CFO Weekly

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Alex Jimenez, Lead Principal Consultant at Backbase, joins Megan Weis to break down why traditional digital transformation approaches need rethinking, what digital transformation really means for banks, and why we should drop the word "digital" altogether.Alex brings over 36 years of financial services expertise to the intersection of banking and technology transformation. As a respected thought leader in digital banking innovation, he has held strategic positions across major institutions including Bank of America and Zions Bank Corporation, and served as Chief Strategy Officer at both Extractable and Finalytics AI.Alex's distinguished career spans roles in strategic planning, digital banking, operations, and customer experience, complemented by his influential work as chairman of the Consumer Bankers Association's Digital Channel Committee and founding member of the American Bankers Association's fintech committee.In this episode, we discuss:Why digital transformation should be viewed as a business model transformation rather than just a technology upgradeHow C-suite alignment and CEO commitment are essential for meaningful organizational changeWhat is progressive modernizationThe impact of AI and machine learning on banking's futureEpisode resources:Personiv's WebsitePersoniv on LinkedInPersoniv on FacebookPersoniv on TwitterIf you enjoyed this episode, then please either:Follow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsFollow on SpotifyInstructions on following, rating, and reviewing CFO Weekly are here.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 McKenzieCheck out some of our most recent episodes:Driving Value Beyond Finance with Tom McDermottWhy CFOs Are the Chief Everything Officers with Claire BramleyWhy Traditional Financial Advice Fails and What To Do Instead with Chris MilesNGO Finance Secrets: CARE’s $900M Strategy with Ranil DeSilvaWhat Lights You Up? with Jordan GrumetBecome a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with William WashingtonIf you are interested in joining CFO Weekly as a guest, please complete this form: fame.so/cfo-guestCFO Weekly is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Effective budgeting and forecasting require balancing data-driven analysis with practical business realities, especially for emerging companies navigating uncertain economic conditions. In this episode of CFO Weekly, Travis Grundy, Senior Associate of FP&A at Adventum, joins Megan Weis to share his unique approach to creating realistic budgets and forecasts that drive business success.Travis Grundy is a Financial Strategist and Advisor at Adventum, where he serves as a fractional CFO helping businesses optimize their financial operations. With vast experience in data-driven decision making and global program management, Travis brings a unique perspective shaped by his service in the US Army, leadership of Zharmae Books, and work across diverse industries, including healthcare and mental health services.What You’ll Learn:How to build realistic budgets using a bottom-up approach that starts with unit economicsWhy socializing budgets across departments is crucial for successful implementationThe framework for analyzing revenue targets, hiring plans, and expense management holisticallyHow to use KPIs and historical data to create achievable financial projectionsWhy regular monthly variance analysis and frank discussions drive budget accountabilityHow to tailor budgeting approaches across different business types while maintaining core principlesLearn more about Travis:Travis Grundy on LinkedInAdventum WebsiteAlyn Robert Economic Strategies WebsiteEpisode resources:Personiv's WebsitePersoniv on LinkedInPersoniv on FacebookPersoniv on TwitterIf you enjoyed this episode, then please either:Follow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsFollow on SpotifyInstructions on following, rating, and reviewing CFO Weekly are here.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 McKenzieCheck out some of our most recent episodes:Driving Value Beyond Finance with Tom McDermottWhy CFOs Are the Chief Everything Officers with Claire BramleyWhy Traditional Financial Advice Fails and What To Do Instead with Chris MilesNGO Finance Secrets: CARE’s $900M Strategy with Ranil DeSilvaWhat Lights You Up? with Jordan GrumetBecome a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with William WashingtonIf you are interested in joining CFO Weekly as a guest, please complete this form: fame.so/cfo-guestCFO Weekly is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Zachary Kimball, PE, MBA, VP of Finance and Strategic Planning at Citation Oil and Gas Corp, joins Megan Weis to explore how CFOs in the energy sector are transforming their approach to managing aging assets while balancing escalating production costs and operational efficiency. Zach brings unique insights as a petroleum engineer turned finance leader, with experience at Halliburton, Marathon Oil, and McKinsey & Company's Petroleum Asset Excellence group.With his extensive background spanning field operations to corporate strategy, Zach shares how finance teams can leverage operational knowledge to optimize