The CFG Podcast

CFG's Communications Coordinator, Glyn Sheldon, speaks to three guests who've experienced making the move from the corporate world, into the charity sector: Clive MacTavish from British Red Cross, Andrew Lowe from Leeds Mind and CFG's new Finance and Operations Director, Sarah Ann Moore.
The guests explain their journey from the private sector, what they wish they'd known, and explain what charities and businesses can learn from one another.
The episode also explores the topic of financial benchmarking, and looks at whether charities could be more transparent about their costs, as well as questions around how to align strategy and impact. For more information about understanding your costs, read our new Know Your Cost Base publication
Check out CFG's membership benefits here: Charity Finance Group | Special Interest Groups
Read articles on a range of topics on the CFG Knowledge Hub here: Charity Finance Group | Knowledge Hub
See all of CFG's events here: Events | CFG

CFG's Co-CEO Clare Mills sits down with Alison Taylor (CEO) and Richard Hunt* (Chief Commercial Officer) from CAF Bank to explore the bank's digital transformation journey. Alison and Richard get candid about what drove CAF Bank to make bold changes – and reveal the hard-won lessons they've picked up along the way. Essential listening for whether you're already navigating your own digital transformation or just getting started.

Resources 

CAF Bank website 

CAF UK Giving Report 2025

CAF Resources for Charities

CFG’s banking toolkit

CFG’s 2024 Banking Challenges Report

*Richard Hunt is now Chief Commercial Officer at CAF Bank. At the time of the recording, he was Director of Customer and Lending.

The responses are in and the Charities SORP consultation has now closed. Charity accounting expert Naziar Hashemi (Crowe UK) and Richard Sagar (CFG) talk to CFG's Sarah Lomax about the consultation process, what the responses looked like, and what charities can do to prepare for when the new SORP comes into effect.

This second part of our SORP podcast series follows on from our conversations with Carol Rudge and Debra Allcock-Tyler in June. 

Resources:

The Charities SORP website

Charities SORP - Invitation to comment

Charity Commission press release: Updated SORP

FRS102

CFG's SORP news page

Lease Accounting FRS 102 | Crowe UK

The SORP exposure draft and legacy recognition, Pesh Framjee

Media release: CFG warns tiering proposals are problematic

Podcast produced and edited by CFG. If you have any questions or comments, please email Emma Abbott, Communications Manager: [email protected]. 

The views and opinions expressed in our podcast are those solely of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Charity Finance Group.

The Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) is about to get an overhaul. CFG's Head of Policy, Richard Sagar, talks to SORP experts Carol Rudge and Debra Allcock-Tyler about what could change and how it could impact charities, large and small. If you want to understand more about the new Charities SORP, you won't want to miss this episode!

Resources:

The Charities SORP website

Charities SORP - Invitation to comment

Charity Commission press release: Updated SORP

FRS102

CFG's SORP news page

Podcast produced and edited by CFG. If you have any questions or comments, please email Emma Abbott, Communications Manager: [email protected]. 

The views and opinions expressed in our podcast are those solely of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Charity Finance Group.

In this second episode looking at the topic of leadership, charity finance and leadership experts Judith Miller (Sayer Vincent) and Maggie Smith (Centre for Charity Effectiveness, Bayes Business School) talk to CFG's Emma Abbott about why finance professionals make great leaders, and what they can do to hone their leadership skills.

If you'd like tips on how to be a better leader (and human being!) listen to this latest CFG podcast and check out their recommended resources below!

CFG resources:

The Finance Journey 

Inspiring Financial Leadership (look out for information on our Events & Training page)

CFG's Knowledge Hub

Other resources:

·       Cracking the Code: The Secret to Successful Strategy Execution & Lessons for the C-Suite, Rommin Adl

·       Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ, Daniel Goleman

·       Atomic Habits, James Clear

·       The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg

·       Mindset, Carol Dweck

·       The Chimp Paradox, Prof. Steve Peters

·       The outstanding leadership research – Exceeding Expectation

·       Uncharted, Margaret Heffernan (find her on Substack)

·       Dare to Lead, Brene Brown, plus The Gifts of Imperfection and Rising Strong

·       Why Should Anyone Be Led By You? Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones

·       Ted Lasso seasons 1-3, Apple TV

·       Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, Susan Cain

·       Time to Think, Nancy Kline

·       Flourish, Martin Seligman

With thanks again to Maggie and Judith for so generously sharing their time, insights and experiences.