In this episode of The New F*Word host Colin Hewitt sits down with Laura Taylor, Founder of Empowered by Cloud and architect of the Ripmos methodology, to discuss why accounting firms remain stuck in outdated service delivery models. And, more importantly - what it actually takes to transition from compliance work to genuine advisory partnerships that drive real business value.

What You’ll Learn:

* Why virtual FD services fail to scale

* The compliance trap that kills advisory

* How to position advisory so price objections disappear

* The rhythm framework that replaces chaos with clarity

* Why your background matters more than your credentials

Laura is a visionary accounting entrepreneur and business strategist known for transforming how accounting firms operate and deliver value. With a background spanning retail management at major corporations like Sainsbury’s and ASDA, followed by founding and scaling Empowered by Cloud - a specialized virtual finance department firm serving the UK construction industry - Laura brings a unique, business-first perspective to the accounting profession. She sold her thriving practice in April 2024 and has since pivoted to helping accountants build more profitable, sustainable businesses through one-to-one advisory work and her newly launched Virtual Finance Department Program, now serving 50+ firms.

Explore Float’s platform and solutions at https://floatapp.com.

In this episode of The New F*Word, host Colin Hewitt is joined by Frank Overtoom, a seasoned commercial finance leader with experience across industries, continents, and high-pressure environments. Together, they explore what it really takes to lead financial strategy when decisions carry weight, how the role of the fractional CFO continues to evolve, and how working internationally has shaped Frank’s approach to modern financial leadership.

What You’ll Learn:

* What financial leadership looks like in high-stress environments

* How the role of the fractional CFO has changed in recent years

* Why judgement and perspective matter as much as technical finance skills

* How international experience shapes modern leadership approaches

* What businesses should expect when bringing in senior financial leadership

* How experienced CFOs stay effective across different industries and stages

Frank Overtoom is a multi-lingual, board-level commercial finance leader with experience across technology, retail, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. He has lived and worked internationally and is known for leading financial strategy in complex, high-pressure environments. Frank currently works as a fractional CFO across a portfolio of businesses, supporting leadership teams with strategic clarity, commercial judgement, and calm decision-making as they navigate growth and change.

In this episode of The New F*Word, host Colin Hewitt is joined by Siân Grinter, Founder and Fractional Finance Director of Superstar FD, to dive into how she transformed personal adversity into entrepreneurial growth, built a thriving niche in professional services, and learned to set healthy boundaries while scaling sustainably.

What You’ll Learn:

* How Siân turned personal challenges into motivation for change

* What separates a great fractional CFO from an accounting practice

* Building a business model that aligns with your strengths

* How to transition from doing all the work yourself to building a team

Siân Grinter is the Founder and Fractional Finance Director of Superstar FD, a fractional finance department specializing in professional services firms. With over 25 years of experience progressing from accounts assistant to finance director across law firms and financial services organizations, Siân has built a unique expertise in translating corporate finance leadership into scalable, fractional advisory.