Building a Finance Function From the Ground Up

The journey from being a solo finance expert to architecting a robust finance function is complex. Knowing where to begin and how to proceed can shape the future of your department and company.

In this episode, host Melissa Howatson welcomes Amy Ward, CFO of

Blue River PetCare, to discuss the intricacies of building a finance function from the ground up. Amy shares her journey from Senior Accountant to CFO, offering valuable insights into the strategic approach required to align finance with organizational goals and drive sustainable growth. Amy joined Blue River PetCare's team in 2014 as a Senior Accountant and, since then, has played a critical role in the development and management of their Accounting and Payroll teams.

Discover how finance leaders should navigate hiring, technology investments, and cross-departmental collaboration as they build and nurture a finance team to drive long-term success.

Discussed in This Episode:

• The most important considerations for finance leaders before making their first hire
• Why Amy invested first in her accounts payable team, and how she now views this function as a breeding ground for talent
• How to assess the technologies a business truly needs at various stages of its growth
• Navigating the challenges of transitioning from a small to a larger, more complex finance function
• Why culture fit is often overlooked in finance, but is just as important as in any other part of the business
• Why cultural fit is often overlooked in finance, but is just as important as in any other part of the business