mature assets, implement data-driven capital allocation frameworks, and navigate the complex intersection of ESG considerations and profitability. Currently serving as VP of Finance and Strategic Planning at Citation Oil and Gas Corp, Zach oversees strategic planning for a portfolio of mature assets with over 400 fields, some dating back over 100 years.What You'll Learn:How aging assets fundamentally change financial strategy beyond traditional commodity price focusFrameworks for evaluating which mature assets to invest in versus divest or decommissionThe critical role of operational data integration in high-level financial decision makingStrategies for managing power costs that can represent 30-40% of operating expensesHow ESG considerations serve as a license to operate rather than just a cost centerCapital allocation approaches that balance growth investments with cost-saving initiativesLearn more about Reza:Zachary Kimball, PE, MBA on LinkedInCitation Oil and Gas Corp WebsiteEpisode resources:Personiv's WebsitePersoniv on LinkedInPersoniv on FacebookPersoniv on TwitterIf you enjoyed this episode, then please either:Follow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsFollow on SpotifyInstructions on following, rating, and reviewing CFO Weekly are here.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 McKenzieCheck out some of our most recent episodes:Driving Value Beyond Finance with Tom McDermottWhy CFOs Are the Chief Everything Officers with Claire BramleyWhy Traditional Financial Advice Fails and What To Do Instead with Chris MilesNGO Finance Secrets: CARE’s $900M Strategy with Ranil DeSilvaWhat Lights You Up? with Jordan GrumetBecome a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with William WashingtonIf you are interested in joining CFO Weekly as a guest, please complete this form: fame.so/cfo-guestCFO Weekly is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Daniel Fulton, President and Principal Consultant at Locust Street Advisory, joins Megan Weis to explore how financial leaders can effectively manage turnarounds and cash forecasting during periods of financial distress. Daniel brings over a decade of experience spanning corporate finance, construction finance, healthcare management, and political finance, with extensive hands-on experience in stabilizing businesses through challenging restructures and high-growth periods.With his diverse background leading companies from near-insolvency to profitability and his expertise in building financial operations processes, Daniel shares how finance teams can implement robust cash forecasting models, manage stakeholder communications during crisis, and create sustainable operational changes. Currently serving as President of Locust Street Advisory, Daniel oversees strategic financial management, turnarounds, and business consulting for companies facing liquidity challenges and growth management issues.What You'll Learn:Why complacency is the most common pitfall that leads businesses into financial distressHow to build effective cash forecasting models using straightforward "money in, money out" methodologiesThe critical importance of categorizing expenses into "must spend," "need to spend," and "would like to spend" bucketsStrategies for balancing short-term stabilization with long-term growth opportunitiesHow transparent communication and scenario planning can drive behavioral change in management teamsThe role of operational process improvements in preventing future financial crisesLearn more about Daniel:Daniel Fulton on LinkedInLocust Street Advisory on LinkedInEpisode resources:Personiv's WebsitePersoniv on LinkedInPersoniv on FacebookPersoniv on TwitterIf you enjoyed this episode, then please either:Follow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsFollow on SpotifyInstructions on following, rating, and reviewing CFO Weekly are here.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 McKenzieCheck out some of our most recent episodes:Driving Value Beyond Finance with Tom McDermottWhy CFOs Are the Chief Everything Officers with Claire BramleyWhy Traditional Financial Advice Fails and What To Do Instead with Chris MilesNGO Finance Secrets: CARE’s $900M Strategy with Ranil DeSilvaWhat Lights You Up? with Jordan GrumetBecome a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with William WashingtonIf you are interested in joining CFO Weekly as a guest, please complete this form: fame.so/cfo-guestCFO Weekly is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In this special episode of CFO Weekly, we turn the tables as Jack McCullough, Founder and President of the CFO Leadership Council, interviews Megan Weis about Personiv's 2025 CFO Pulse Report. Megan brings extensive experience in finance and accounting outsourcing, having started her career as a CPA at Deloitte & Touche before transitioning through roles at BP, Accenture, and Everest Group. She earned her MBA from Duke University and joined Personiv in 2017 to help launch their finance and accounting services division.With her deep background in the evolution of finance operations and talent management, Megan shares insights from the comprehensive survey of 253 finance and accounting leaders across more than 20 