Podcasts about cfos

Guest: Anita Koimur, Co-founder & COO of LiveFlow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitakoimur/ Episode Summary: Join us as we sit down with Anita Koimur, a seasoned entrepreneur and the brilliant mind behind LiveFlow. Anita shares her compelling journey from a successful career in Business Development to co-founding a groundbreaking company. We delve into her experiences, including her time at the prestigious Y Combinator, and explore the critical decisions founders face, such as relocating to be closer to their market. This episode offers invaluable insights into identifying and acquiring early customers, the dynamic evolution of a product, and the transformative power of AI in both blue-collar/service industries and the future of financial automation. Anita also sheds light on the challenges CFOs face with disparate financial documents, the complexities of M&A in the finance world, and where she sees LiveFlow positioned within the broader landscape of AI tools. Tune in for a deep dive into business growth, strategic product development, and the exciting future of financial automation. Key Discussion Points: Anita's Career Journey: Her background and the pivotal moments leading up to entrepreneurship. Transition to Founder: The inspiration behind starting a company and the skills carried over from her Business Development days. Y Combinator Experience: Key takeaways and the impact of going through the accelerator program. Geographic Imperative for Founders: The importance of location (e.g., UK to NYC) in relation to market proximity. Early Customer Acquisition: Strategies for getting first customers and building initial trust and credibility. Customer Profile Evolution: How LiveFlow identified and refined its ideal customer over time. Product Evolution: Pivotal moments and feedback that shaped LiveFlow's development since launch. AI in Blue-Collar & Service Industries: Anita's vision for AI's implementation in these sectors. CFO Challenges: Addressing the problems CFOs face with multiple financial documents from various companies. AI's Impact on Business Growth: How AI has shifted Anita's perspective on strategy and its role in future financial automation. M&A and Finance: The biggest issues in the finance world during M&A and how tools like LiveFlow can help. Future of Financial Automation: What excites Anita most and where she sees the industry heading in the next 5-10 years. LiveFlow's Future Trajectory: Whether LiveFlow is a standalone entity, part of a larger suite, or a potential consolidator. Connecting with Anita & LiveFlow: Best ways for listeners to learn more and explore the platform. Website https://www.liveflow.com/  Promo Code: SVP The views expressed on this podcast are for informational purposes only and not financial or legal advice. Consult with a professional for your specific situation. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.”  

Let's face it, most marketing metrics don't travel well to the CFO's office. Pricing power is different. It's measurable, margin-backed, and proof that your brand is strong enough to charge more without losing volume. To help make sense of it all, Drew brings in Chris Burggraeve, Founder of Vicomte and author of books on marketing and business strategy. Together, they discuss what pricing power means, how to measure it, and why it's the most powerful way to communicate marketing value to your CFO and C-suite. In this episode: What pricing power means and how to measure it  Why brand strength drives profit, not just visibility  How CMOs can align with CFOs through finance fluency  The tools and mindset needed to link marketing to valuation  How pricing power bridges marketing metrics with financial outcomes   Tune in for a clearer way to connect brand, margin, and market strength.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

In this Planning Aces episode, Jack Sweeney and co-host Brett Knowles spotlight three CFOs who are advancing their organizations' FP&A capabilities through thoughtful AI adoption. Andrea Hecht of CSAA Insurance discusses aligning generative AI with enterprise strategy and efficiency. Matthias Steinberg of MindBridge explores combining machine learning and LLMs in finance workflows. Brian Hogeland of Packer Fastener highlights how AI training and grassroots adoption can foster a tech-forward culture. Together, these leaders offer a cross-industry view of how CFOs are balancing risk, innovation, and ROI while helping their organizations navigate today's fast-evolving planning landscape.Brett Knowles' Key TakeawaysBrett Knowles emphasizes three recurring themes: the importance of framing AI narratives carefully to avoid workforce fear, the rising expectation among employees for AI-enabled tools, and the need to align AI efforts with real business value. He also highlights the necessity of risk awareness and the evolving role of FP&A as a driver of organizational agility. Across the board, Brett sees finance leaders striving to balance innovation with caution in a way that positions their teams for scalable growth.

