The CFO Show

Procurement is no longer just about cutting costs. It’s about creating value, building partnerships and helping finance teams make smarter, faster decisions. On this episode of The CFO Show, Aaqil Kassamali, Procurement Director at Vena Solutions, joins Melissa Howatson to discuss how procurement has evolved into a strategic function that drives innovation and alignment across the business. Aaqil shares lessons from building procurement teams from the ground up, using technology to gain visibility and insight, and balancing short-term savings with long-term value. He also explains why trust, business acumen and collaboration are now the true measures of success in modern procurement. Discussed in This Episode: Shifting procurement from tactical to strategic The impact of visibility and data on smarter decision-making Building trust and partnership across business functions Balancing short-term wins with long-term value creation Exploring the future of procurement in an AI-driven worldFor CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.   

In this episode, Brookfield Residential  CIO Brandon Sharp joins host Melissa Howatson to share his unique career journey and to reveal why tighter alignment between finance and IT drives true transformation. Brandon reflects on lessons learned while leading major initiatives in homebuilding and real estate, from navigating shadow IT to building cross-functional trust. He offers practical insights on transparency, influence, and project management—and explains why finance leaders who are “data curious” often become the critical bridge to IT. This discussion highlights practical strategies to strengthen IT–finance partnerships, accelerate transformation, and foster alignment that delivers business-wide impact. Discussed in This Episode: How to transform IT–finance collaboration into a growth engine The “Tell Them” Triad for influence Balancing time, cost and quality in transformation projects Identifying and empowering data-curious champions within finance For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.  

How do you scale finance operations to keep pace with a business that’s doubling in size every few months? In this episode of The CFO Show, Carta CFO Charly Kevers shares how he has navigated constant change while helping the company grow from Series C to Series G and reach a $7.4B valuation. Charly opens up about the tactical lessons he has learned leading finance in a high-growth environment, from building a team of engineers dedicated to finance systems, to embedding innovation into everyday workflows, to experimenting with AI use cases that free teams from repetitive tasks. He also reflects on the cultural side of scaling, explaining why curiosity, adaptability and surfacing issues early are non-negotiable traits for his team. The audience will walk away with practical ideas for leveraging technology, strengthening cross-functional partnerships, and making space for innovation, even when the pace feels overwhelming. In This Episode: Why adaptability and curiosity are must-haves for finance talent How Carta scaled operations without endlessly increasing headcount The role of a dedicated finance engineering team Partnering across IT, HR, and go-to-market for systems alignment Embedding innovation into day-to-day work (and making time for it) Using hackathons and AI pilots to uncover new efficienciesFor CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

ERP migration can make—or break—your finance function. From outdated systems to cloud-based solutions, the stakes are high, and the risks are real. In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson, CFO of Vena, sits down with Scott Jorgens, Sr. Director of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at Endeavour Solutions. With more than 25 years of experience across finance, consulting, and technology, Scott shares how to plan and execute ERP migrations that deliver ROI. They discuss the common pitfalls that derail projects, why change management is just as critical as technology, and how to ensure your data is ready to unlock automation, analytics and AI. Whether you’re just starting to evaluate systems or deep in implementation, this conversation is your guide to building ERP success. Discussed in This Episode: The biggest triggers that signal it’s time for a new ERP system Data readiness: how to ensure clean, consistent, automation-ready data The underestimated cost of change management, and how to get it right Why “minimal viable product” ERP rollouts often fail How to align finance, IT, and operations around a shared ERP vision For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.   

What does it take to lead a high-growth company through economic uncertainty, while still innovating for the future? Larry Roseman, Chief Financial Officer of Thumbtack, joins us to explore the modern finance leader's role in balancing resilience, agility, and long-term value creation. With a career spanning investment banking, accounting, and tech, Larry shares how he's redefined capital allocation, empowered decision-making across teams, and built a finance organization that thrives on trust and flexibility. Learn how to lead with clarity, empower innovation (without waste), and turn volatility into opportunity. Discussed in This Episode: Why CFOs must shift from fixed annual planning to rolling investment cycles The power of decentralized decision-making in fast-moving companies How to empower teams with "envelope budgeting" and shared accountability Why flexibility and financial discipline must go hand-in-hand How to balance profitability and growth through portfolio-style capital planning Tactics for encouraging innovation without a near-term ROIFor CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.   

