Mentoring_2025

CFO Mentoring

Unlock your full potential with an experienced and trusted CFO Mentor.

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What is CFO Mentoring?

At GrowCFO, we offer personalized CFO mentoring designed to help finance leaders overcome challenges, build confidence, and achieve their career goals.

Being a CFO comes with complex challenges — from leadership pressures to strategic decision-making and self-doubt. Our experienced mentors have first-hand experience and understand what it takes to navigate these demands.

Lead with Clarity

Clarity on your leadership style, priorities, and career direction

Decide with Confidence

A trusted sounding board for sensitive or complex decisions

Deliver Real Impact

Practical strategies to overcome challenges and deliver greater value to your business

What Challenges Do We Address?

Our mentoring covers a wide range of common CFO pain points, including:
  • Leadership & Decision-Making
  • Imposter Syndrome & Confidence
  • Prioritization & Time Management
  • Stakeholder Relationships & Influence
  • Conflict Resolution & Career Planning
  • Stress Management & Burnout Prevention

The Mentors

Jen Burton

Experienced Finance Leader CFO | Mentor

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Warren Wise

CFO | Mentor | Expert in Financial & Operational Management

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Paula Kensington

Business Strategist CFO | Mentor

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Catherine Clark

Executive Mentor | Experienced CFO | Board leader

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Oliver Deacon

Course Facilitator

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Susana Serrano-Davey

Course Facilitator & Mentor

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VIEW ALL mentors

Our mentors offer broad-ranging expertise across multiple areas and sectors.

Corporate finance
Manufacturing
Startups
Staffing & Recruitment
Scaleups
Not-for-Profit
Mergers & Acquisitions
Professional Services
Technology
Software
Manufacturing
Telecoms
Healthcare
Retail
Public service
Big 4 / Professional Services
Private equity
Growth Companies
Venture capital
Entrepreneurial
Government contracts
Manufacturing and Distribution
Aerospace
Automotive
Engineering
Transport
Energy
Charity
Transport
Travel & Leisure
Telecommunications
Media
Logistics & Distribution
Retail and Commerce
Supply Chain
Digital and Technology
Defence
Financial Services
IT Services
Insurance
Business Services
Consulting
Fintech
Management Services
SaaS

Executive Leadership & Strategy

Financial & Commercial Management

Operational Excellence

Stakeholder Management

Performance Reporting

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

Stakeholder & Investor Relations

Business Transformation

Growth & Value Creation

Compliance & Risk Management

Cash Flow & Working Capital Optimization

Finance

Financial Rigour Reporting & Management

M&A activity

Funding & Cashflow Management

Executive & Financial Leadership

Sustainability – Beyond Net Zero

Influence

Executive Presence & Influence

Multi Stakeholder Management (internal and external incl Board)

Executive Thinking

Personal Branding

Executive Personality Including Self-Profiling

Key Messaging

SWOT

Leadership

Management

Innovation and transformation

Future of finance

Technology

Team Culture

Business Partnering

Strategy and OKRs

Career progression

Finance organizational design

Transition to FD and CFO

Think of us as your motivator, sounding board and biggest supporter.

Mentors are invested in your progress and achievement. They’re committed to helping you succeed so you’ll grow faster. Our CFO Mentoring is fully personalized and adaptable to your needs and will provide a safe, confidential environment and quiet, focused space for you to explore your thoughts and tap into the knowledge and experience that is on offer to support you fully.