The CFO software ecosystem is highly fragmented and ripe for disruption. Sean Jacobsohn, partner at Norwest, has a front-row seat to the action: He's backed 10 companies selling to CFOs, while Norwest has invested in 20. Having identified 300 companies in 15 different categories operating in the space, he joins CJ to share takeaways from his market map of the evolving CFO software stack. They dig into what's driving disruption, how new players are challenging legacy systems, and what it takes for founders to stand out. The conversation spans everything from the staying power of spreadsheets to the debate between building for verticals versus horizontals, the future of FP&A, and how AI agents might reshape the stack. Sean delves into the dynamics of partnerships, outlining five key rules for successful collaborations. Additionally, he talks about his Failure Museum which showcases a collection of items representing failed products and companies, and breaks down what he has identified as the six forces of failure.—LINKS:Sean Jacobsohn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanjacobsohnNorwest: https://www.nvp.comMarket Map: Reimagining the CFO Software Stack: https://www.nvp.com/blog/market-map-reimagining-cfo-software-stackFailure Museum: https://failure.museum/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: http://mostlymetrics.comRELATED EPISODES:CFO of FloQast on Why Finance Teams are Data Curators: The $7 Million Wake-Up Call: Mastering Rebates for Profitability with Enable's Nick Rose: G2 CFO Chad Gold on Building A Durable Career as a Venture Backed Exec: —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:04) Sponsor – Rippling Spend | Pulley | Navan(06:08) The Fragmentation of the CFO Tool Ecosystem(07:24) Advice for Founders on Deep Domain Expertise(10:39) Enable: Disrupting an Existing Solution Versus Creating a New Category(12:32) The Prevalence of Spreadsheets in the Current Ecosystem(13:39) Solutions Built for Verticals Versus Horizontals(16:24) Sponsor – NetSuite | Planful | Tabs(20:22) Vertical Software and the Move to the Cloud(22:17) The Likelihood of Consolidation by Incumbents in the Space(24:53) Developments in the FP&A Space(26:55) The Future of AI Agents in Finance(28:05) The Five Key Rules of Partnerships: Partner Fit(29:17) Entering New Markets(30:16) Enablement: The Importance of Training(32:28) Reciprocation(33:49) How Often the Little Guy Approaches the Big Guy in Partnerships(34:51) M&A in Partnerships(37:01) The Best Way To Form a Partnership(37:45) The Inspiration Behind the Failure Museum(39:14) The Six Forces of Failure(40:38) Falling out of Product-Market Fit(41:25 Examples of Failures From the Failure Museum(44:58) How the Failure Museum Informs Sean's Work at Norwest(46:12) The Magic of Pivoting—SPONSORS:Rippling Spend is a spend management software that gives you complete visibility and automated policy controls across every type of spend, saving you time and money. Get a demo to see how much time your org would save at rippling.com/metrics.Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit navan.com/Runthenumbers for your demo.NetSuite is an AI-powered business management suite, encompassing ERP/Financials, CRM, and ecommerce for more than 41,000 customers. If you're looking for an ERP, head to https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.Planful's financial planning software can transform your FP&A function. Built for speed, accuracy, and confidence, you'll be planning your way to success and have time left over to actually put it to work. Find out more at www.planful.com/metrics.Tabs is a platform that brings all of your revenue-facing data and workflows - billing, AR, payments, rev rec, and reporting - onto a single system so you can automate and be more flexible. Find out more at: tabs.inc/metrics.#CFOsoftware #marketmap #verticalSaaS #FPandA #FailureMuseum Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

In episode #291 of SaaS Metrics School, Ben Murray breaks down one of the most important—and often debated—questions in SaaS finance:

Lumber is revolutionizing how construction companies manage their workforce through a comprehensive back-office automation platform. With over $21 million in funding, the company is addressing critical challenges in an industry where 41% of the workforce will retire by 2031, leaving a massive knowledge and labor gap. In this episode of Category Visionaries, we spoke with Shreesha Ramdas, CEO and Co-Founder of Lumber, about his journey from serving the tech industry to tackling one of the most transformation-resistant sectors in the economy. Topics Discussed: Lumber's origin from 200+ customer discovery interviews with construction firms The company's focus on back-office automation versus field management Lumber's multi-channel marketing strategy emphasizing events and content The challenge of change management in construction technology adoption How AI is creating new opportunities to modernize legacy workflows The company's vision of building a knowledge graph for construction workers GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Lead with value in customer discovery, not just research requests: Shreesha hired an SDR to set up 200 meetings with construction firms, but didn't just ask for their time. Instead, he offered concrete value - either an industry best practices guide or one year of free service if they helped shape the product. This approach appealed to early innovators who wanted to be part of industry transformation. B2B founders should always answer "what's in it for them" before asking prospects to invest their time in discovery conversations. Events require 60-day pre-and-post commitment for success: Lumber generates 30% of its leads from industry events, but Shreesha emphasizes that showing up isn't enough. They start outreach two months before events, targeting previous attendees with promotional activities like free tickets or after-party invitations. During events, they focus on booking demos on-site rather than leaving follow-ups to chance. Post-event, they dedicate 60 days to aggressive follow-up because "those leads age faster than anything else." B2B founders should treat events as 4-month campaigns, not 2-day activities. Use AI to solve change management challenges, not just productivity: Rather than forcing manual timesheet users to adopt mobile apps, Lumber uses AI to digitize handwritten timesheets with 94% accuracy. This eliminates the change management barrier while gradually transitioning users to digital workflows. Shreesha noted that change management is "the toughest thing about construction industry" because workers are focused on building, not adopting new tools. B2B founders in traditional industries should use AI as a bridge between old and new workflows rather than demanding immediate behavioral change. Position against established category leaders, not alongside them: Lumber deliberately positions itself as the "back office" solution while Procore owns the "field management" category. Shreesha explained that back offices are "always thinly staffed" but "always overwhelmed" with regulatory compliance, payroll complexity, and worker management. Rather than competing directly with Procore's field focus, they created their own category serving CFOs, controllers, and payroll admins. B2B founders should identify underserved buyer personas adjacent to established categories rather than trying to displace category leaders directly. Leverage vertical AI opportunities to rewrite industry rules: Shreesha sees AI as the reason construction tech is finally attracting significant investment. The key is using AI to "rewrite the existing rules" rather than just digitizing current processes. For construction, this means taking workflows that have been manual for decades and reimagining them entirely. B2B founders should look for AI applications that fundamentally change how work gets done in their vertical, not just make existing work more efficient.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co   //   Don't Miss: New Podcast Series — How I Hire Senior GTM leaders share the tactical hiring frameworks they use to build winning revenue teams. Hosted by Andy Mowat, who scaled 4 unicorns from $10M to $100M+ ARR and launched Whispered to help executives find their next role. Subscribe here: https://open.spotify.com/show/53yCHlPfLSMFimtv0riPyM   

