CFO Weekly

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Hemant Kapadia, CFO at Anaplan, joins Megan Weis to explore how modern CFOs are transforming financial planning and strategic decision-making through AI-powered scenario modeling and connected enterprise planning. Hemant brings a unique blend of engineering precision and financial acumen, having started his career as an electrical engineer at GE before transitioning into finance leadership roles.With over 30 years of experience across public and private companies, including CFO positions at Sirius Computer Solutions, Markandy Inc., and MEMC SunEdison Semiconductor, Hemant shares how finance teams can leverage AI to accelerate decision-making, eliminate organizational buffers, and build resilient planning systems. Currently serving as CFO of Anaplan, an enterprise decision-making platform, Hemant oversees traditional finance functions while helping CFO customers deliver outsized business outcomes through connected planning across finance, supply chain, sales, and workforce domains.What You'll Learn:Why traditional financial modeling is insufficient for today's dynamic business environmentHow AI-powered scenario planning enables real-time adaptive decision-making across enterprisesThe critical importance of connected planning across finance, supply chain, sales, and workforceStrategies for eliminating organizational buffers through unified data and transparent planningHow AI accelerates model development from weeks to hours with solutions like CoModelerThe future of dynamic pricing, customer profitability analysis, and enterprise-wide AI adoptionLearn more about Hemant:Hemant Kapadia on LinkedInAnaplan 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, Matthew Spencer, Chief Accounting Officer at Global Partners LP, joins Megan Weis to explore how modern CFOs are building agile, tech-enabled teams that drive innovation through curiosity, experimentation, and strategic use of offshore talent. Matthew brings over 20 years of experience, starting his career at Ernst & Young, where he spent a decade advancing to senior manager before serving as assistant controller at SharkNinja Operating LLC.With his extensive background in financial reporting, accounting operations, and systems implementation, Matthew shares how finance teams can leverage automation to free up capacity for strategic work, build distributed workforces effectively, and create cultures where innovation thrives through curiosity and ownership. Currently serving as Chief Accounting Officer at Global Partners LP since 2018, Matthew oversees financial reporting, tax compliance, and internal controls, and has successfully integrated offshore resources that now comprise 15% of the company's finance team.What You'll Learn:Why curiosity and ownership are the foundational behaviors that drive finance innovationHow automation enables teams to shift from repetitive work to strategic analysisStrategies for balancing in-house expertise with offshore resources without losing institutional knowledgeThe critical role of experimentation and safe failure in building adaptive finance teamsHow offshore talent can transform operations for companies of any size, not just global enterprisesThe future of AI in reshaping finance functions and why early experimentation mattersLearn more about Matthew:Matthew Spencer on LinkedInGlobal Partners LP  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, Billy Newman, CFO at Redwood Software, joins Megan Weis to explore how modern CFOs are revolutionizing finance operations through AI-powered automation and strategic oversight. Billy brings extensive experience from his tenure as CFO at Cvent, where he navigated the company through a pandemic, two public offerings, and private equity transactions while implementing transformative automation initiatives.With his deep background in FP&A and financial transformation across SaaS companies, Billy shares how finance teams can leverage AI to automate repetitive processes, implement predictive analytics, and position finance as a strategic partner rather than a task master. Currently serving as CFO of Redwood Software, Billy oversees the financial operations of a workload automation company while applying lessons learned from successfully transforming broken manual processes into automated, scalable systems.What You'll Learn:How to identify which finance processes are prime candidates for automation versus those requiring human expertiseThe "Clean Data Framework" for ensuring AI implementations deliver accurate, reliable resultsWhy AI enhances rather than replaces finance talent by enabling more strategic workHow to balance automation with human oversight to maintain strong financial controlsThe critical success factors for implementing automation at scale in fast-moving organizationsHow to transform quote-to-cash processes through strategic automation and system integrationWhy AI strengthens compliance and risk management through continuous monitoring and anomaly detectionHow to prepare finance teams culturally and technically for the AI transformation journeyThe importance of establishing clear KPIs and governance frameworks for automation initiativesWhy cross-departmental collaboration improves when manual data sharing is automatedLearn more about Billy:Billy Newman on LinkedInRedwood Software 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, 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.