207. CFO Stories: SaaS Success & Leadership Lessons with Mark Blakemore

CFO 4.0 - The Future of Finance

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In this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro speaks with Mark Blakemore, CFO at Compleat Software, about the unique challenges and opportunities of working in SaaS finance. Mark shares valuable insights from his 30+ year career in finance, offering a detailed look into the world of SaaS, including practical advice for CFOs and finance professionals aspiring to break into the sector.

Key topics covered in this episode:

• Mark's journey to becoming a CFO and his transition from audit to SaaS finance.
• The evolution of SaaS models and the challenges of shifting from perpetual licences to recurring revenue.
• Key metrics for SaaS CFOs, including MQL-to-win ratios, CAC, and revenue growth levers.
• The importance of cross-functional collaboration with sales, marketing, and engineering teams.
• Lessons learned from managing cultural differences and communication challenges in international teams.

Links mentioned:

• Mark's Linkedin
• Learn more about Compleat Software

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

Chapters

1. Evolution of the CFO Role (00:00:00)

2. Aligning Sales and Marketing for Growth (00:07:59)

3. Building Trust and Accountability in Business (00:13:32)

4. Navigating Investor Communication and Relationships (00:18:59)

5. Balancing Risk and Growth Strategies (00:29:03)

6. Navigating Challenges as a SaaS CFO (00:34:27)

7. Choosing the Best Finance Software (00:46:48)