Sridhar Ranganathan
Global Head-Finance
In a detailed interview with us, Sridhar provided a comprehensive overview of the internal workings of the industry and shared insights into the current happenings in the software development sector.
Can you provide a concise overview of your professional history and experiences, along with the driving motivation that influences your daily routines?
Currently serving as the Global Head of Finance and Operations, I am responsible for overseeing the Finance and Operations function of the world's leading meeting automation platform, Jifflenow. I initially joined as a Finance Controller and swiftly ascended to the position of Global Head of Finance and Operations at the VP level. My journey involved building the company from the ground up, not only transforming the finance function and peaking it up to a full-fledged Business Partnership function, but also collaborating closely with CEOs and senior leadership to elevate the company to its current profitable state.
Prior to this, I played a pivotal role, managing multibillion dollar P&Ls for Large and Medium Enterprises. My experience with Jifflenow is characterized by a unique blend of services and technology, involving the seamless integration of business and finance responsibilities. Unlike a routine CFO role, I actively engage in both finance and broader business functions, overseeing legal, sales operations, and closely collaborating with the business management team. Throughout my career, I have managed diverse teams ranging from 10 to 30 members, situated globally across
the US, Europe, and APAC, show casing adept cross-cultural and diversified people management skills.
Can you provide insights into the principles, methodologies, or guidelines that guide your approach to leadership?
The role of a global financial leader has evolved significantly, transcending traditional controllership and accounting duties. Today, finance leaders require an outward-looking approach akin to a co-chair or copilot to the CEO, necessitating navigation skills and a profound business understanding. Timely business related questions that drive discussions and contribute to growth are crucial. Attributes such as analytical intelligence, forward-thinking insights, and mastery of key performance indicators are foundational.
Over the past eight to nine years, I've transformed into this role, emphasizing the importance of resilience and grit as crucial traits for a finance leader. Facing inevitable business challenges, finance leaders must exhibit unwavering resilience, supporting peer leadership, Founders, Investors and CEOs, leading through difficult situations hallmarks of effectiveness in today's dynamic business environment.
As the Global Head of Finance at Jifflenow, how will your considerable professional experience contribute to elevating the organization's profile? Elaborate on the firm’s current standing in the market.
In overseeing multimillion-dollar finance functions and global teams, aligning finance with rapid business growth is pivotal. Rather than solely expanding the workforce, I prioritized enhancing productivity, efficiency, and establishing a foundation for sustainable scalability. Decisions included customer acquisition strategies, formalizing product pricing, ROA evaluation, and navigating from accumulated losses to profitability, encompassing mergers, acquisitions, and exits. These approaches ensured financial stability and preserved the process's core essence. Proactively addressing visibility challenges during growth, robust processes and controls were implemented from the company's inception, ensuring stability and fostering sustained growth, mitigating challenges through detailed planning in a competitive global landscape.
We are in a strong position, being the leading meeting automation
Can you provide insights into the principles, methodologies, or guidelines that guide your approach to leadership?
The role of a global financial leader has evolved significantly, transcending traditional controllership and accounting duties. Today, finance leaders require an outward-looking approach akin to a co-chair or copilot to the CEO, necessitating navigation skills and a profound business understanding. Timely business related questions that drive discussions and contribute to growth are crucial. Attributes such as analytical intelligence, forward-thinking insights, and mastery of key performance indicators are foundational.
Over the past eight to nine years, I've transformed into this role, emphasizing the importance of resilience and grit as crucial traits for a finance leader. Facing inevitable business challenges, finance leaders must exhibit unwavering resilience, supporting peer leadership, Founders, Investors and CEOs, leading through difficult situations hallmarks of effectiveness in today's dynamic business environment.
Modern finance leaders are expected to be outward, outspoken, act as brand ambassadors, & display customer-centric attitudes
As the Global Head of Finance at Jifflenow, how will your considerable professional experience contribute to elevating the organization's profile? Elaborate on the firm’s current standing in the market.
