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In this dynamic episode of FP&A Unboxed Podcast, host Tejas Parikh chats with Alysha Randall, Founder & CEO of Fast Growth Consulting Limited, Author of the Book: Financial Leadership Fundamentals: How to become a CFO in a startup or scaleup, Founder & Finance Professional Trainer at Financial Leadership Foundations, Treasurer Trustee at Sustainable Merton, and Founding Member of the Female Founders Directory. Alysha takes us through her 20-year journey from scaling startups like LoveFilm and Funding Circle to becoming a fractional CFO and leadership coach.

She shares powerful lessons on how automation has transformed finance roles, why building a strong foundation matters more than tools, and what truly makes a finance leader effective in high-growth environments. Alysha also opens up about her transition from manager to leader, the wake-up call that changed her mindset, and her mission to help others lead with confidence.

Whether you're a finance analyst battling Excel chaos, a CFO navigating fast growth, or an aspiring leader trying to level up, this episode is packed with real talk, practical advice, and empowering takeaways.

Key Takeaways

Don’t chase tools, fix your processes first.

Strong foundations (reconciliations, compliance, process reviews) are critical before scaling.

Leadership is not about working harder, it's about changing how you think and support others.

Finance leaders need to regularly revisit, review, and refine their operations.

Communication and confidence are essential to modern FP&A and leadership success.

Noteworthy Quotes

“If your company quadrupled today, would your finance function survive?” – Alysha Randall

“Being a leader doesn’t mean working the hardest. It means knowing what really matters and leading with intention.” – Alysha Randall

“If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.” – Alysha Randall

“Leadership isn’t about having the title, it’s about shifting how you think, communicate, and influence.” – Alysha Randall

“Confidence doesn’t come with the title. You build it before you earn it.” – Alysha Randall

“The best ideas come when you give your brain space to rest.” – Alysha Randall

“Your finance function is only as scalable as your processes allow it to be.” – Alysha Randall

Key Timestamps

00:00 – Coming up next & Call to Action

01:43 – Alysha’s startup journey from LoveFilm to Funding Circle

07:52 – Key Components of a Finance Functions

10:01 – The evolution of finance ops & impact of automation

13:25 – Process design vs. shiny new tools

15:40 – Getting control without losing ability

23:06 – Leadership wake-up call & imposter syndrome

28:43 – Communication & team development tips

33:11 – Gender gaps, asking for what you're worth, and equal pay

39:29 – One thing Most FP&A functions need today to become better

43:53 – Closing thoughts

FOLLOW OUR GUEST ALYSHA RANDALL ON:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alysharandall/

Website: https://fastgrowthconsulting.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastgrowth_consulting/

FOLLOW OUR HOST TEJAS PARIKH ON:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tejasparikh/

Website: https://aksharconsulting.co.uk/

FOLLOW FP&A UNBOXED PODCAST ON:

Website: https://aksharconsulting.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aksharconsultingltd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aksharbusinessconsulting

X: https://x.com/AksharBusiness

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aksharbusinessconsulting?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc