The Strategic Evolution of Finance Operations with Dan Wheadon, Partner at Cherry Bekaert

Dec 9, 2025

Dan Wheadon, a seasoned Partner and Advisory Leader at Cherry Bekaert, shares insights from his 25 years in strategy consulting. He discusses the shift from traditional finance roles to modern, strategic decision-making. Emphasizing a three-step approach, he advises CFOs to start small by fixing processes. Dan highlights the importance of accurate data and building a culture of continuous improvement. He also underscores the role of technology in driving measurable outcomes, predicting a future where CFOs become central to strategic growth.

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INSIGHT

CFO As Data Steward

CFOs often act as the organization's data steward, creating pressure to deliver one source of truth.
Inconsistent numbers waste boardroom time and undermine decision-making.

ADVICE

Start Small, Prove ROI

Start small by targeting a recurring, painful use case rather than chasing broad transformation.
Prove ROI on that use case, then scale capabilities across the business.

ADVICE

Three Step Modernization Roadmap

Fix your close first: close books fast and accurately to get trustworthy data.
Then build FP&A to analyze and forecast, and use that insight to fix business problems.

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In this episode of CFO Weekly, Dan Wheadon, Partner and Advisory Leader at Cherry Bekaert and leader of their CFO Advisory Practice, joins Megan Weis to explore how modernizing finance operations can unlock a company's potential, transforming the function from a back office support role into a true driver of performance, insight, and innovation.

Dan draws on over twenty-five years of strategy and management consulting experience, advising C-suite executives on solving complex strategic, financial, operational, and technological challenges. He shares practical, three-step guidance for CFOs in the middle market to start small, drive continuous improvement, and prepare their organizations for rapid growth.

What You'll Learn:

Why the finance function must move from backwards-looking reporting to forward-looking strategic decision support.
The three-step approach to modernizing finance, starting with fixing the close and building FP&A capability.
How to balance digital transformation with practicality by focusing on measurable outcomes and ROI.
The challenge of the CFO as the data steward and the critical need for timely, accurate, and complete information.
How to build a continuous improvement culture by converging financial and technological skills.
The future of the CFO role as it becomes more focused on strategic decision support and the convergence of finance and technology.

Learn more about Dan:

Dan Wheadon on LinkedIn
Cherry Bekaert Website

Episode resources:

Personiv's Website
Personiv on LinkedIn
Personiv on Facebook
Personiv on Twitter

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Previous guests include: Tom McDermott, CFO at Career Certified, Claire Bramley, CFO at Teradata, Chris Miles, Founder of Money Ripples, Ranil DeSilva, CFO & COO at CARE, Jordan Grumet, Financial Independence Expert & Host of Earn & Invest & William Washington, Global CFO at Baker McKenzie

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