You've finally reached Go-Live after a long, complex ERP implementation, congratulations! But what comes next? While Go-Live might feel like the final destination and end of the project, your ERP journey is far from over. Post Go-Live optimization is crucial to working out the quirks in your system and maximizing on the value your team spent so much time putting in place. Executives must freshly consider the organization's strategy with the new possibilities available to them with more modern software. On this episode of The ERP Advisor, hear from Shawn Windle, EAG's resident ERP expert and advisor to CFOs and financial executives, on developing your roadmap for post go-live optimization to get the most from your ERP. Connect with us!https://www.erpadvisorsgroup.com866-499-8550LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/erp-advisors-groupTwitter:https://twitter.com/erpadvisorsgrpFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/erpadvisorsInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/erpadvisorsgroupPinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/erpadvisorsgroupMedium:https://medium.com/@erpadvisorsgroup

What happens when 19 states simultaneously abandon the 150-hour CPA requirement while tariffs create unprecedented uncertainty for CFOs? Blake and CFO.com reporter Adam Zaki explore the rapid transformation of CPA licensure—from New York's recent changes to the coordinated state-by-state rollout that followed Barry Melancon's AICPA retirement. You'll discover how political and economic volatility is driving demand for accounting services, why the PCAOB may disappear in the Senate's tax bill, and how AI is reshaping audit teams while raising questions about the future value of CPAs. Plus, insights on navigating everything from reciprocal tariffs to the SEC's new chief accountant.Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas Human at Scale - http://accountingpodcast.promo/humanChapters(01:38) - Tariffs and Their Impact on CFOs (03:19) - Supreme Court and Tariff Legalities (05:47) - Economic Impact of Tariffs and Inflation (08:09) - Geopolitical Conflicts and Economic Uncertainty (11:17) - Federal Reserve and Economic Policies (18:51) - CPA Pipeline and 150 Hour Rule Changes (33:08) - Chief Accountant at the SEC (40:11) - Smart Moves by Congress: Nonprofit Pay Scales (40:44) - The Impact of Budget Cuts on PCAOB (41:34) - Challenges in Government Oversight (42:02) - Senate's Big Bill: Key Changes and Controversies (46:25) - Tax Implications and Political Dynamics (52:42) - Business Deductions and Higher Education (55:40) - AI in Accounting: Transforming the Big Four (57:37) - The Future of Accounting Education (01:02:10) - AI's Role in Auditing and the Future Workforce (01:05:19) - The Impact of Automation on Jobs and Society (01:15:48) - Concluding Thoughts and Future Outlook  Show NotesSupreme Court Challenge to Trump Tariffs by Toy Companies https://www.reuters.com/legal/supreme-court-trump-tariffs-toy-companies-challengeConsumer Price Index Impact of Current Tariffs https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htmNew York State CPA Licensure Reform Legislation https://www.nysscpa.org/news/publications/the-trusted-professional/article/new-york-cpa-licensure-reform-passes-legislaturePennsylvania CPA Pathway Bill Senate Approval https://www.picpa.org/articles/advocacy/cpa-pathway-legislation-senate-approvalMaine CPA Exam Requirements Change https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/accountants/cpa-exam-requirementsCFO.com State-by-State CPA Licensure Tracker https://www.cfo.com/news/cpa-licensure-changes-state-tracker-2025Kurt Hoel Appointed SEC Chief Accountant https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2025-89AICPA Barry Melancon Retirement Impact Analysis https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2025/01/melancon-retirement-cpa-pipeline-changesSenate Modifications to Big Beautiful Bill https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/actionsAvalara 2025 Accountants Confidence Report https://www.avalara.com/us/en/resources/reports/2025-accountants-confidence-reportPCAOB Elimination Implications Analysis https://www.pcaobus.org/oversight/inspections/implications-elimination-analysisKPMG Clara AI Audit Platform Interview https://www.cfo.com/news/kpmg-thomas-mackenzie-clara-ai-audit-interviewPwC USA Tax Leader Agentic AI Implementation https://www.cfo.com/news/pwc-tax-agentic-ai-implementation-2025Bill.com Small Business Paperless Survey 2030 https://www.bill.com/resources/small-business-paperless-2030-surveyUniversal Technical Institute CFO Interview https://www.cfo.com/news/uti-cfo-future-higher-education-interviewNeed CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comLearn more about Adam Zaki: Website: https://www.cfo.com/editors/azaki/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamzakinycGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://clo...

Sign up for the FREE Masterclass- How to Build a 7-Figure Group Practice → https://mccancemethod.com/webinar-free-masterclass-from-solo-to-superteam/ In this episode, I sat down with money coach Lindsay Bonham to talk about something every group practice owner needs but few feel confident about - becoming the empowered financial leader of your practice. We dive into the mindset shifts, financial habits, and tracking tools that will allow you to stop avoiding your numbers and start using them to make grounded, strategic decisions. Lindsay shares how to identify unhealthy money patterns, what to track weekly and monthly, and how to finally feel like the CEO of your group practice.Make sure to bring your paper and pen because this episode is full of actionable tips!Here are some key points in this episode:[01:56] Lindsay introduces the concept of empowered financial leadership and why it matters for group practice owners[05:12] How therapists can unknowingly fall into unhealthy money habits[07:48] Weekly, monthly, and annual financial metrics that group practice owners should be tracking to make data-driven decisions[13:38] How to overcome avoidance and start building money habits that stick[16:36] Why you must lead your business financially[19:52] The financial pitfalls of poor planning and how support from a community of group practice owners makes all the differenceLinks From The Episode:Money Skills For Group Practice Owners: https://moneynutsandbolts.com/msgpo-waitlist-2/Free Resources: https://moneynutsandbolts.com/resources/ More about Lindsey:Lindsey Bonham is a private practice therapist turned money coach who helps fellow therapists feel calm and in control of their finances. The daughter of an accountant, Lindsey combines the insight of a therapist with the practicality of a bookkeeper. When she launched her own private practice, she quickly became passionate about building a financially healthy business that supports her life and leaves extra in the bank.After witnessing many of her skilled colleagues struggle with the financial side of private practice—some even leaving the field due to money stress—she created Money Nuts & Bolts. Through her work, Lindsey helps therapists develop peace of mind around money by teaching the “how” behind managing finances in private practice in a way that's both doable and deeply satisfying.Her signature course, Money Skills for Therapists, has helped hundreds of therapists organize their finances and transform their relationship with money. Her second course, Money Skills for Group Practice Owners, guides group practice leaders through the mindset, systems, tools, and key numbers necessary to become empowered, confident CFOs of their practices.Want to Connect with Linzy? Money Nuts and Bolts: https://moneynutsandFollow me on Instagram, @nicole.mccanncemethod. If this episode provided you with value and inspiration, please leave a review and DM to let me know. Click here: https://www.instagram.com/nicole.mccancemethod Join the FREE private community for therapists: Expand your Psychotherapy Practice → https://www.facebook.com/groups/947689352498639 Sign up for the FREE Masterclass- How to Build a 7-Figure Group Practice→ https://mccancemethod.com/webinar-free-masterclass-from-solo-to-superteam/

Bill and Bryan are joined by Kevin Koharki, an accounting professor at Purdue University who specializes in teaching sales professionals how to speak the language of finance. Kevin shares his unique journey from investment banking and now helping sales teams worldwide understand how to communicate financial value to CEOs and CFOs. Learn the difference between gross margin and operating margin, why "payback period" isn't enough for most B2B sales, and how to shift conversations from simple ROI calculations to total cost of ownership discussions. Kevin breaks down complex financial concepts into digestible insights that any salesperson can use, regardless of their accounting background. Whether you're selling software, heavy equipment, or professional services, this episode will help you speak your buyer's financial language and position yourself as a strategic partner rather than just another vendor. Connect with Kevin at caecoach.org or find him on LinkedIn to learn more about his tailored financial training programs for sales teams. Be sure to join our LinkedIn group: http://advancedsellingpodcast.com/linkedin ================================= Is it time to make a BOLD move in your business? If so, download our brand new book, "12 Bold Moves - Insider Secrets to Reinventing Yourself and Your Business." http://12boldmoves.com The Insider program is open for enrollment. If you have not checked out our small learning group, go to http://advancedsellingpodcast.com/insider to join now. =================================

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, Zoom went from steady growth to hyperscale almost overnight, even generating a backlog of a million tickets. Sarah Riley was a finance leader in the company at the time. She joins CJ to talk about what she learned from the experience and how it impacted her in her current role as CFO of dbt Labs. She also explains the influence of Helmer's Seven Powers framework on her strategic decisions. The discussion covers how Sarah's evolved pricing models, and helped bring product-led and sales-led growth together into a single go-to-market strategy at dbt Labs. She breaks down how she uses big systems thinking to build out a finance org, how to create healthy off-ramps for pilots, and what's actually okay to break when “moving fast and breaking stuff”. She also touches on the current use cases for AI in finance and for turning your team from “doers to reviewers”.—LINKS:Sarah Riley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahjriley/dbt Labs: https://www.getdbt.com7 Powers: The Foundations of Business Strategy: https://7powers.com/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: http://mostlymetrics.comRELATED EPISODES:Wasted Capital and Where to Find It: The CFO's Guide to Spoilage Levers Leakages: —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:18) Sponsor – Pulley | Navan | NetSuite(05:53) Being at Zoom at the Start of the Pandemic(10:14) Challenges Caused by the Influx of Customers(14:06) Takeaways From Sarah's Time at Zoom: M&A and Build Versus Buy(15:49) Sponsor – Planful | Tabs | Rippling Spend(19:38) Taking Advantage of Your High Share Price for M&A(20:56) What dbt Labs Does(24:27) Pricing Evolutions at dbt Labs: Freemium and Open-Source(27:51) Seat-Based, Usage-Based, Hybrid, or Outcome-Based Pricing(30:27) Pros and Cons of a Free Component(32:17) Finance and Sales in dbt's Evolving Go-to-Market Strategy(34:09) The Evolution of dbt Labs' ICP(35:09) The Helmer 7 Powers Framework(40:39) Being a Big Systems Thinker While Building a Finance Org(44:16) Moving and Iterating Quickly: Creating Healthy Off-Ramps for Pilots(46:19) What You Can and Can't Break When “Moving Fast and Breaking Stuff”(47:32) The Current State of AI and Use Cases in Finance(51:20) Long-Ass Lightning Round: Boundary Definition(52:08) Advice to Younger Self(52:56) Finance Software Stack(55:20) Craziest Expense Story—SPONSORS:Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit navan.com/Runthenumbers for your demo.NetSuite is an AI-powered business management suite, encompassing ERP/Financials, CRM, and ecommerce for more than 41,000 customers. If you're looking for an ERP, head to https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.Planful's financial planning software can transform your FP&A function. Built for speed, accuracy, and confidence, you'll be planning your way to success and have time left over to actually put it to work. Find out more at www.planful.com/metrics.Tabs is a platform that brings all of your revenue-facing data and workflows - billing, AR, payments, rev rec, and reporting - onto a single system so you can automate and be more flexible. Find out more at: tabs.inc/metrics.Rippling Spend is a spend management software that gives you complete visibility and automated policy controls across every type of spend, saving you time and money. Get a demo to see how much time your org would save at rippling.com/metrics.#hypergrowth #7Powers #FinanceStrategy #bigsystemsthinking #GoToMarketStrategy Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

