In this episode of The New F*Word, host Colin Hewitt is joined by Mairianne Stewart, Fractional CFO at Plug-In Finance, to discuss her leap from big business to entrepreneurship, what she’s learned helping founders manage cash and growth, and why startups should never wait until it’s too late to bring in a fractional CFO.

What You’ll Learn:

* Why cash blindness is killing your startup faster than a bad product

* How to avoid the two-to-three-month onboarding tax when bringing in fractional finance support

* The hidden skill that fractional CFOs actually need that has nothing to do with accounting

* How to structure a fractional CFO practice so you’re not the bottleneck

* Why the corporate world and startup world are polar opposites

Mairianne Stewart is a fractional CFO with over 20 years of experience in FTSE-100 companies and four years providing strategic CFO services to ambitious SMEs. She helps growing businesses navigate complex financial, operational, and regulatory challenges without the need for a full-time CFO. From cash flow management to governance and scalable operations, Mairianne works with founders to professionalise their businesses and prepare them for the next stage of growth.

In this episode of The New F*Word, host Colin Hewitt is joined by Kevin Jacobs, Fractional CFO at BDO USA, to discuss the unglamorous but critical reality of cash flow management, scaling from $30M to $100M in revenue, and why contractors and manufacturers are leaving money on the table by obsessing over profit instead of cash.

What You’ll Learn:

* Why profit is a vanity metric and cash is your actual business lifeline

* How to implement a 13-week cash flow forecast

* Why diversification of customers and revenue streams prevents the cash flow death spiral

* How to educate field staff and back-office teams to speak the same financial language

* The fractional CFO future

Kevin Jacobs is a Fractional CFO at BDO USA, bringing over 20 years of industry experience spanning construction and manufacturing. With a background that includes scaling a $30M company to over $100M in six years through strategic financial planning, ERP implementation, and working capital management, Kevin specializes in helping contractors and manufacturers gain financial clarity and sustainable growth.

In this episode of The New F*Word, host Colin Hewitt is joined by Pauline Healey, Owner and Director at Logical BI, to share her journey and the lessons she now brings to manufacturers, distributors, and service businesses across the UK and beyond.

What You’ll Learn:

* How to identify and eliminate hidden manufacturing wastage through systematic process analysis

* Why inventory management is crucial and how to unlock millions in working capital

* How to navigate international manufacturing relationships, especially with Chinese suppliers

* The strategic approach to evaluating and optimising cash cycles in manufacturing businesses

* Why manufacturing businesses need both technical and financial expertise and operational understanding

* The key metrics and reporting systems that drive manufacturing efficiency

Pauline Healey is a seasoned fractional CFO and Founder of Logical BI. With vast international experience, including 19 visits to China and significant work in supply chain optimisation, she has helped numerous businesses improve their financial performance and operational efficiency. Her expertise spans manufacturing processes, inventory management, and international trade, having generated millions in savings through strategic financial leadership and process improvements. Currently, she’s developing a groundbreaking CFO mentorship community platform to help finance professionals in smaller businesses access high-level strategic guidance.Episode Resources:

* Pauline Healey on LinkedIn

* Logical BI Website

* Learning by Questions Website

* Colin Hewitt on LinkedIn

* Float Cash Flow Forecasting Website