In overseeing multimillion-dollar finance functions and global teams, aligning finance with rapid business growth is pivotal. Rather than solely expanding the workforce, I prioritized enhancing productivity, efficiency, and establishing a foundation for sustainable scalability. Decisions included customer acquisition strategies, formalizing product pricing, ROA evaluation, and navigating from accumulated losses to profitability, encompassing mergers, acquisitions, and exits. These approaches ensured financial stability and preserved the process's core essence. Proactively addressing visibility challenges during growth, robust processes and controls were implemented from the company's inception, ensuring stability and fostering sustained growth, mitigating challenges through detailed planning in a competitive global landscape.
We are in a strong position, being the leading meeting automation
platform globally. Our competition is minimal, primarily facing competition from spreadsheets and Microsoft Office. A significant portion of our clientele comprises Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies. Our B2B model is characterized by substantial deal sizes, providing considerable value to our customers. Overall, we are well positioned with both our product offerings and the value we deliver to our customers.
How do you stay informed about the latest industry trends to guide your organization's direction in the future?
It's inherent that when collaborating with fellow leaders, CEOs, and investors, staying updated extends beyond statutory and legal aspects for a finance professional. While these foundational elements are assumed, the essence lies in actively engaging with industry trends, understanding how peer companies navigate challenges, and keeping abreast of market dynamics. A CFO's value is elevated by integrating insights from the broader industry landscape and bringing this knowledge to enhance the strategic positioning of the associated company. This proactive approach distinguishes a great CFO from a conventional corporate CFO.
What financial strategies or innovations have you envisaged to propel the organization forward?
Automation has been my guiding principle for the past 8 to 10 years – a mantra of 'automate, automate, and more automate.' As mentioned earlier, my strategic focus revolves around enhancing efficiency, productivity, and automation. The objective is to shift the CFO's role towards greater business alignment rather than solely addressing financial issues, utilizing automation, productivity, and efficiency. The evolving business landscape demands quick adaptation, and a significant change I've witnessed is the CFO's role in leadership sessions.
Previously seen as a silent observer, the finance leader is now actively involved, contributing to discussions about business decisions, overall processes, systems, and controls. Therefore, embracing automation, understanding business intricacies, and fostering resilience and grit are key strategies that set apart a progressive finance leader from a traditional controller. A CFO, is a natural fit for COO if the approach and path aligns with the Business, rather than restricting only to regular Finance and Accounting.
Sridhar Ranganathan, Global Head of Finance, Jifflenow
With 16+ years of global finance leadership in SaaS, Technology and Services, Sridhar Ranganathan demonstrates initiative, inventiveness, and ambition. His hands-on leadership and technology expertise contribute to the dynamic growth strategy in diverse industry segments, propelling the Organizations to scale faster.
How do you stay informed about the latest industry trends to guide your organization's direction in the future?
It's inherent that when collaborating with fellow leaders, CEOs, and investors, staying updated extends beyond statutory and legal aspects for a finance professional. While these foundational elements are assumed, the essence lies in actively engaging with industry trends, understanding how peer companies navigate challenges, and keeping abreast of market dynamics. A CFO's value is elevated by integrating insights from the broader industry landscape and bringing this knowledge to enhance the strategic positioning of the associated company. This proactive approach distinguishes a great CFO from a conventional corporate CFO.
What financial strategies or innovations have you envisaged to propel the organization forward?
Automation has been my guiding principle for the past 8 to 10 years – a mantra of 'automate, automate, and more automate.' As mentioned earlier, my strategic focus revolves around enhancing efficiency, productivity, and automation. The objective is to shift the CFO's role towards greater business alignment rather than solely addressing financial issues, utilizing automation, productivity, and efficiency. The evolving business landscape demands quick adaptation, and a significant change I've witnessed is the CFO's role in leadership sessions.
Previously seen as a silent observer, the finance leader is now actively involved, contributing to discussions about business decisions, overall processes, systems, and controls. Therefore, embracing automation, understanding business intricacies, and fostering resilience and grit are key strategies that set apart a progressive finance leader from a traditional controller. A CFO, is a natural fit for COO if the approach and path aligns with the Business, rather than restricting only to regular Finance and Accounting.
Sridhar Ranganathan, Global Head of Finance, Jifflenow
With 16+ years of global finance leadership in SaaS, Technology and Services, Sridhar Ranganathan demonstrates initiative, inventiveness, and ambition. His hands-on leadership and technology expertise contribute to the dynamic growth strategy in diverse industry segments, propelling the Organizations to scale faster.