What Our Mentees Say

I highly recommend Oliver Deacon to any executive or business leader looking to elevate their leadership skills and drive meaningful results in their organization. The impact of his coaching has been helped me navigate through some complex challenges.  I am grateful for the growth and success I’ve achieved in becoming a more strategic CFO under his guidance.
Colin Gayford
Colin GayfordChief Financial Officer, Traine Construction and Development
The dedicated professional mentoring sessions were really useful and it was incredibly helpful to have a regular sounding board. Working with a mentor who has impressive board level CFO experience really helped with changing my mindset to become a finance leader.
Matt Cumberland
Matt CumberlandHead of Finance, Zapnito
Working with Catherine has enabled me to build confidence and manage imposter syndrome. Her holistic approach has helped me to understand my values, beliefs and visualization for what I want to achieve. This has helped me to reach a position where I am confident in the value I bring to my role and have the vision to enable me to seize opportunities to create additional value.
Gary Moorhouse
Gary MoorhouseCommercial Director, Thompsons Group Ltd
John DoeCEO
Colin Gayford
I highly recommend Oliver Deacon to any executive or business leader looking to elevate their leadership skills and drive meaningful results in their organization. The impact of his coaching has been helped me navigate through some complex challenges.  I am grateful for the growth and success I’ve achieved in becoming a more strategic CFO under his guidance.
Colin Gayford
Chief Financial Officer, Traine Construction and Development
Matthew Cumberland
The dedicated professional mentoring sessions were really useful and it was incredibly helpful to have a regular sounding board. Working with a mentor who has impressive board level CFO experience really helped with changing my mindset to become a finance leader.
Matt Cumberland
Head of Finance, Zapnito
Gary Moorhouse
Working with Catherine has enabled me to build confidence and manage imposter syndrome. Her holistic approach has helped me to understand my values, beliefs and visualization for what I want to achieve. This has helped me to reach a position where I am confident in the value I bring to my role and have the vision to enable me to seize opportunities to create additional value.
Gary Moorhouse
Commercial Director, Thompsons Group Ltd
Tiago Dias
I initially met Catherine as part of the GrowCFO sessions that she organised and we started working on my personal development as part of 1×1 mentoring sessions and the CFO programme. I must say it has been really nice to have someone to help me further look inside myself and bring to light some blindspots. It is invaluable to have someone like Catherine to not only guide me along the way but also to get exposure to a different perspective.
Tiago Dias
CFO, SafetyWing
Felix Bohles
Outstanding!
Felix Bohles
CFO, ZigZag Associates

How will I benefit from regular CFO mentoring
sessions with an experienced CFO?

Knowledge and Experience

We will maximize the value you deliver to your business and help you overcome the key challenges within your role. We bring to you our wealth of financial, strategic, and life experience to make your life easier.

Accelerated Development

We will motivate you to identify and deliver your career development plan, holding you accountable for your actions. We will help you to explore your mindset and achieve your potential using proven tools and techniques to support this process.

Accelerated Development

We provide an independent point of contact and listen actively and objectively to enable you to talk through sensitive matters in private. We will act as a sounding board and provide someone to think through problems, issues, and challenges.

How GrowCFO Mentoring Works

Individual CFO mentoring starts with a free chemistry call to discuss your needs and find the right CFO mentor you feel confident will help you achieve your outcomes. We will work with you to create a tailored CFO mentoring program.

Book a free 30 minute chemistry call

The first step is to choose a CFO mentor, one you have chemistry with and you feel confident will help you achieve your outcomes.

Decide on your priorities for discussion

Agree on what you want to achieve from each session.

Progress on your action plan

Start your sessions and move forward on your goals.

Structure your sessions

Choose the best format for you. We recommend 60 or 90 minute sessions once a month.

BOOK A CHEMISTRY CALL

Your Action Plan

Our CFO mentoring is fully personalized and adaptable to whatever your needs may be. Your sessions with your mentor need to focus on what’s important for you right now.

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Ambitions and goals

Personal strategy session: An honest discussion as to where you are now and what your future goals and desired outcomes are so we can identify the actions needed to close the gap.

Your goals: A chance to explore the leader you want to become, with a focus on strengths and limiting beliefs.

Financial and/or career strategy: Review your progression strategy, explore how to show your strengths and your value at their best, and close any skill gaps.

Mindset and high-performance habits

Growth and agile mindset: How you can look after your mind to increase resilience, performance, productivity, motivation, and energy.

Performance: Looking at how to drive business change and key decision making, and how to deliver the business plan.

Focus and clarity: Taking your goals to a more specific and measurable level with a focus on supporting habits and routines.

Behaviours and traits for success

Leadership styles: Looking at how to become an externally-facing leader. The team needs to support you as a CFO, and you need to support their development.

Behaviors and key skills for success: Looking at the key behavioral skills needed at the CFO level with a focus on leadership, influencing, critical thinking, stakeholder management, and communication.

Executive presence and impact: Looking at how you can leverage your personal leadership style and brand to increase engagement and credibility.

Request Mentoring Info

Company

About

Contact

Affiliate Program

Partnership Program

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

End-User License Agreement

Programs

Future CFO Program

EXLF Program

CFO Program

GrowCFO Competency Framework

Business Partnering

FP&A

Finance Transformation

Power BI

Automation Accelerator

CFO Unite

Resources

Events

GrowCFO Show

 Simulators


L&D Forum


Career Pathways


Support

Linkedin
Download on the app store
Get it on Google Play

GrowCFO is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org

For more information regarding refund, complaint and program cancellation policies, please see our website at https://www.growcfo.net/refund-and-cancellation-policy/

