The CFO Show

FP&A professionals spend so much of their time gathering data, and only a small portion analyzing it. Integrating digital transformation in finance has the potential to shift this dynamic by automating data collection and allowing more time for in-depth analysis and interpretation.Stacy Brown is VP at CBIZ (Formerly Marcum Technology) and has more than 15 years of experience advising on ERP and CPM implementations. Stacy specializes in financial planning and analysis (FP&A), financial reporting, workforce planning, and financial forecasting, leveraging her extensive accounting and finance background to help organizations create efficiencies within their finance organizations.In this episode, Stacy talks to host Melissa Howatson about the lessons she’s learned through these implementations and her advice for organizations beginning their digital transformation journeys.Learn how finance can benefit from investing in digitization, and the role CFOs need to play in leading digital transformation within their organizations. Discussed in This Episode:Identifying opportunities for digitization and how an outside consultant can help spot inefficiencies.The five steps of a digital transformation journey in finance, including the implementation of a modern ERP.How to build a lean, flexible, and cost-effective tech stack.Common pitfalls that slow down software implementations.How to select the right vendor for your current and future needs.For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

CFOs are experts in growing a business, navigating volatile economic environments, and acting as leaders inside and outside the organization. But as they focus on these big-picture problems, they naturally become removed from many day-to-day operations. It can be a challenge to stay sharp on basic skills and be informed about new trends and technologies.   Thomas Krolak, Director of FP&A at Vena, has a front-row seat to how our CFO and show host, Melissa Howatson, handles this challenge. In this episode, Thomas and Melissa flip the script, with Thomas interviewing Melissa about how to stay sharp as a CFO. Melissa discusses some best practices for continued learning, as well as some humbling moments in her leadership career.  Learn how CFOs keep their tactical skills sharp as they move a little farther away from day-to-day action.  Discussed in This Episode: How busy CFOs can stay current with industry trends. The value of sharing insights with peers, mentors, and your broader network. How to maximize ROI from conferences and other external learning opportunities. Why is it important to revisit foundational skills from time to time. The benefits of learning from rising stars within your organization. For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

What makes an exceptional, growth-driving CFO?  Vinny Prajka may understand this better than anyone. In his role at JMI Equity, he has worked with dozens of CFOs, helping portfolio companies accelerate growth and overcome operational challenges. He also serves on multiple boards and previously held CFO positions at SonaCare Medical and Blackbaud Inc.  In this episode, Vinny talks to host Melissa Howatson about the best CFOs he’s worked with and the qualities these A-players all have in common.   Discover how, as a CFO, you can help drive growth in your organization, demonstrate exceptional leadership, effectively communicate with investors, and become the driving force behind business performance.  Discussed in This Episode: The delicate balance between driving organizational growth and managing costs, especially during periods of economic uncertainty. The importance of the CFO’s key relationships, particularly with the CEO and the Board of Directors. How to create and communicate alignment between the CEO and the CFO. Why CFOs should adopt a zero-based budgeting mindset to continually assess and reassess the value of every role within the organization. The value of maintaining a long-range plan (LRP) and how frequently a CFO should revisit and update it. For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com. 

CFOs wield significant influence in safeguarding a company’s financial data, but entrusting cybersecurity solely to their CIOs may jeopardize privacy and open the door to data breaches.As a Partner at Plante Moran, Joe Oleksak advises businesses on cybersecurity, IT audit, and technology compliance. He has more than twenty years of information systems security and information technology audit experience in financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, and insurance companies. In this episode, Joe and host Melissa Howatson discuss the role CFOs play in protecting financial data against cyber threats, and how they can partner with CIOs and CEOs to build a holistic cybersecurity operation that prioritizes culture and processes as much as technology.  Learn how important the CFO is to modern cybersecurity risk management, and the steps CFOs should take to protect their organizations against privacy and security threats.Discussed in This Episode:The evolving cyber threat landscape, and how hacker attacks are gaining strength.  Why people and processes are just as important to cybersecurity as technology. How CFOs, CEOs, and CIOs should work together to create a holistic approach to cybersecurity. Proactive strategies for CFOs to safeguard their organizations and mitigate risk. The distinction between privacy and security, and why understanding this difference is essential for protecting financial data.For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

Thomas Krolak, Vena's Director of FP&A, discusses the evolving role of CFOs amidst market volatility. Topics include disruptive forces impacting business operations, the expanding scope of finance teams, using FP&A skills to uncover opportunities, and anticipated investments in Artificial Intelligence.