In this episode of 'Books of the Boardroom' podcast, Sumith chats with Andre Luchesi, Group CFO at Westpork and DBC in Western Australia. Andre's got a really interesting story - from corporate life to running his own ice cream business in Brazil and back to the CFO world.Andre talks about how economic cycles really work, why understanding the big picture macro stuff matters so much for CFOs, and how scooping ice cream taught him more about business empathy than any boardroom ever could.The conversation covers some great ground - AI and digital finance, why ESG reporting is becoming crucial, and what it's really like to juggle entrepreneurship with corporate finance. Andre's advice for aspiring CFOs? Follow your passions and keep adapting because the finance world never stops changing.This one's packed with practical insights and some pretty genuine reflections on what it takes to succeed in finance leadership today.Thanks for tuning in to Books to the Boardroom! If you enjoyed today's episode, take your leadership journey further:

In 2025, finance leaders in Singapore and Southeast Asia face a complex landscape shaped by rapid digital transformation, evolving regulatory demands, and heightened emphasis on sustainability. The rise of fintech innovations such as embedded finance, AI-driven personalization, and stablecoins is redefining financial services, while the pressure to attract and retain specialized talent intensifies amid skill gaps and workforce evolution. Against this backdrop, finance leaders must navigate shifting roles that have evolved from pre-pandemic stability through pandemic disruption to a post-pandemic era marked by geopolitical uncertainties and technological acceleration. Balancing organizational goals with personal leadership aspirations, building resilience, and preparing future leaders are critical priorities as they steer their companies through ongoing transitions. These dynamics prompt important reflections on leadership evolution, challenges, and role models relevant to senior finance executives in Asia today.Song Yeow Chung, CFO of Old Chang Kee Ltd and ISCA council member shares his views and experiences on the topic. 1. Describe the finance leader's role pre-pandemic, during the pandemic, post-pandemic, Trump 2.0. 2. As a finance leader, what has been most interesting to your during these periods of transitions? 3. In your view, what makes for a resilient and great finance leader?4. What has been the most challenging aspect of the role in today's environment?5. What should future finance leaders do today to lead them to that future position?6. How do you strike a balance between personal goals vs the company's goals and aspiration?7. As a leader, who for you is a role model to emulate/aspire to?

CFOs must help secure organizational success while keeping the finances golden. Gary Cooperman, COO and CFO at Pressed Juicery, calls this profitable growth. Joining Jack McCullough, he shares his impeccable strategies for turning this goal into reality, which involves proper team collaboration, strategic partnerships, and a strong relationship with the CEO built on trust. Gary also shares his experiences from the tech industry to the world of consumer-packaged goods (CPG), as well as his valuable insights on using AI tools to elevate his responsibilities as a CFO.

Send us a text2025 Customer Loyalty Trends Uncovered Welcome to Leaders in Customer Loyalty: The CEO's Desk, a Loyalty360original podcast series featuring exclusive executive insights from Loyalty360 CEO Mark Johnson. In this episode, Mark unpacks the Top 11 Trends in Customer Loyalty for 2025, straight from Loyalty360's Advisory Board sessions at the 2025 Loyalty Expo.What You'll Learn in This Episode:• Why organizational alignment is mission-critical to program success• How leading brands are substantiating and reinforcing loyalty program value• The growing pressure to prove ROI to CFOs and align loyalty with business strategy• Key strategies for simplifying loyalty program structures and overcoming tier fatigue• The evolving role of AI, data, and personalization in loyalty program optimization• How brands are adapting to economic uncertainty, supply chain disruption,and regulatory changes• Real-world examples of loyalty innovation from brands like Weigels and othersWhether you're a loyalty program manager, brand executive, or tech partner,this episode is packed with critical insights to help you evolve your loyaltystrategy in a time of rapid change.

