The F Suite

What’s the secret to building finance teams that drive growth? In our recent members-only conversation, David Sheen (CFO, Vestwell) shared how high-potential generalists can evolve into specialized leaders—and why this career path is a game-changer for scaling organizations. Watch this 30-second clip for a brief highlight. Thank you, Ali Hussain (CEO & Founder, Tabs), for leading this engaging discussion with The F Suite members. 

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀? In the second post of our series featuring insights from the Doing More with Less Virtual Panel, F Suite partner Ali Hussain (Founder and CEO, Tabs) offers practical strategies for CFOs and finance leaders. From leveraging sandboxes to test-driving solutions to avoiding last-minute “hair-on-fire” decisions, Ali understands how thoughtful planning can lead to smooth transitions and better outcomes. Adopting new technology doesn’t have to be daunting—with the right approach, it can be both seamless and transformational. Access more insights like these and take your leadership to the next level by becoming a member of The F Suite.

This has been an extraordinary year of growth and connection for The F Suite. Our community of CFOs and financial leaders has expanded to nearly 1,000 members, a testament to the power of collaboration and shared insights. Together, we participated in more than 80 events—from intimate dinners to strategic offsites to impactful conferences—across cities like San Francisco, New York City, and beyond. At the heart of The F Suite is the strength of our community. The relationships built here spark new ideas, foster collaboration, and empower members to make better, faster decisions that drive their companies forward. Your energy and engagement are what make this community thrive. We’re also deeply grateful to our partners, advisors, and thought leaders for enriching our events and helping to create such meaningful experiences. To everyone who joined us this year, thank you for making 2024 unforgettable. We can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together in 2025—let’s continue to connect, grow, and lead the way forward!

How do top finance leaders approach technology decisions? That’s what Ali Hussain (Founder and CEO, Tabs) explored with Rakib Azad, CFO at Alkira, Inc. in The F Suite’s recent Doing More with Less virtual panel. In this clip, Rakib shares his evolved philosophy on ERP tools, automation, and building coherent, collaborative workflows. For insights like this and more, apply to become a member of The F Suite.

We’re excited to share the results of our 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆—conducted with insights from 𝟮𝟬𝟬+ 𝗙 𝗦𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀. A huge thank you to Evan Fein, The F Suite Global Chairman, for his invaluable support in bringing this data together. The goal of this survey was simple: to help CFOs gain a deeper understanding of their 𝗚&𝗔 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀, the 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘀 of various company departments, and the 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 that support them. In a landscape driven by data, it’s crucial to have more than just intuition guiding your decisions. The 2024 data reveals some remarkable insights: • 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 make up about 2% of overall G&A teams. • 𝗚&𝗔 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 account for 6% of total company employees, but represent 21% of total company revenue. • 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 experienced 15-30% revenue growth compared to 2023. • 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 reported impressive 30%+ growth. Being part of a community of like-minded leaders gives you a sense of not being alone in these challenges—that’s the power of The F Suite. 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱 to the survey will be receiving full access to the detailed report. Not yet a member? Submit your application to gain access to valuable resources like this, plus an exceptional network of CFOs. 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆—link in the comments.

Have you ever seen a CFO crushing their goals and wondered how they get it all done? Chances are they’re using better tools than you. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟭𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙 𝗦𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼 𝗗𝗮𝘆 is your opportunity to level up your tech stack and make it work for you. Discover the latest tools absolutely transforming finance operations across the industry. Here’s what you can expect: • 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 of vetted technologies built specifically for finance leaders • 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 from peers who’ve tested these tools in action • 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 about the strengths and weaknesses of each solution What we’ve covered in past Demo Days: • 𝗘𝗥𝗣 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀: Insights into three premier platforms with a deep dive into ERP selection and implementation • 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Optimizing procurement processes and maximizing ROI with leading vendor management tools • 𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: Lessons on implementation successes and setbacks, making informed platform decisions, and gaining organizational buy-in This isn’t a sales pitch—it’s trusted recommendations from vetted thought leader partners, followed by exclusive closed-door sessions with your CFO peers. Stay tuned for more details at The F Suite!