industries. Currently serving as a key leader at Personiv, Megan oversees the development of strategic insights that help CFOs navigate the most significant talent shortage in the profession's history while adapting to technological transformation.What You'll Learn:Why the accounting talent shortage has reached critical levels with 150% year-over-year increase in open rolesHow CFOs are integrating AI, automation, and outsourcing as core strategies beyond temporary fixesThe evolution of the CFO role into "Chief Everything Officer" with expanded cross-functional responsibilitiesStrategies for attracting and retaining Gen Z talent through purpose-driven work and technological fluencyHow modern finance teams are structured with hybrid onshore, nearshore, and offshore modelsThe critical factors driving CFO confidence and strategic outlook in uncertain economic timesLearn more about Megan:Megan Weis on LinkedInCFO Weekly PodcastLearn more about Jack:Jack McCullough on LinkedInCFO Leadership Council WebsiteSecrets of Rockstar CFOs PodcastEpisode resources:Personiv's WebsitePersoniv on LinkedInPersoniv on FacebookPersoniv on TwitterIf you enjoyed this episode, then please either:Follow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsFollow on SpotifyInstructions on following, rating, and reviewing CFO Weekly are here.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 McKenzieCheck out some of our most recent episodes:Driving Value Beyond Finance with Tom McDermottWhy CFOs Are the Chief Everything Officers with Claire BramleyWhy Traditional Financial Advice Fails and What To Do Instead with Chris MilesNGO Finance Secrets: CARE’s $900M Strategy with Ranil DeSilvaWhat Lights You Up? with Jordan GrumetBecome a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with William WashingtonIf you are interested in joining CFO Weekly as a guest, please complete this form: fame.so/cfo-guestCFO Weekly is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Soufyan Hamid, Chief of Financial Storytelling Program of The Finance Circle, joins Megan Weis to explore how modern finance professionals are transforming their roles from back-office functions to strategic business partners through the power of financial storytelling. Soufyan brings extensive experience with over a decade in corporate finance, having worked at PwC, Deloitte, and Proximus, where he discovered firsthand the critical importance of communication skills in finance leadership.With his deep background in FP&A and passion for bridging the gap between technical expertise and essential soft skills, Soufyan shares how finance teams can leverage storytelling to make their insights actionable, influential, and strategically valuable. Currently serving as Chief of Financial Storytelling Program of The Finance Circle, Soufyan oversees tailored training programs that help finance professionals develop business acumen, communication skills, and leadership capabilities to drive business success.What You'll Learn:Why traditional financial reporting structures fail to engage business stakeholdersHow to filter complex financial data into compelling, actionable messagesThe role of business acumen, communication, and leadership in effective storytellingStrategies for measuring the impact of improved financial storytellingHow AI and automation will enhance the importance of human storytelling skillsThe pathway from technical expertise to strategic business partneringLearn more about Soufyan:Soufyan Hamid on LinkedInThe Finance Circle WebsiteEpisode resources:Personiv's WebsitePersoniv on LinkedInPersoniv on FacebookPersoniv on TwitterIf you enjoyed this episode, then please either:Follow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsFollow on SpotifyInstructions on following, rating, and reviewing CFO Weekly are here.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 McKenzieCheck out some of our most recent episodes:Driving Value Beyond Finance with Tom McDermottWhy CFOs Are the Chief Everything Officers with Claire BramleyWhy Traditional Financial Advice Fails and What To Do Instead with Chris MilesNGO Finance Secrets: CARE’s $900M Strategy with Ranil DeSilvaWhat Lights You Up? with Jordan GrumetBecome a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with William WashingtonIf you are interested in joining CFO Weekly as a guest, please complete this form: fame.so/cfo-guestCFO Weekly is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Nicolas Boucher, a finance AI thought leader and founder of the AI Finance Club, shares insights on how CFOs can transform their operations with AI. He discusses the importance of effective prompting over merely selecting the best AI tools. Nicolas elaborates on frameworks like CSI and FBI for seamless implementation and emphasizes AI's role in enhancing forecasting and expense management. He also highlights the need for CFOs to balance human expertise with AI insights, turning finance teams into efficient human-robot collaborations.