A job description that is 40% controller, 20% bookkeeper and 20% Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) is going to be near impossible to fill. But for many businesses, this is exactly the sort of hybrid role they need.Outsourced accounting, through fractional models, has emerged as an option for businesses seeking flexibility, cost-efficiency, and specialized expertise in their financial operations. Dani Sandler works with those businesses at ScaleNorth, an outsourced accounting partner and NetSuite Solutions provider. In this episode, Dani shares how fractional finance services allow businesses to access a diverse pool of accounting professionals with varying skill sets, without having to increase their headcount.Learn how businesses leverage outsourced accounting and fractional models to reduce costs and improve processes and accuracy in accounting. Discussed in This Episode:The benefits of fractional models in finance, from cost-effectiveness to scalabilityHow outsourced accounting drives operational efficiency and enhances decision-making processesWhat types of businesses see the most value in an outsourced accounting modelHow to select the right outsourced accounting provider for your business and how to get the most value out of the partnershipImplementing an ERP system such as NetSuite, and how businesses can optimize the platform for their unique needsFor CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

Accountants work with certainties, recording and reporting on past financial transactions to ensure accuracy and compliance. FP&A professionals, however, are concerned with what-ifs, looking toward the future in the forms of forecasting and strategic planning. It’s no wonder these two sides of the finance team can sometimes feel their goals are incongruent.   David Cornfield of World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF) and Tom Seegmiller of Texada Software each started their careers on one side of the finance team and now oversee both functions. They understand what can cause friction between these two roles and the dangers of working in silos.   In this episode, David and Tom sit down with host Melissa Howatson to discuss the processes needed to build stronger collaboration across the finance team, improving data accuracy for accounting, forecasting accuracy for FP&A, and ultimately driving insights and value for the team as a whole.  Learn how both FP&A and accounting professionals approach their work, and how to build a cohesive and healthy finance team by aligning their KPIs.  Discussed in This Episode: The benefits of a strong, symbiotic relationship between FP&A and accounting, and how this partnership can improve overall efficiency and support better decision-making. The perspectives Tom and David have gained on accounting and FP&A as their responsibilities have grown, including what they wish they had known earlier in their finance careers. How FP&A, with its emphasis on forecasting, budgeting, and strategic planning, can equip accountants with forward-looking insights that help them anticipate trends and allocate resources more effectively. How accountants, through their attention to detail and commitment to regulatory standards, ensure the accuracy and integrity of the financial data that FP&A relies on. Examples of processes Tom and David have implemented to align their FP&A and accounting teams and to standardize data across both functions. For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com. 

The transformative potential of AI for finance teams is extraordinary. CFOs need to educate themselves on how, where and when to adopt new technologies, and what they can be doing ahead of adoption to prepare their organizations. Howard Dresner is a technologist, researcher, and one of the foremost thought leaders in business intelligence. In this episode, Howard discusses the research his firm, Dresner Advisory Services, has conducted on AI adoption, as well as his predictions for how next-generation AI technologies will be used in Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A). Howard also explains how AI works and why the insights it generates are so much more sophisticated than what we can produce in a spreadsheet.Learn how innovation in AI is likely to impact FP&A, and how these developments will elevate the Office of Finance. Even if you don’t plan to be a first-mover, Howard’s insights can help your business get ready for the integration of these new technologies, long before you actually invest in them.Discussed in This Episode:How AI will empower finance professionals to navigate complex data landscapes with unprecedented precision and agility. Potential use cases for AI in FP&A, including forecasting and churn and risk assessment. The difference between AI and generative AI, as well as the strengths and limitations of each. When businesses should invest in AI, and how they should prepare for adoption ahead of those investments through education and policymaking. The history of business intelligence and Howard’s view on how it has evolved over the last few decades. For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

Small businesses rarely have the budget to hire a full finance team, but they still need the same diverse range of support across payroll, accounting and financial planning as a large corporation. Some companies decide to outsource these functions to a dedicated finance and accounting partner as a more cost-effective and efficient way to handle their finance function needs and expedite growth.  Kendra James-Anderson, founder of The Finance Femme, helps female entrepreneurs grow their businesses through virtual financial and accounting advisory. In this episode, Kendra gives us an inside look at a day in the life of a fractional CFO; shedding light on the value outsourced financial services can bring to small businesses. Kendra discusses when entrepreneurs should hire an outside finance partner, as well as how that partner should work with small businesses to stabilize or accelerate growth.    Learn how a fractional CFO or an outsourced accounting team can help small business owners with everything from basic accounting obligations to long-term business strategies.    Discussed in This Episode: A close-up look at the office of the fractional CFO, from how they function to how they support clients. The increasing small business need for a trusted financial advisor. When entrepreneurs should seek outside finance assistance and guidance. Entrepreneur’s shifting mindset toward business financial health post-COVID and now during economic uncertainty. How a fractional CFO can support day-to-day operations and bring a growing business(es) to the next level. For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com. 

Tom Seegmiller, CFO of Texada Software and former co-host on The CFO Show, shares invaluable insights for new CFOs tackling their first 90 days. He emphasizes the importance of relationship-building with stakeholders and understanding team dynamics before initiating long-term strategies. Tom provides a five-bullet checklist, highlighting quick wins through collaboration and the significance of mentorship during the transition. His approach underscores that fostering goodwill and open communication can pave the way for sustained success in the finance sector.