In this episode, Alex Immerman, partner at Andreessen Horowitz, joins CJ to discuss the CFO role and how it's changing in the era of AI. He explains what the components of a company's AI agenda the CFO should own, how and where it should be leveraged in an organization, and why, if you're preparing to go public, AI needs to be mentioned in your S-1. He breaks down how the financial landscape differs greatly between AI-native SaaS companies and traditional B2B SaaS companies in terms of retention curves and gross margins, and how this relates to the ever-important LTV to CAC metric. As someone who has worked with prominent CFOs and interviewed many for a16z's portfolio companies, Alex also describes the qualities of a great CFO, and shares his favorite interview question, before discussing CFOs, CEO, and board dynamics.—LINKS:Alex Immerman on X (@aleximm): https://x.com/aleximmAlex Immerman on a16z: https://a16z.com/author/alex-immermanAlex Immerman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/immermanAndreessen Horowitz: https://a16z.comCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: http://mostlymetrics.comRELATED EPISODES:So You're Looking for a “Strategic” CFO? Bloomerang's Steve Isom on What That Really Means: —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:19) Sponsor – Navan | NetSuite | Planful(05:52) What Separates Good CFOs From Great Ones(11:56) Questions Alex Asks When Interviewing CFOs for Portfolio Companies(15:17) How CFOs Should Engage With Investors During the Hiring Process(17:22) Sponsor – Tabs | Rippling Spend | Pulley(22:22) What a Great CFO-Investor Relationship Looks Like(24:46) The CFO-CEO-Board Dynamic(28:27) How the Role of a CFO Is Changing in the Era of AI(31:41) AI-Native Company Versus Incumbent for Finance Category Leader(33:49) Components of a Company's AI Agenda That the CFO Should Own(38:39) Why the LTV to CAC Metric Is So Important to Investors(41:13) LTV to CAC by Sector(42:41) The Importance of Gross Margin Adjusting Your CAC Payback(43:21 Retention and Churn Patterns in AI-Native Companies(45:23) Gross Margin in AI-Native Companies Versus Traditional B2B SaaS(50:11) What It Takes To Be a Public Company-Ready CFO Today(53:58) How IPO Expectations for the CFO Have Shifted in the Past Few Years(55:05) Wrap—SPONSORS:Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit navan.com/Runthenumbers for your demo.NetSuite is an AI-powered business management suite, encompassing ERP/Financials, CRM, and ecommerce for more than 41,000 customers. If you're looking for an ERP, head to https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.Planful's financial planning software can transform your FP&A function. Built for speed, accuracy, and confidence, you'll be planning your way to success and have time left over to actually put it to work. Find out more at www.planful.com/metrics.Tabs is a platform that brings all of your revenue-facing data and workflows - billing, AR, payments, rev rec, and reporting - onto a single system so you can automate and be more flexible. Find out more at: tabs.inc/metrics.Rippling Spend is a spend management software that gives you complete visibility and automated policy controls across every type of spend, saving you time and money. Get a demo to see how much time your org would save at rippling.com/metrics.Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: pulley.com/mostlymetrics.#AINativeSaaS #a16z #CFO #LTVtoCAC #AIinSaaS Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

On Episode 5 of The Bitcoin for Corporations Show, Pierre Rochard is joined by Garrett Johnston of Marsh to explore how Bitcoin can radically transform the insurance industry. From the trillions in insurance float to the fiduciary risks of ignoring Bitcoin, this episode uncovers the hidden forces shaping treasury strategy, litigation risk, and D&O coverage in the age of BTC.Garrett breaks down the disconnect between Bitcoin-native firms and traditional insurance carriers, and explains why a failure to adopt Bitcoin may soon be seen as a breach of fiduciary duty. Essential viewing for corporate leaders, CFOs, risk managers, and Bitcoin-aligned executives.Chapters:00:00:00 Fiduciary Duty & Bitcoin 00:04:30 Garrett's Insurance Journey 00:09:00 Bitcoin's Disconnect with Insurance 00:13:30 Institutional Misunderstanding of BTC 00:18:00 Insurance Float & Melting Ice Cubes 00:22:30 Litigation and Inflation Risks 00:27:00 Bitcoin's Role in Corporate Risk 00:31:30 Misconceptions about BTC & FTX 00:36:00 MicroStrategy's Legal Landscape00:40:30 Future of Governance & Communication