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Reza Hooda, Founder of the Profitable Accountants Community, joins Megan Weis to explore how modern accounting firm owners are revolutionizing their business models by moving from hourly billing to value-based pricing.Reza brings extensive experience as a former PwC professional who built and scaled his own seven-figure accounting firm before transitioning to coaching other firm owners.With a deep background in accounting firm transformation and firsthand experience growing from a struggling startup during the 2008 financial crisis to a highly profitable practice working less than 10 hours per week, Reza shares how accounting professionals can leverage specialization, strategic pricing, and systematic approaches to build scalable, profitable firms. As Founder of the Profitable Accountants Community, he has helped over 350 firm owners transform their businesses through his coaching programs and frameworks.What You'll Learn:Why hourly billing creates cash flow problems and limits profitability potentialHow to transition from time-based to value-based pricing with immediate resultsThe importance of specialization and niching down to command premium pricingStrategies for creating perceived value that justifies higher feesHow AI and technology enable more efficient service deliveryThe framework for building marketing systems that generate leads on autopilotLearn more about Reza:Reza Hooda on LinkedInThe Profitable Accountants Community WebsiteCapture Accounting WebsiteWaiji & Co Chartered Accountants WebsiteThe Four Pillars BookEpisode resources:Personiv's WebsitePersoniv on LinkedInPersoniv on FacebookPersoniv on TwitterIf you enjoyed this episode, then please either:Follow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsFollow on SpotifyInstructions on following, rating, and reviewing CFO Weekly are here.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 McKenzieCheck out some of our most recent episodes:Driving Value Beyond Finance with Tom McDermottWhy CFOs Are the Chief Everything Officers with Claire BramleyWhy Traditional Financial Advice Fails and What To Do Instead with Chris MilesNGO Finance Secrets: CARE’s $900M Strategy with Ranil DeSilvaWhat Lights You Up? with Jordan GrumetBecome a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with William WashingtonIf you are interested in joining CFO Weekly as a guest, please complete this form: fame.so/cfo-guestCFO Weekly is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Kumar Parakala, CEO of Tabhi, is a seasoned leader with 25 years of experience in tech and consulting. In the discussion, he emphasizes the transformation of CFOs into strategic leaders in an AI-driven world. Kumar explores how AI can enhance financial intelligence and improve dynamic forecasting. He also discusses the necessity for CFOs to evolve beyond traditional ROI metrics, focusing on innovative strategies. Additionally, he highlights the importance of balancing automation with human insight as finance leaders navigate rapid changes.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Sara Wyman, CEO & Founder at Stackpack, joins Megan Weis to explore how modern CFOs are revolutionizing vendor management through AI-powered automation and strategic oversight. Sara brings extensive experience as a former VP of Strategic Partnerships at Affirm Inc. and VP of Enterprise Sales, where she witnessed firsthand the chaos of managing hundreds of vendors without proper systems at high-growth companies.With her deep background in fintech and vendor relationship management, Sara shares how finance teams can leverage AI to automate contract term extraction, implement proactive risk alerts, and build comprehensive vendor management systems. Currently serving as CEO of Stackpack, Sara oversees the development of AI-native solutions that help companies transition from manual spreadsheet-based vendor tracking to automated, scalable systems starting at just $199 per month.What You'll Learn:Why CFOs must take a proactive role in vendor management beyond traditional cost oversightHow AI can automate contract term extraction with 100% accuracy in minutes versus weeksThe critical metrics CFOs should track for effective vendor performance evaluationStrategies for implementing real-time risk alerts and renewal notificationsHow robust vendor management systems impact investor confidence and operational efficiencyThe future of AI in vendor discovery, evaluation, and strategic alignmentLearn more about Sara:Sara Wyman on LinkedInStackpack WebsiteEpisode resources:Personiv's WebsitePersoniv on LinkedInPersoniv on FacebookPersoniv on TwitterIf you enjoyed this episode, then please either:Follow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsFollow on SpotifyInstructions on following, rating, and reviewing CFO Weekly are here.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 McKenzieCheck out some of our most recent episodes:Driving Value Beyond Finance with Tom McDermottWhy CFOs Are the Chief Everything Officers with Claire BramleyWhy Traditional Financial Advice Fails and What To Do Instead with Chris MilesNGO Finance Secrets: CARE’s $900M Strategy with Ranil DeSilvaWhat Lights You Up? with Jordan GrumetBecome a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with William WashingtonIf you are interested in joining CFO Weekly as a guest, please complete this form: fame.so/cfo-guestCFO Weekly is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so