The traditional finance team scaling playbook is being rewritten. Last month, three leaders met for The F Suite's virtual panel "Doing More With Less: Scaling Your Finance Team Efficiently": - David Sheen, CFO at Vestwell (raised $125M Series D) - Rakib Azad, CFO at Alkira, Inc. (recently closed $100M Series C) - Ali Hussain, CEO & Founder at Tabs (Moderator, recently closed $25M Series A) The conversation focused on three key questions that have been paramount for finance leaders, especially in the age of AI:  • Who is the most important person I should be hiring?  • Which software services can boost my team’s ability to collaborate and be productive without raising costs?  • Am I outsourcing enough? Ali, Dave and Rakib shared what has been effective for them and what they plan on pursuing further in 2025 as both their companies and teams scale. Over 150 finance leaders joined the discussion, focusing on practical ways to do more with less in today's market. “Excellent webinar and speakers,” one CFO said. The conversation ended with a look at how tools and outsourcing have become essential parts of running a modern finance team as CFOs face the extraordinary balancing act of driving growth while staying lean—a challenge that demands exceptional strategy and precision. Special thanks to Tabs for sponsoring this session and moderating an excellent discussion. Please be on the lookout for additional clips! Every month, The F Suite hosts conversations like this. Join 900+ tech CFOs who are rewriting the rules and navigating challenges together.

Some CFOs are quietly 10x-ing their team's output with AI. At last months’ F Suite AI Demo Day, 180+ finance leaders lifted the curtain on which tools are actually delivering results... The formal agenda featured four member-vetted solutions (Runway, Tabs, Firmbase, and FinQore (Formerly SaaSWorks)), each selected based on their proven ability to solve real CFO challenges. Each vendor had 10 minutes to present their solution. After vendors departed, members gathered for a closed-door session led by Mark Diment, CPA, MBA (CFO, SmartBug Media) and Kunal S. (CFO, Divergent Technologies), where finance leaders shared unfiltered experiences implementing AI. "Best event I have attended thus far," shared one member. "The 4 vendors showcased were relevant, and the insights shared were invaluable." Another CFO noted: "I appreciated the condensed view into 4 new tools. It's a smart use of time and provides great exposure to innovations in the field." "It was good to hear the closed-door discussions. I'd love to see more of this at future events." In a world of endless AI pitches, sometimes the most valuable insights come from the person sitting next to you. To learn more about our upcoming events, visit The F Suite.

On December 5, Seattle F Suite members gathered at Blue Ribbon Cooking for an unforgettable evening at our CFO Collaborative Cooking Social! Guided by a professional chef, attendees and their significant others crafted a gourmet meal in a fun, relaxed setting. From prepping to plating, the night was filled with opportunities to connect, share ideas, and strengthen relationships. A special thank you to our sponsors, Moss Adams and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, for making this event possible. We also want to recognize Lisa Dion and Robb McEachran from Moss Adams, as well as Craig Sherman, John Brust and Michael Nordtvedt from Wilson Sonsini, for contributing to the evening’s success. And a big thank you to all our F Suite member attendees: Angelo Gray, CFO at 98point6 Technologies Inc.; Yuqing Fan, StratFin & Corp Dev at Amperity; Robert Madel, CFA, Head of Finance at BRINC Drones, Inc.; Evan Fein, Chairman of The F Suite; Ryan S., VP of Finance & Head of Operations at Kamau Therapeutics; Scott Javor, CEO of Pacific Northwest CFO; Geoff Tamman, VP of Finance and Ops at Shipium; Jonathan R. Jolley, VP of Finance at Stackline; Preston Woo, CFO at Tafi; Monica W., CFO at Tasso, Inc.; and Jeremy Hux, CFO at UPSIDE Foods. It was a perfect blend of culinary creativity and community building!

What if you could solve market problems before they happen? That’s the power of “The Outlook,” our quarterly virtual panel for CFOs at high-growth companies. Unlike seminars designed to sell you on a product or SaaS upgrade, this panel offers practical, tested dos and don’ts from your peers and industry thought leaders. Conversations cover market conditions, future expectations, and growing trends. And if what you need isn’t on the agenda, you get to ask your own questions to major investors and senior CFOs in real time. You’ll gain immediately implementable solutions to the problems affecting your industry, crafted by some of the best leaders in the business. We collaborate with leading advisors and companies to create impactful experiences for our community. Because most of our partners come highly recommended by our network, this creates a unique opportunity to build deep, meaningful relationships between members and thought leaders. Our first meeting for 2025 is on February 27—stay tuned at The F Suite for updates in the coming weeks! (Registration link in comments)