Scott Engler, CEO & Co-founder of Sync Executive Partners, shares invaluable insights for those stepping into a CFO role in private equity. He discusses the critical mindset shift needed for success: ownership of all outcomes. Engler emphasizes that modern CFOs must drive transformation beyond financial reporting, focusing on performance, alignment, and stakeholder management. He also highlights the importance of building credibility and the unique challenges of the PE landscape, making this guidance essential for finance professionals aiming for excellence.

Are you leveraging the full potential of strategic finance in your annual planning process?   In this episode of The CFO Show, Igor Stelea, Director of Strategic Finance, Analytics & Business Transformation at CFGI, unpacks what makes annual planning effective and what causes it to break down. From aligning strategy with operational plans to integrating long-range forecasting and scenario modeling, Igor offers frameworks and hard-won insights on how mature finance teams turn planning into a competitive advantage. Discussed in This Episode: The link between strategic planning and annual budgeting Why “planning the plan” matters more than you think How to use OKRs to align strategic and financial priorities Best practices for rolling forecasts and scenario planning Common pitfalls that derail planning (and how to avoid them)For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com. 

What if the secret to financial agility lies in reimagining the relationship between FP&A and Controllership? Tom Seegmiller, CFO at Texada Software, returns to explore the transformative power of aligning FP&A and Controllership. Tom shares his journey from FP&A leader to full-spectrum CFO, and what he’s learned about the often-overlooked (but essential) collaboration between finance’s two core functions. Together, they unpack how siloed teams can unintentionally hold each other back—and how breaking down those walls can drive agility, enhance clarity, and increase business value.  Discover how aligning FP&A and Controllership could be the key to unlocking your finance team's full potential. Discussed in This Episode: What CFOs get wrong about Controllership, and how to fix it The hidden friction between finance subfunctions How to create “earned” seats at the table across the organization Why both FP&A and Controllership must focus on top-line growth Tools, leadership habits, and structural approaches that make cross-functional alignment stick How AI is helping finance teams build leverage and efficiency For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

Are you leveraging AI to its full potential in your finance department? In this episode, we dive into the practical application of AI in finance with Anton Medvedev, former Senior Product Manager at Vena and CPA/CFA. With his unique blend of finance and tech expertise, Anton offers a roadmap for effectively adopting AI in your financial operations. Anton shares insights on training AI models, understanding AI agents, and effective prompting techniques. He provides real-world examples that demystify this fast-moving technology. Whether you're experimenting with AI in Excel or trying to choose the right vendor, this episode offers practical strategies for getting started, scaling smartly, and ensuring your team stays ahead. Learn how you can transform your finance team from AI novices to strategic innovators, harnessing the power of AI to drive value in your organization. Discussed in This Episode: The core components of a good AI prompt What AI agents are and how they improve speed, security, and execution Why early adopters are key to driving internal change How to evaluate vendors on AI readiness for finance Common missteps teams make with AI and how to avoid them Why CFOs must personally engage and lead the AI learning curveFor CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

In this episode, host Melissa Howatson welcomes Steve Browning, VP of Data Privacy and Corporate Security at Vena, and Kaz Takemura, Managing Director of FP&A Technologies at Modelcom, to explore how finance teams can adopt AI safely and strategically. Steve and Kaz share practical, cross-functional strategies for embedding AI into business operations, from building the right teams to creating scalable governance frameworks. They also unpack the emotional and organizational barriers to AI adoption and offer tips to drive both innovation and risk management.  Whether you're just starting your AI journey or looking to optimize existing implementations, learn how to move from fear to forward momentum, without compromising security or trust. Discussed in This Episode: Why AI is now a non-negotiable technology The importance of cross-functional teams in AI governance How fear and job insecurity are major blockers to adoption The risks of shadow AI usage and how to spot it Guardrails that enable safe experimentation, not restriction Why employee education is the secret weapon of successful AI programsFor CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.