This week on Revenue Rehab, Brandi Starr is joined by Sherry Grote, creator of the Harmony Hero framework and a B2B marketing leader with 25+ years transforming brands and driving revenue. Sherry believes marketing and HR hold untapped power as revenue accelerators—but only if their voices are amplified beyond traditional roles and given real influence in the boardroom. Challenging the status quo that sidelines these functions, Sherry argues that true revenue growth hinges on aligning people, brand, and culture—not just products and pipelines. If you're ready to rethink where brand power really drives the bottom line, tune in—and decide if Sherry's perspective changes your mind.  Episode Type: Problem Solving - Industry analysts, consultants, and founders take a bold stance on critical revenue challenges, offering insights you won't hear anywhere else. These episodes explore common industry challenges and potential solutions through expert insights and varied perspectives.  Bullet Points of Key Topics + Chapter Markers: Topic #1: Marketing & HR—The Undervalued Revenue Drivers [04:44]  Sherry Grote boldly argues that marketing and HR are essential drivers of revenue and brand but are consistently marginalized in executive decision-making. She challenges the conventional belief that marketing is a “faucet you can just turn on” and spotlights how HR's influence on culture is chronically overlooked—particularly damaging “in an artificial everything world.” Brandi Starr echoes the misalignment, noting most companies pigeonhole this partnership as “marketing giving HR tchotchkes,” prompting a debate on the true strategic potential of these functions when united.  Topic #2: Boardroom Influence—Turning Up the Volume on Brand Voices [07:14]  Sherry argues that the boardroom routinely sidelines marketing and HR, relegating them to after-thought status in favor of sales, finance, and product updates. “HR, we really don't have time for you to talk, so just put your slide in there and we'll just make sure that the board has that.” She proposes a radical change: marketing and HR should proactively demonstrate their impact on revenue, culture, and pipeline to win advocates among CFOs, CROs, and CPOs—shifting from self-promotion to integrated business influence.  Topic #3: Rethinking Compensation and Collaboration for Revenue Alignment [17:50]  Sherry challenges revenue leaders to recognize compensation misalignment as a core driver of inefficiency and discord between marketing, sales, and HR. She critiques the “rip and replace” approach to CMOs, tying it to systemic incentive problems: “It's often the head of marketing that really sees this breakdown and challenge and having that real relationship with HR could be an opportunity to help to influence that.” Brandi pushes for actionable solutions, leading to a discussion about moving BDRs into marketing and partnering with HR to overhaul incentive structures for true revenue team alignment.  The Wrong Approach vs. Smarter Alternative  The Wrong Approach: “A leader before they've had a time to actually make an impact in the business.” – Sherry Grote  Why It Fails: Swapping out marketing or HR leaders too quickly disrupts momentum and undermines strategic initiatives before they can take hold. This short-sighted turnover prevents teams from making the incremental changes necessary for lasting impact and damages organizational culture and continuity.  The Smarter Alternative: Instead of jumping to leadership changes, companies should focus on building strong alignment and rapport between sales, marketing, and HR, giving leaders the space and support needed to drive meaningful, long-term business results.  The Most Damaging Myth  The Myth: “Marketing is a faucet that you can just turn on and you will get instant results.” – Sherry Grote  Why It's Wrong: This belief leads organizations to expect immediate impact from marketing efforts, creating unrealistic timelines and frustration when quick results don't materialize. As Sherry explains, marketing is actually more like a well that requires consistent pumping—building effective campaigns takes time, ongoing effort, and a systems approach. When companies operate under the “faucet” myth, they make disruptive changes or swap out talent prematurely, undermining long-term progress and ROI.  What Companies Should Do Instead: Treat marketing as an engine that needs sustained investment and incremental improvement. Allow marketing leaders time to build momentum, focus on developing processes, and foster strong cross-departmental relationships—especially with HR—to build a people-first culture that supports brand and revenue growth.  The Rapid-Fire Round  Finish this sentence: If your company has this problem, the first thing you should do is _ “Ensure that you have built rapport with sales, marketing and HR to be in total alignment.” – Sherry Grote  What's one red flag that signals a company has this problem—but might not realize it yet? “If your employees don't have psychological safety, then you do not have a culture that is going to have a positive brand influence.”  What's the most common mistake people make when trying to fix this? “Changing out a leader before they've had time to actually make an impact in the business.”  What's the fastest action someone can take today to make progress? “Know what your 5% is—be clear on what makes you different from everyone else doing your type of job, whether you're in HR, marketing, finance, or sales.”  Buzzword Banishment: Sherry's buzzword to banish is "amplify." She dislikes this term because in today's environment—where it's applied to everything—the word has been overused and lost its impact and meaning. Sherry notes that while "amplify" once described increasing awareness or engagement in a meaningful way, its ubiquity now renders it ineffective and even frustrating to encounter.  Links:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherrygrote/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theharmonyhero  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Harmony-Hero/61568386591394  Website: https://www.theharmonyhero.com  Subscribe, listen, and rate/review Revenue Rehab Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts , Amazon Music, or iHeart Radio and find more episodes on our website RevenueRehab.live  

In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato sits down with Mary Ellen Normen, a retired school business official blazing new trails in the world of artificial intelligence. With presentations at ASBO and AASA conferences and a widely-read article on AI in school business, Mary Ellen unpacks how SBOs can use AI tools for budgeting, facilities, communications, and strategic planning.From ethical guardrails to getting started with your first AI prompt, this episode is a practical and inspiring roadmap for school business leaders navigating one of the most significant shifts in our profession.Listen now to learn how to leverage AI — wisely, ethically, and effectively.Contact School Business Insider: Check us out on social media: LinkedIn Twitter (X) Website: https://asbointl.org/SBI Email: podcast@asbointl.org Make sure to like, subscribe and share for more great insider episodes!Disclaimer:The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Association of School Business Officials International. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "ASBO International" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. The presence of any advertising does not endorse, or imply endorsement of, any products or services by ASBO International.ASBO International is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and does not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elective public office. The sharing of news or information concerning public policy issues or political campaigns and candidates are not, and should not be construed as, endorsements by ASBO Internatio...

