The CFO Track

Tom Hunter
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Most finance people never get mentors who have lived and learnt through capital raises, IPOs, administrations or ACCC scrutiny. The CFO Track changes that. I am Tom Hunter, and every week I sit down with top Australian CFOs to unpack what happened and what they learned. Clear steps, real lessons and as always, free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and LinkedIn Live.

Episodes

  1. 2D AGO

    The CFO Track - Episode 11: Retief Lampen (CFO - iion)

    Retief Lampen moved from South Africa to Australia, starting as a contractor commercial accountant after being told he needed local experience, before his way to his current role as CFO at Iion, an ad tech startup in gaming industry, which operates remotely across the globe. In Episode 11 of The CFO Track, Retief shares what it's like to step into a CFO role at 25 with just two and a half years post-qualification experience, working seven days a week during a $350 million USD acquisition that led to to him experiencing burnout, and taking 10 months off to travel South America and Europe before committing to fully remote work. He goes through managing a Series A raise while working from Bali, navigating the intense six-month post-IPO audit where everything in the prospectus gets checked, and building company culture remotely through trust rather than micromanagement. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS • Stepping into a CFO role at 25 managing 200-300 employees across a family business group with no mentor, relying on chartered accounting training and checking in with yourself constantly about imposter syndrome. • Moving countries and starting over: taking several steps down to contractor commercial accountant level when arriving in Australia without local experience, spending nine months building credibility before moving back up to finance manager. • The $350 million acquisition burnout: working around the clock seven days a week as a small finance team managed the sale process, learning to recognise signs before it happens again. • Taking 10 months to travel the world: visiting most of South America and Europe between roles after an intense IPO and audit period, bringing interpersonal experiences back to corporate life while committing to fully remote work going forward. • Building remote culture with trust: managing a startup team spread across Asia, Europe, and Australia with quarterly OKRs requiring every team to build AI improvements, maintaining eNPS above 8-9 by giving teams outputs to deliver rather than micromanaging how they work. If you're navigating early CFO opportunities or considering fully remote leadership roles, this episode is full of value Stream the full episode now on Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts.

    43 min

  2. FEB 4

    The CFO Track - Episode 10: David Prince (CFO - Marley Spoon)

    David Prince moved through consumer goods for 15 years before becoming CFO at Marley Spoon Australia, navigating from finance into property, supply chain, and IT across multiple business models and ownership structures. In Episode 10 of The CFO Track, David shares what it's really like to step beyond finance into running the property function for a retail business, navigating administration and delisting of a household brand while welcoming his first child, and taking his first CFO role as a contractor because it's easier to get the role once you have the title. He goes through expanding into the US market and rebuilding pricing models every time tariff announcements hit, transitioning from ASX-listed to private to German-listed businesses across different reporting standards, and why the human connection with customers differs fundamentally between physical stores and pure-play e-commerce. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS ·Career inflection points: stepping from finance into running the property function by bringing commercial modelling skills to capital investment decisions, then expanding into supply chain and IT by putting a hand up for cross-functional projects. ·Navigating administration and delisting: working through the restructure of a household brand, recognising that sharp downturns lead to slow rebuilds rather than V-shaped recoveries, and understanding how debt structure can push even beloved brands into trouble. ·Getting the CFO title through contracting: taking a contract CFO role to break through the barrier where businesses won't take the punt on someone without the title, even when you've done the work as an FC. ·Expanding into the US market: managing the complexity of 330 million consumers while dealing with constant tariff announcements that require reworking entire pricing models overnight, understanding why so many Australian brands fail despite the lucrative opportunity. ·Transitioning across reporting standards: moving from Australian ASX-listed to Taiwan-headquartered to German-listed businesses, navigating IFRS interpretations that differ across markets and learning to communicate financial positions differently for each ownership structure. David is an expert in the Retail and E-Commerce world, so if you're looking to step beyond traditional finance roles or navigating business restructuring, this episode is one you definitely do not want to miss. Stream the full episode now on Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts.

    41 min

  3. JAN 28

    Episode 9: Sam Nagra (CFO - Sonic Healthcare Australia)

    Sam Nagra has spent 23 years with Sonic Healthcare, moving from Financial Controller at the largest pathology practice in Sydney to CFO of the Australian Pathology Division managing across seven countries. In Episode 9 of The CFO Track, Sam shares how he navigated several due diligence projects in a decade while building for successful integrations and stepping into a CFO role five months before COVID hit. He goes through why culture beats strategy when deciding which acquisitions to walk away from and why staying 23 years at one organisation builds understanding that accelerates decision-making in ways job-hopping can't. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Career inflection points: spending 17 years as Financial Controller at one practice before stepping up to divisional CFO, questioning whether staying too long would hurt career progression but recognising the privilege of being in a globally successful Australian healthcare company.Navigating seven M&A projects in a decade: learning that success is measured not by deals completed but by deals walked away from, focusing on cultural alignment and balance sheet quality over P&L promises when assessing acquisition targets.Managing industry consolidation: transitioning from straightforward acquisitions when smaller to navigating formal processes and providing granular data as the market leader. How to avoid creating delays and uncertainty that will require new frameworks for integration planning.COVID baptism of fire: becoming CFO in October 2019, then facing massive uncertainty five months later when scaling COVID testing at enormous volumes, while also maintaining existing testing levels and managing PPE shortages with financial consequences then taking a back seat.The benefits of 23 years at one organisation: building deep understanding that accelerates conversations, developing strengths through multiple business cycles, and establishing cultural norms that align teams toward patient outcomes rather than short-term metrics. If you're navigating high-growth M&A environments or leading through industry consolidation, this episode is one to keep an eye out for. Stream the full episode now on Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts.

    33 min

  4. JAN 21

    Episode 8: Laavanya Pari (CFO - Beforepay Group)

    Laavanya Pari moved through four completely different industries before becoming the CFO of Beforepay, a high-growth, ASX-listed fintech. In Episode 8 of The CFO Track, Laavanya shares what it's like to transition across shipping, digital media, and fintech. Then navigating the shift from non-stop work travel to choosing part-time work for a better work-life balance. While at the same time, she learnt to build forecasts for digital businesses with zero historical data to work from. Laavanya goes into detail about her progress across five different roles in eight years with the same business, the year-long process of getting to know a CEO before accepting the CFO role, and why weighing up your priorities matter more than chasing the perfect role. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS • Career inflection points: moving through shipping, digital media, and fintech by prioritizing learning from people outside your immediate team rather than staying siloed in traditional finance roles. • Choosing work-life balance: transitioning from constant travel to moving part-time while her partner went full-time, finding a structure that worked for their family. • Building forecasts without data: stepping into digital businesses with no historical financial data, pulling metrics from different systems to create dollar-per-listen models that adapt rather than become obsolete immediately. • Transitioning between industries: writing down your honest top three priorities instead of chasing the full wishlist, finding transitional stepping stones rather than waiting for the perfect role at the perfect company. • Taking a year to assess fit: spending almost 12 months in conversations with a CEO before accepting a CFO role, getting to know leadership style and team dynamics before committing to the move. If you're navigating industry transitions or balancing career progression with personal priorities, this episode is one you don’t want to miss. Stream the full episode now on Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts.

    42 min

  5. JAN 14

    Episode 7: Nick Verrecchia (CFO - DHL Global Forwarding)

    Nick Verrecchia went from a 10 week accelerated accounting course to becoming CFO of DHL Global Forwarding South Pacific, managing Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. In Episode 7 of The CFO Track, Nick shares what it's really like to step into a CFO role, turning around a challenging leadership dynamic and navigating constant role changes every two years to keep learning. Then why seeking knowledge from people smarter than you matters more than pretending to know everything. Nick goes through consolidating five warehouse sites by learning from operations experts, managing through COVID when freight rates spiked and cargo replaced passengers in plane seats, and the reality of pitching business cases for hundreds of millions at global board level. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS • Career inflection points: taking a 10 week accelerated accounting course instead of a traditional degree pathway, then intentionally changing roles every two years to keep learning rather than staying comfortable. • Stepping into a CFO role with a challenging start: building trust with a managing director who initially had reservations, working alongside the previous CFO who became head of accounting, and turning the relationship around over five years. • Seeking knowledge from people smarter than you: learning warehouse specifications from operations experts when tasked to consolidate five sites, admitting what you don't know rather than pretending expertise. • Managing through COVID in logistics: adapting operations with split shifts and remote work setups, navigating planes flying with cargo in passenger seats as freight rates spiked and market dynamics shifted dramatically. • Pitching business cases at global board level: presenting proposals for hundreds of millions in capital investment, handling feedback and rejections, then refining and re-pitching when circumstances change. If you're thinking about international moves to accelerate your career or managing complex stakeholder relationships, this episode is one for you. Stream the full episode now on Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts.

