#284 How to Step Into the CFO Role When You’re Not Ready, David Hudson, Group Financial Controller, Empiric Student Property PLC

Episode notes

.entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } Stepping into senior finance leadership is rarely neat or linear. The move from technical expert to strategic leader often happens sooner than expected, with higher stakes, tougher decisions, and sharper scrutiny. Yet these stretching moments are where the next generation of CFOs is really formed. In this episode of the GrowCFO Show, Kevin Appleby speaks with David Hudson , Group Financial Controller at Empiric Student Property PLC . David shares how he found himself effectively operating as CFO during Empiric’s takeover by Unite Group plc; leading a difficult audit, resolving a major misstatement, handling confidential deal work, and guiding his team through intense change. He explains how combining these real-world challenges with the GrowCFO program, especially the virtual boardroom, peer learning, and focus on personal branding, helped him accelerate his readiness for the top job.