building Netflix’s International Finance Team as One of Its First Non-US Hires

    In this conversation, Robertjan Dekker⁠ (ex-VP Finance, Controller EMEA, APAC, LATAM) reflects on their journey with Netflix, beginning as one of the first employees in Europe. They share insights on the growth of the finance function, the pivotal role of company culture, and strategies for building high-performing teams. The discussion explores the challenges of navigating cultural differences in hiring, the evolving role of finance as a true business partner, and the impact of technology and AI on the function. Finally, they broaden the lens to the European tech ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of creating a supportive environment for startups and scale-ups. What We Explore in the Podcast: - Started as one of the first employees at Netflix in Europe. - The finance function grew significantly as Netflix expanded globally. - Hiring strategies focused on generalists who could adapt to various roles. - Cultural differences in hiring practices were a challenge. - Company culture is dynamic and evolves with the business. - Finance should be seen as an enabler of business success. - Technology and automation are crucial for improving finance processes. - AI is viewed as a tool to enhance efficiency and decision-making. - Building a thriving tech ecosystem in Europe requires collaboration. - Leadership involves questioning and fostering a culture of feedback. About Stacks: Stacks is an AI-powered accounting tool designed for accounting teams, transforming the month-end close process. By automating journal entries and account reconciliation, it helps companies close their books 50% faster, improving efficiency and accuracy.

    46 min
  8. Chloé Giraut-Pierron (ex-Pigment, Qonto) on Building Hypergrowth Finance Teams & Raising $700M

    08/18/2025

    Chloé Giraut-Pierron (ex-Pigment, Qonto) on Building Hypergrowth Finance Teams & Raising $700M

    In this conversation, Chloé Giraut-Pierron (ex-Pigment, Qonto) joins Stacks Founder and CEO Albert Malikov to share her insights on fundraising, building finance teams in startups, and the evolving role of finance in the context of AI. She reflects on her personal journey from traditional finance roles to the startup ecosystem, highlighting the importance of relationships in fundraising, the challenges of scaling finance functions, and the skills founders and finance leaders need in the AI era. What We Explore in the Podcast: - Fundraising takes time and preparation, often between six months to a year. - Founders often underestimate the time needed to gather and verify data during fundraising. - Building a finance team requires a mix of experienced and junior roles to balance immediate needs and long-term strategy. - Relationships with investors are crucial for successful fundraising rounds. - The finance function in startups should evolve with the business, adapting to new technologies and market conditions. - AI will play a significant role in automating repetitive finance tasks, changing the structure of finance teams. - Hiring the right talent is critical, and it's important to look for problem solvers and adaptable individuals. - Startups should focus on building a strong finance foundation even before Series A funding. - The future of finance teams will likely be leaner, with a focus on high-value tasks rather than routine data processing. - Continuous learning and adaptation are essential for finance leaders in a rapidly changing environment. About Stacks Stacks is an AI-powered accounting tool designed for accounting teams, transforming the month-end close process. By automating journal entries and account reconciliation, it helps companies close their books 50% faster, improving efficiency and accuracy.

    34 min
  9. Dave Arkell on Building the Finance Function for an AI-Driven Future

    08/10/2025

    Dave Arkell on Building the Finance Function for an AI-Driven Future

    In this episode of Finance Unscripted, seasoned finance leader ⁠Dave Arkell⁠ joins Stacks Founder & CEO ⁠Albert Malikov⁠ to share lessons from bringing two European companies public on U.S. exchanges. Drawing from his extensive experience in SaaS and AI, Arkell discusses the evolution of finance metrics, building high-performing teams in early-stage companies, and how finance leaders can navigate the unique challenges of scaling and going public. What We Explore in the Podcast - Navigating the early stages of SaaS and AI transformation - Building effective finance teams in a changing landscape - The role of CFO: when and why to hire - Common pitfalls in finance team development - Journey of bringing two European companies on US exchanges - Challenges and adaptations during the IPO process - The role of finance leaders during transitions - The future of finance tools and AI integration - The evolving role of the CFO About Stacks Stacks is an AI-powered accounting tool designed for accounting teams, transforming the month-end close process. By automating journal entries and account reconciliation, it helps companies close their books 50% faster, improving efficiency and accuracy.

    46 min
  10. From Military Intelligence to CFO: Daniel Ahremark on AI, Leadership, and Scaling Finance at Mews

    07/22/2025

    From Military Intelligence to CFO: Daniel Ahremark on AI, Leadership, and Scaling Finance at Mews

    In the first episode of Finance Unscripted, CFO of Mews ⁠Daniel Ahremark⁠ joins Stacks Founder and CEO ⁠Albert Malikov⁠ for a thoughtful exploration of how LLMs and automation are transforming the finance function at high-growth companies. What We Explore in the Podcast: - From military intelligence to finance: leadership through clarity - Navigating IPO pressure and strategic acquisitions - Building finance as a product-driven function - Why data infrastructure powers modern finance teams - The path to a fully automated finance org - Hiring for impact in AI-native environments - Structuring interviews to identify top talent - Future skills every finance professional needs now - How ERP systems are evolving with AI - Leveraging AI to scale finance intelligently - Changing mindsets for the AI finance era About Stacks ⁠Stacks⁠ is an AI-powered accounting tool designed for accounting teams, transforming the month-end close process. By automating journal entries and account reconciliation, it helps companies close their books 50% faster, improving efficiency and accuracy.

    50 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Finance Unscripted is a podcast by Stacks. Stacks is an AI-powered accounting tool designed for accounting teams, transforming the month-end close process. By automating journal entries and account reconciliation, it helps companies close their books 50% faster, improving efficiency and accuracy. Backed by world-leading investors including General Catalyst and EQT Ventures, Stacks is recognized by Sifted as one of the leading AI companies transforming CFO Tech Stack. We believe accounting AI will fundamentally reshape how businesses operate and make decisions.

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