    45 min

  6. JAN 7

    Episode 6: Sarah Petty (Founder & Virtual CFO - Olive Business Partners)

    Sarah Petty spent nearly 20 years in corporate finance across global conglomerates before founding Olive Business Partners, a virtual CFO firm. In Episode 6 of The CFO Track, Sarah shares what it's really like to step into a CFO role without an Audit background, navigating cultural nuances across Southeast Asia and Africa and the phased maternity leave return that helped to continue her career growth during COVID lockdowns. She goes through the planning process before leaving corporate to start her own business, why sales and BD became her biggest challenge as a finance professional and how she's building a firm that gives both clients and CFO level professionals the flexibility they need. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Stepping into CFO role without an typical corporate accounting background: hiring complementary skillsets, building harmony between accounting and FP&A teams and why leadership matters more than technical expertise.Cultural learning across Southeast Asia and Africa: discovering cultural differences and why curiosity beats assumptions when pricing products. The phased maternity leave return: working part time on projects during COVID lockdown, before gradually ramping back to full time and passing that flexibility down to her own team.Starting a virtual CFO firm: six months of planning, testing the market, building financial runway, then going cold turkey because sales and BD, don't happen from behind your desk. Visit the Olive Business Partners Website https://olivebusinesspartners.com.au/ for more info. If you're considering stepping into CFO without Audit experience or thinking about starting your own Fractional/Virtual CFO business, tune in to EP 6 of The CFO Track Podcast. Stream the full episode now on Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts.

    51 min

  7. 12/17/2025

    Episode 5: Deb Lane (CFO - Laseraid)

    Deb Lane went from automating paper-based finance systems to becoming CFO at Laseraid and President of CPA NSW Divisional Council. In Episode 5 of The CFO Track, Deb shares what it's really like to say yes to messy projects, managing teams through COVID lockdowns while building solar farms and the gap analysis that helped her land her first CFO role. She goes through juggling 60+ hour weeks between her day job and public speaking, navigating AI in the corporate space and why soft skills and critical thinking will matter more than ever. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Career inflection points: saying yes to messy projects and stepping into cleanup roles where others saw chaos, not opportunity. Managing through COVID while building solar farms: keeping teams connected through video calls and managing by outputs rather than presence. The gap analysis that unlocked a CFO role: printing job descriptions, identifying capability gaps, then asking for project exposure to build those skills. Juggling CFO and CPA President roles: managing 60+ hour weeks, breakfast events before work, evening speeches after and why backing yourself beats waiting for "career fairies". AI and the human element: why critical thinking and soft skills will become more valuable as AI handles tasks and how reverse mentoring from junior staff keeps leaders current. If you're stepping up to CFO or trying to build influence alongside technical capability, this episode is one you dont want to miss! Stream the full episode now on Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts.

    23 min

  8. 12/10/2025

    Episode 4: James Haslam (CFO - ELMO Software)

    James Haslam spent 18 years in the consulting world before becoming Group COO and CFO at Elmo Software. In Episode 4 of The CFO Track podcast we cover why taking parental leave changed his perspective, and how realising he wouldn't make partner led to starting his own consulting business. He shares the reality of landing at Elmo through an IPO project, then navigating acquisitions, a delisting, and a full transformation from growth to profitability. If you're thinking about non-linear career moves or leading through rapid change, this episode is one to tune in for. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: • Taking parental leave in 2011 when it wasn't the norm and how 16 weeks off changed his perspective on life and career, despite concerns about progression. • Why realising he wouldn't make partner led to starting a consulting business: backing himself when the external job market didn't respond and finding a gap in mid-market advisory. • The IPO-to-permanent role pathway: how a "3-5 day project" at Elmo turned into 5.5 weeks, then 2 years of consulting, then CFO when trust was already built. • Leading through transformation: navigating an IPO, COVID, tech sell-off, delisting to K1, and building Elmo through growth to profitability all in six years. Streamed to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and LinkedIn.

