The Finance Seat

Headstar

The Finance Seat is Headstar’s practical podcast for ambitious finance leaders who want to learn more from straight-talking conversations with CFOs and Finance Directors. In each episode we’ll be discussing how they build strong teams, manage uncertainty and deliver change - so you can do the same. Check out www.headstar.co.uk for more information about specialist finance recruitment.

Episodes

  1. Apr 29

    The Modern Finance Leader: Interim Thinking, AI, and What Comes Next with Claire Tisch, Director at Unity Advisory

    Interim roles don’t give you time to ease in - you’re expected to deliver almost immediately. In this episode of The Finance Seat, Headstar Managing Director, James Roach, speaks with Claire Tisch, Director at Unity Advisory, about how to deliver change at pace while bringing people with you.   They explore what it takes to step into a business and quickly understand its dynamics, how interim roles allow leaders to challenge thinking without internal politics, and why shaping the brief is often just as important as delivering it.   The conversation also looks at the role of AI in finance,and how leaders should be thinking about it as part of a wider strategy rather than a standalone solution.   Claire Tisch is an award-winning director, with a background in finance transformation and interim leadership across a range of organisations. She has led large-scale transformation programmes and was recognised as Finance Interim of the Year for her delivery and impact.   Connect with Claire:www.linkedin.com/in/claire-tisch   About Unity Advisory: Unity Advisory is a next-generation CFO advisory firm, backed by Warburg Pincus, supporting ambitious mid-market organisations. They bring together AI-native finance, tax, and deals capabilities in one integrated model, free from audit conflicts and legacy constraints.   Website: www.unity-advisory.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/unity-advisory   Follow The Finance Seat to be alerted about new podcast episodes and check out www.headstar.co.uk for more information.

    28 min
  2. Mar 16

    Finance in a High-Growth Consulting Environment with Ross MacGregor, CFO at Axiologik

    In this episode of The Finance Seat, Headstar Managing Director James Roach is joined by Ross MacGregor, Finance Director at Axiologik, to talk about what it really takes to scale a consulting business sustainably. Ross shares his experience of joining a growing digital consultancy with no formal finance function, navigating an early period of decline, and rebuilding towards stable, long-term growth. The conversation explores the realities behind utilisation, margin and headcount, and why growth needs guardrails if it is going to last. They also dig into finance partnering, the role of automation and systems, balancing permanent staff and contractors, and how finance leaders should think about transformation, data and ROI in an increasingly digital world. Connect with Ross: www.linkedin.com/in/ross-macgregor-21106352 About Axiologik Axiologik is a multi-award-winning digital, technology, and engineering consultancy specialising in leading and delivering ambitious, mission-critical digital change. They thrive on complexity, guiding organisations through uncertainty and solving challenges others can’t.  Axiologik’s industry-leading work helps clients achieve excellence in digital delivery. We’re proud to be one of the few UK consultancies awarded B-Corp certification, reflecting our commitment to positive societal impact and ethical, responsible practices. Website: www.axiologik.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/axiologik Follow The Finance Seat to be alerted about new podcast episodes and check out www.headstar.co.uk for more information.

    26 min
  3. Feb 23

    Driving Growth and Integration in a PE-backed Agency Group with Mike Sprot, CFO at IDHL

    In this episode of The Finance Seat podcast, Headstar Managing Director James Roach speaks with Mike Sprot, CFO at IDHL, about scaling a digital agency under private equity ownership. Mike reflects on joining IDHL during COVID, completing a PE deal remotely, and helping the business grow from 200 to 400 plus people through organic growth and acquisitions. They explore what successful integration really takes, why culture is often underestimated, and how agencies avoid losing sight of value creation. The discussion also covers life under private equity, managing performance pressure, balancing short-term results with long-term strategy, and how finance leaders are responding to AI, global expansion and increasing complexity. Mike Sprot is CFO at IDHL, a multi-brand digital marketing agency operating across the UK, Europe and the US. Connect with Mike: www.linkedin.com/in/michael-sprot About IDHL IDHL is the UK’s leading digital marketing, weband commerce specialist.  Focused on delivering meaningful outcomes, they combineexperience, AI-driven innovation, and deep insight to deliver transformation and commercial acceleration for world-leading brands. Backed by 500+ specialists across the UK and US, and AI innovation through IDHL Labs, theyturn intelligence into measurable competitive advantage.  Focused on what matters. Built for growth.  Website: www.idhlagency.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/weareidhl Follow The Finance Seat to be alerted about new podcast episodes and check out www.headstar.co.uk for more information.

    28 min

About

The Finance Seat is Headstar’s practical podcast for ambitious finance leaders who want to learn more from straight-talking conversations with CFOs and Finance Directors. In each episode we’ll be discussing how they build strong teams, manage uncertainty and deliver change - so you can do the same. Check out www.headstar.co.uk for more information about specialist finance recruitment.