🧭 About Kevin Appleby

 

Finance Transformation Strategist • CFO Mentor • Podcast Host

 

A Trusted Voice at the Intersection of Finance, Leadership, and Technology

 

Kevin Appleby is a Chartered Accountant, COO and Strategy Mentor at GrowCFO, and one of the UK’s most trusted voices in finance transformation and leadership development.

He helps CFOs and finance leaders evolve from competent operators into strategic, tech-enabled business partners — driving faster closes, smarter planning, and stronger leadership across the finance function.

Kevin combines three decades of experience in industry, consulting, and mentoring with an ability to simplify the complex.

Whether he’s helping a CFO implement a new FP&A platform, coaching a rising finance leader, or interviewing innovators on one of his podcasts, Kevin’s focus is always the same: turn insight into action.

 

From Finance Leader to Transformation Mentor

 

Kevin began his career at BDO, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant before moving into industry finance roles in the petrochemicals and plastics sector.

He served as Divisional CFO for a major European business during a period of restructuring — gaining hands-on experience of the challenges growing businesses face when systems and processes no longer keep pace.

After a decade in industry, Kevin joined PwC Consulting (and later BearingPoint) where he led transformation projects across the private and public sectors.

His clients ranged from major manufacturers and utilities to UK police forces and healthcare organisations — all seeking better alignment between strategy, people, process, and technology.

These experiences shaped his belief that successful transformation isn’t about software — it’s about mindset, structure, and clarity of purpose.

 

Helping CFOs Build the Finance Team of the Future

 

At GrowCFO, Kevin leads programmes that develop the skills and systems modern finance leaders need to succeed.

He co-authors GrowCFO’s Tech Innovation Reports, runs CFO mentoring programmes, and facilitates Tech Showcases that connect finance leaders with the technologies redefining FP&A, consolidation, and reporting.

His frameworks — such as the Finance Capability Framework and CFO Transformation Map — are used by scale-up and mid-market finance teams to benchmark capability, identify development gaps, and accelerate progress.

Kevin’s approach blends strategy with practicality:

“Transformation isn’t about replacing spreadsheets — it’s about building a finance function that learns, adapts, and leads the business forward.”

 

Host of Two Leading Business Podcasts

 

🎙️ The GrowCFO Show

A podcast dedicated to modern finance leadership — where Kevin interviews CFOs, transformation leaders, and technology innovators about how they drive change in real life.

🎙️ The Next 100 Days Podcast

The longest-running independent UK business podcast, co-hosted with Graham Arrowsmith.

Each week, Kevin talks to entrepreneurs and industry experts about practical strategies that create measurable results — in the next 100 days and beyond.

Together, these shows reach thousands of listeners every month, helping finance and business leaders stay ahead of the curve.

 

A Recognised Authority in the Future of Finance

 

Kevin is regularly featured in GrowCFO white papers, industry webinars, and partner publications (including AccountsIQ, Acterys, and FP&A Trends).

He speaks frequently on topics such as:

  • AI and automation in finance

  • Modern FP&A and planning technologies

  • The evolving role of the CFO

  • Leadership, capability, and transformation

  • Finance systems selection and change management

 

His recent research contributions include the GrowCFO Tech Innovation Reports, the Finance Team Capability Assessment, and the Alternatives to Xero white paper — each focused on helping mid-market CFOs accelerate transformation and reduce time-to-insight.

 

A Philosophy of Practical Transformation

 

Kevin believes the future of finance lies in combining technology, talent, and trust.

He helps organisations build finance functions that can:

  • Close the books faster

  • Forecast more intelligently

  • Automate the routine

  • Elevate finance from scorekeeper to strategist

 

At the same time, he mentors individual finance professionals to strengthen leadership, communication, and strategic influence — helping them become the kind of CFOs their businesses truly need.

 

Connect with Kevin

 

📩 Email: kevin@kevinappleby.com

🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kevin-appleby-295417a

🎧 The Next 100 Days Podcast: thenext100days.org

🎧 The GrowCFO Show: growcfo.net/podcast

🌐 GrowCFO: growcfo.net