    48 min

  9. 12/03/2025

    Episode 3: Kevin O'Sullivan (CFO - CyberCX)

    Kevin O'Sullivan went from working in a regional brewery in Romania, with A3 hand-written ledgers to building CyberCX, one of Asia Pacific's largest cyber security firms. The lessons between those moments shaped how he leads today. In Episode 3 of The CFO Track, we cover what it means to step into your first FD role in a new country, why finance leaders must own the cyber risk conversation and what it's like scaling a business from 0 to over 1400 staff within 6 years. If you're navigating leadership transitions or future-proofing your finance function in an uncertain landscape, this is one you don't want to miss! EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: • Career inflection points: stepping up from team member to Finance Director in Romania with four weeks' notice. • Why finance leaders must lead the cyber risk conversation, knowing which systems drive your P&L, makes you the expert on business-critical vulnerabilities. • Why skill sets will be the currency of the future as workforces become more fluid and business models change with AI disruption. Stream the full episode now on Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts.

    45 min

  10. 11/26/2025

    Episode 2: Adrian Bongiorno (CFO - Forty Winks)

    Adrian Bongiorno started his Finance career in a regional mining community 1500kms north of Perth in Port Hedland, on his way to becoming CFO of 40 Winks. The lessons between those two moments shaped how he leads today. We cover what it means to learn finance at the coalface, how to build a commercial business partnering function from scratch and Adrian's pragmatic approach to AI in the SME space. He goes through the value of hands-on learning, managing through severe downturns and why being wrong early in your career might be the best thing that happens to you. If you're a finance leader balancing transformation with reality, or building your career in a challenging market, this episode is one to tune in for. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: • Career inflection points: choosing hands-on learning at BHP over Big Four audit, and why Port Hedland was the perfect starting point. • Pragmatic AI adoption in SME environments: upskilling an entire finance organisation through a 12-week program before investing big dollars. • The pattern of thinking you know best early in your career, and why learning from those mistakes builds better leaders. • Why finance professionals who don't understand AI will be unemployable in 10 years and how to prepare without the hype. Streamed to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and LinkedIn.

    42 min

  11. 11/19/2025

    Episode 1: Robert Shore (CFO - Retail Food Group)

    Launching The CFO Track with a guest who has lived the big moments. Robert Shore has led finance through hyper growth, heavy M&A, and full scale transformation. We cover what changes when you step into a listed environment, how to pace tech change, and why owning your career plan matters more than titles. Expect practical detail: integrating acquisitions, moving ERPs, building treasury capability, centralising payroll, and setting a clear North Star for progression. We also dig into the modern CFO toolkit across investors, boards, contracts, IT, and corporate development. If you lead a finance team, this is a clear playbook for scaling without losing control and for growing your own influence while you do it. Episode Highlights: · How to move forward, following the sudden resignation of your CEO in a ASX-listed environment. · Career moves with a North Star mindset, including taking a step back to go forward in an ASX listed path. · Hyper growth playbook at EML, from half a billion to more than one hundred billion in volume, plus constant acquisitions. Streamed to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and LinkedIn. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1p6uNxw6OeZPFYlltvAVPd YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCFOTrackPodcast Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cfo-track/id1850636057

    46 min
  • 11 Episodes

About

Most finance people never get mentors who have lived and learnt through capital raises, IPOs, administrations or ACCC scrutiny. The CFO Track changes that. I am Tom Hunter, and every week I sit down with top Australian CFOs to unpack what happened and what they learned. Clear steps, real lessons and as always, free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and LinkedIn Live.

Information

  • Creator
    Tom Hunter
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Tom Hunter
  • Show Website
    The CFO Track