183. From Dance to Finance: A Journey at The Lowry with Michelle Pendergast

In this episode of the CFO 4.0 podcast, Hannah Munro talks to Michelle Pendergast, Group Finance Director at The Lowry Theatre. Michelle shares her unique journey from dance college to heading finance at one of the UK's leading cultural venues.
Also covered in this session:
  • Michelle's transition from a creative background in dance to a career in finance.
  • The challenges and strategies of managing finances in a non-profit organisation.
  • Insights into The Lowry's budgeting and forecasting processes for their diverse range of performances.
  • Balancing commercial and non-commercial activities to support The Lowry's mission.
  • Implementing cost-effective financial practices in a charitable setting.
  • The importance of aligning finance with the organisation's artistic and community objectives.
  • Engaging with various departments and stakeholders to communicate financial data effectively.
  • The role of finance in supporting The Lowry's social and economic impact initiatives.
  • What is the change that we’re seeing in finance teams and what does that have to do with value?
  • How do we define value?
  • How value goes beyond economic impact
  • What are the components of economic value identification?
  • Examples of the value identification conversation
  • What this means for the skills in finance
Links referenced in this episode
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