Bob Finley

Bob Finley

Bob Finley joined FLG in 2020 and has over 25 years of CFO experience in rapidly growing VC-backed companies. His work ranges from pre-revenue start-ups to rapidly growing companies with $200MM or more in revenue.

He is a Co-founder of the AI Taskforce at FLG Partners and has published numerous articles about AI implementation strategies.

Bob has worked in many sectors: Cannabis, Consumer Product Goods, Cybersecurity, Hardware, Manufacturing, and SaaS. He has set up operations domestically and globally. His span of responsibilities typically includes Accounting, FP&A, HR, Investor Relations, IT, Legal, Procurement, and Real Estate.

He has been involved in numerous M&A transactions. He has worked on dozens of equity raises (Series A through Series E) and has also raised debt from various providers.

Bob has extensive experience renegotiating and restructuring debt. In one instance, his results prevented a company from running out of cash in 60 days. In a second instance, he used an ABC (Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors) to help a company shed a toxic lease. This turned the Enterprise from unprofitable to profitable. In a third instance, he was part of a team that did a consensual resolution to restructure debt, which ensured continuity of the Enterprise.

Bob is a FINRA Registered Representative, so he can defer the bulk of his compensation until after a transaction closes through a success fee. This includes equity and debt raises, M&A, and roll-ups. This allows clients to conserve their precious capital until a transaction closes and they get an injection of cash.

One of the ways Bob adds value is working with Chief Revenue Officers to accelerate top-line growth; his mantra is: “Revenue cures all ills.” He will do anything that is legal and ethical to grow revenue faster. Sales teams love working with him.

Bob is very focused on optimizing the performance of finance and accounting teams, so they reach their highest potential. He quickly assesses the strengths of each team member, developing each one to their highest potential. His unplanned attrition rates are typically zero. If a team member is not a good fit, he works with that person to arrange a graceful exit.

Bob’s career started at KPMG where he was an Auditor and later a Management Consultant, specializing in software development and implementations. After KPMG Bob worked at Citigroup and then AT&T. When one of Bob’s friends made a ton of money at Netscape, Bob switched his career focus to VC-backed companies and has never looked back.

Bob earned a B.S. in Business Administration and an MBA, both from the University of California, Berkeley and is a CPA in California (inactive).