Welcome to the December Edition of the Zanda Newsletter!

What a year it’s been! In 2025, we’ve had the privilege of connecting with hundreds of finance leaders, founders, and investors, sparking conversations, sharing insights, and exploring the ways the world of finance leadership is evolving.

In this edition, we recap our highlights, share what we’ve learned from our community, and point you to the resources and events that can help you plan, grow, and scale in 2026 so make sure to keep reading.

We’re excited for what 2026 will bring, but for now, it’s time to recharge, spend time with family and friends, and soak in the festive season.

Here’s to a joyful holiday season and an even brighter new year ahead! 🥂 

See you in 2026 👋

^{We’d be super grateful, if you find these newsletters insightful to share them with your network. Also, remember to reach out if you have a Finance leader requirement or need any advice on how to elevate your finance function.}

^{Enjoy this month’s edition and if there is anything you would like to see included, get in touch with [email protected]}

What's included in this Edition?

• CFO & Fractional Finance | Hiring Guides

• Venture Voices | Yearly Recap

• The CFO Edit | Yearly Recap

• A Year of Bringing Finance Leaders Together

• The CFO Rewired | Zanda Blog

• Current Opportunities

CFO & Fractional Finance | Hiring Guides

This year, we expanded our library of Finance Hiring Playbooks to help founders and finance leaders navigate two critical decisions in scaling a startup: how to structure financial leadership effectively, and when to bring in senior expertise that truly drives growth.

• Our Fractional Finance Playbook helps you learn when and how to bring in part-time finance leadership to strengthen your finance function, support scaling, and prepare for fundraising. It also includes practical checklists and guidance for flexible, effective engagements.

• The CFO Hiring Playbook is a a step-by-step guide for hiring your first full-time CFO, covering readiness assessment, evaluation criteria, and onboarding strategies to ensure your new hire becomes a strategic partner in growth.

Together, these Finance Hiring Playbooks give you a clearer understanding of how and when to invest in financial leadership, helping you strengthen your finance function, scale with confidence, and make smarter decisions as your business grows.

Grab your free copy of the playbooks using the links below:

Fractional Finance Playbook

CFO Hiring Playbook

Venture Voices | Yearly Recap

During this year we had the opportunity to sit down with several Venture Capital professionals for open conversations on topics ranging from early-stage investing and fundraising strategy, to scaling challenges, financial leadership, and capital efficiency in today’s market. Let’s take a moment to revisit this year’s Venture Voices conversations:

In our conversation with 25 Madison, we explored what investors look for at the earliest stages, from clear positioning at pre-seed and seed to the fundamentals that help founders stand out from day one.

With FirstMark, the discussion focused on the role of community in venture capital, highlighting how strong founder networks and hands-on platform support can accelerate growth beyond funding alone.

Our conversation with Lorimer Ventures looked at the rise of operator-led, founder-first investing, as well as when to bring senior finance leaders into the business and how CFOs can act as strategic partners as companies scale.

Speaking with Smedvig Ventures, we unpacked the challenges of scaling from Series A onwards, including leadership evolution, financial discipline, and the growing impact of AI on how teams are built.

Finally, with Mountside Ventures, we examined what makes a successful fundraise in today’s market, from navigating Series A and B pressures to using data and capital efficiency to tell a compelling investor story.

Together, these conversations offer a clear snapshot of how VCs are thinking today and what founders need to focus on to build resilient, scalable companies.

You can catch up on the individual Venture Voices conversations below:

• 25 Madison 

• FirstMark 

• Lorimer Ventures

• Smedvig Ventures 

• Mountside Ventures

You can also find more Venture Voices discussions with guests from Fuel Ventures, Octopus Ventures, and many more on our website.

The CFO Edit | Yearly Recap

This year, The CFO Edit explored the evolving role of CFOs and senior finance leaders in high-growth businesses, focusing on how finance can drive better decision-making, sustainable growth, and stronger leadership.

Across our content, our guests covered topics ranging from cash flow management and operational discipline, to scaling companies, supporting growth initiatives, and making data-driven decisions.

We also focused on leadership and career development, including how finance leaders can expand their influence, act as strategic partners to the business, and navigate transitions into CFO or broader executive roles. Emerging challenges such as ESG, sustainability, and the broader responsibilities of modern finance leadership were also part of the conversation.

Dive into all past editions of The CFO Edit here.

A Year of Bringing Finance Leaders Together

In 2025, we were proud to host 25 events across the UK and New York, bringing together finance leaders who share a common ambition: to learn, connect, and grow together.

From 16 CFO Roundtables to 4 CFO Masterclasses, every session was designed with one goal in mind, creating meaningful, high-impact experiences for CFOs navigating increasingly complex roles.

Our CFO Roundtables are built on the understanding that being a CFO can be isolating. These sessions give finance leaders the chance to step away from day-to-day pressures, connect with colleagues, and share real experiences, challenges, and perspectives in a trusted environment.

Alongside this, our CFO Masterclasses focus on equipping finance leaders with practical insights, tools, and strategies to navigate emerging trends. Led by industry experts and delivered in small, high-impact groups, these sessions encourage deeper discussion, interactive learning, and valuable peer connections.

We’ve loved growing and connecting this community throughout the year, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who joined us and contributed to the conversations. As we look ahead, we’re excited to host more purposeful, high-quality events next year, continuing to support finance leaders at every stage of their journey.

To stay up to date with our upcoming events, make sure to check our Events page or follow us on LinkedIn.

The CFO Rewired | Zanda Blog

In 2025, we saw the CFO role change more than ever before.

Today’s finance leaders are taking on broader responsibilities, from guiding growth strategy and driving operational efficiency to advising on key business decisions, becoming indispensable partners for founders and investors alike.

In our latest blog, The CFO Rewired, we unpack how this transformation took shape, why it matters, and what founders and investors should expect from CFOs next year, including the rise of new CFO archetypes and the skills that will be most in demand in 2026.

Dive into the full blog to discover how the CFO role has evolved in 2025 and what skills will matter in 2026.

Read the full blog here.

Current Opportunities

In this episode we have highlighted just a handful of our newest jobs, if you would like to apply for any of these roles please send an email to [email protected]

If you have a similar role you are currently recruiting for, register your vacancy here!