2024 GrowCFO Ltd ©. All Rights Reserved.

Company

About

Contact

Affiliate Program

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

End-User License Agreement

Programs

Future CFO Program

CFO Program

GrowCFO Competency Framework

Resources

Events

GrowCFO Show

Fundraising Simulator 

Linkedin
Download on the app store
Get it on Google Play

2023 GrowCFO Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Jen Burton

Jennifer Burton is an accomplished finance leader and Chief Financial Officer with over 20 years of experience driving strategic growth and operational performance. She specialises in partnering with founders and CEOs to scale startups and high-growth companies, offering expertise in capital raising, KPI development, and investor relations. Jennifer has led successful M&A initiatives on both the buy and sell side, including post-acquisition integrations of global finance systems and teams. Her background includes transforming underperforming shared service centres, overseeing ERP implementations, and managing complex commercial negotiations. She brings a strong track record in both private equity and venture capital-backed businesses, with deep experience across finance, HR, IT, and corporate governance. As a partner with LiftBridge CXO, she’s known for delivering practical, results-oriented financial leadership that supports long-term success.

Warren Wise

Warren Wise is a transformative business leader with deep expertise in financial strategy, operational management, and process improvement. As President of CRM Workforce Solutions, he drove record sales and nearly tripled the company’s valuation, cementing his reputation for impactful leadership. He is known for fostering a culture of success, notably creating an employee incentive program that significantly boosted productivity and reduced turnover. Warren’s approach prioritises supporting staff to achieve positive outcomes while aligning operations with strategic goals. His broad experience enables him to navigate diverse business environments and deliver exceptional financial performance. He also contributes as an angel investor, bringing both insight and innovation to growing ventures.

Paula Kensington

Paula Kensington is an award-winning CFO and accomplished commercial finance executive with over 30 years of experience helping people and businesses grow. Known for blending strategic thinking with practical solutions, she empowers others to lead with clarity and confidence. Named CFO of the Year, Paula brings a wealth of leadership expertise and a deep passion for mentoring. She supports professionals at all levels—helping them build personal brands, elevate executive presence, and create purpose-driven careers. A lifelong learner with credentials from Cambridge and HarvardX, Paula stays ahead on leadership, sustainability, and governance. Her warm, insightful approach makes her a trusted guide for anyone looking to grow, lead, and make a meaningful impact.

Catherine Clark

Catherine Clark is an Executive Mentor and experienced CFO with over 25 years of commercial leadership, including nine years as Group CFO of a global consultancy where she was the first female board member. A Chartered Accountant (FCA) and Fellow of the Institute of Directors, she specialises in mentoring senior professionals to become more confident, influential, and fulfilled leaders. Drawing from her own personal and professional journey, Catherine helps clients overcome hidden obstacles, identify skills gaps, and develop clarity in decision-making. She provides a supportive yet challenging space for growth, acting as both a strategic sounding board and an accountability partner. Passionate about mental wellbeing and sustainable success, Catherine’s holistic approach enhances both personal resilience and professional impact. Through her mentoring practice, Cristallum, she empowers leaders to thrive and reach their full potential.

Oliver Deacon

Oliver is a former Microsoft Finance Director and an executive leadership and innovation coach. Since obtaining his ACA within the Big Four, he has focused on building world-class teams and coaching individuals to reach their full potential. During his tenure at Microsoft, Oliver championed culture programs for global finance teams and recruited high-potential diverse talent. With over 1,000 hours of coaching experience for companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Stripe, he fuses leadership expertise, empathy, and strategic insight to develop the next generation of finance leaders. Oliver is a Professional Credentialed Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation, an ICAEW Fellow Chartered Accountant, and holds a Master’s in Earth Sciences from Oxford University. His clients describe his approach as energetic, pragmatic, and inspiring, with a keen focus on leadership, impact, and organizational growth. Oliver empowers finance professionals to uncover their strengths, define goals, and navigate the future with resilience and confidence.

Susana Serrano-Davey

Susana is an accomplished CFO and mentor with over 20 years of international experience in multinational companies. A Chartered Accountant (FCA) who qualified at PwC, she is also a successful entrepreneur, having founded and sold a thriving business. Susana offers mentoring and consultancy that helps professionals and entrepreneurs accelerate their careers with greater confidence, satisfaction, and well-being. Her approach focuses on mastering external environments—through building capabilities and strategic perspectives—while fostering internal self-awareness and personal resilience. Drawing on her experiences working in multicultural teams across various countries and organizations, Susana provides practical tools and tailored methodologies to tackle professional challenges. She is passionate about sharing her learnings through workshops, talks, podcasts, and her blog. Above all, Susana remains dedicated to continuous evolution, believing that growth never truly ends.