9 - Ali Firoozi on Turning Finance Teams Into Strategic Business Partners

5 to 50: Financial Strategies for Growing Companies

What if you could transform your finance team from simply reporting numbers to being strategic business partners in the organization's growth?

In this episode of 5 to 50: Financial Strategies for Growing Companies, host Jeff Rudner sits down with Ali Firoozi, CFO of The Pac Group, to explore how finance leaders can drive business growth through strategic insight and tech adoption. Ali shares his journey from aspiring lawyer to CFO and explains how finance teams must evolve from number crunchers to business storytellers. They discuss best practices for implementing new systems, selecting impactful KPIs, managing fixed vs. variable costs, and embracing AI. Packed with real-world wisdom, this episode is a must-listen for any leader modernizing their finance function.

What you will learn:

• How numbers tell compelling business stories
• Why modern finance departments must evolve from reporting to becoming strategic business partners
• The challenges and best practices of implementing new financial systems
• How to select and track meaningful KPIs that drive business success
• The critical balance between fixed and variable costs in professional services firms
• The transformative impact of AI on financial operations and team productivity
  

Ali Firoozi is the Chief Financial Officer at The PAC Group, a global consulting and engineering firm. With over 20 years of experience in finance, Ali brings an entrepreneurial mindset and a proven ability to lead through growth and change. He specializes in financial strategy, forecasting, process design, and executive reporting. A former banking professional with degrees in International Business and Finance and an MBA, Ali excels at integrating finance with innovation to drive enterprise value and strategic partnerships.

Episode Resources:

• Ali Firoozi on LinkedIn
• The PAC Group Website
• Jeff Rudner on LinkedIn
• Proseer Website
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Previous guests include: Sabrina Valle and Jessica Quon, co-founders of the Jam Stand and Mighty Picnic, Tom Hunt, Founder and CEO of Fame, Kenny Dettman, Founder and CEO of TaxNow, Rick Zullo, founder and managing partner of Equal Ventures, Adam Schwartz, founder and CEO of Parable and former co-founder of TeePublic.
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• Scaling Smarter: Adam Schwartz on Data, AI, and Entrepreneurial Growth
  
• The Exit Playbook: Johan Hoernell’s Secrets to Scaling and Selling

• Pivot & Prosper: Scaling a CPG Brand the Smart Way with Sabrina Valle and Jessica Quon