Send us your thoughtsIn this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro speaks with Karl Lloyd, fractional CFO and founder of Lloyd Consulting Limited, about his transition from full-time finance roles to a portfolio CFO career. Karl shares practical insights from working across sectors like e-commerce, SaaS, and travel, and reflects on the realities of life as a fractional CFO.In this episode, Karl covers:The biggest differences and challenges between full-time and fractional CFO rolesBuilding effective financial models and keeping them simple, flexible, and insightfulWorking with investors and managing expectations through clear reportingLessons from multiple management buyouts and how to prepare early for due diligenceAdvice for aspiring fractional CFOs, including mindset, client management, and business developmentLinks mentioned: Karl's Linkedin Learn more about Lloyd Consulting Limted Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here. Subscribe to our Podcast!

This episode is sponsored by SignUp Software. On this episode, we explore the challenges that CFOs, controllers, and other decision-makers are managing today. Our guests, SignUp's Bob Monio and Velosio's Chris Wheeler, are here to discuss market conditions and trends that are driving priorities for companies using Dynamics 365 Business Central. When it comes to automation, executives are prioritizing investments based on the end-to-end business processes, Bob explained.  That type of big picture strategic planning requires committed partners with industry and technology expertise. And with their ExFlow suite, SignUp also counts on partners like Velosio to set the context for technology investments. Chris shares some of Velosio's recent experiences, as well as plans for the future of the partnership between the firms. More from SignUp Software: Explore SignUp Software's native D365 solutions at signupsoftware.com, and discover how Velosio can support your business at velosio.com.

If you work for a software company, odds are that people make up 80-90% of your business's costs. Today's guest argues that in order to effectively manage a company's greatest asset, the CFO should be heavily involved in shaping the company culture. Bill Tole is the CFO of TrustRadius, a trusted platform where tech buyers find real reviews. He is skilled in creating structures around ambition and breaks down how TrustRadius creates and implements Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). He explains how they differ from KPIs, why they fail, and how to set aggressive but achievable goals. He discusses the Rule of 40 and why it's essential for the rest of the company to understand it. Bill also shares how CFOs can influence culture from a finance perspective and why a lack of failure is a cause for concern.—LINKS:Bill Tole on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-tole-0a99789/TrustRadius: https://www.trustradius.com/15Five: https://www.15five.com/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: http://mostlymetrics.comRELATED EPISODES:Less but Better: Miro's Justin Coulombe on the Power of Strategic Divestment in SaaS: —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:15) Sponsor – NetSuite | Planful | Tabs(06:00) TrustRadius's Business Model(09:20) OKRs at TrustRadius and Finance's Role in Them(14:07) Finance's Role in Asking the Stupid Questions(15:58) Sponsor – Rippling Spend | Pulley | Navan(20:10) How To Set Aggressive but Achievable Goals(23:19) The Ideal Number of OKRs(24:21) Leaving Room for Failing or Innovating(25:57) OKR Derivatives at Department Level(27:36) Why OKRs Fail(28:55) Rewriting or Killing Off an OKR Mid-Way(29:51) Where To Track Your OKRs(32:03) Applying the Rule of 40(34:39) Educating the Org on the Rule of 40(37:34) EBITDA Versus Free Cash Flow for Calculating Rule of 40(39:24) The CFO As the Culture Leader(43:21) Using Money To Change the Culture in a Positive Way(45:42) Mistakes CFO's Make When It Comes to Culture(47:06) Long-Ass Lightning Round: Why Failure Is Okay(51:41) Advice to Younger Self(53:44) Finance Software Stack(55:12) The State of SaaS Fragmentation or SaaS Sprawl(57:28) Craziest Expense Story—SPONSORS:NetSuite is an AI-powered business management suite, encompassing ERP/Financials, CRM, and ecommerce for more than 41,000 customers. If you're looking for an ERP, head to https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.Planful's financial planning software can transform your FP&A function. Built for speed, accuracy, and confidence, you'll be planning your way to success and have time left over to actually put it to work. Find out more at www.planful.com/metrics.Tabs is a platform that brings all of your revenue-facing data and workflows - billing, AR, payments, rev rec, and reporting - onto a single system so you can automate and be more flexible. Find out more at: tabs.inc/metrics.Rippling Spend is a spend management software that gives you complete visibility and automated policy controls across every type of spend, saving you time and money. Get a demo to see how much time your org would save at rippling.com/metrics.Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit navan.com/Runthenumbers for your demo.#failure #companyculture #OKR #KPI #Ruleof40 Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

When global tariffs shift overnight, how do finance leaders keep their footing? In this special CFO Insights edition of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, three seasoned finance leaders share how they're navigating the ripple effects of trade disruption, and what it takes to build financial strategies that bend without breaking.From real-time scenario modeling to rethinking supplier relationships, you'll hear how Barbara Salazar, CFO at E2 Consulting, Carl-Christian von Weyhe, CFO for Middle and Eastern Europe at SAP, and Massimiliano Zambon, Head of Finance at Giovanni Rana UK, are leading with agility, leveraging technology, and making tough calls in an unpredictable global economy.Whether you're bracing for disruption or building long-term resilience, this episode delivers practical insights from the CFOs confidently steering through the storm with agility and strategic foresight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

English versus mathematics?  Easy choice for budding engineers at High School and for when they get to University.  Science is logical, knowable, understandable.  Presenting seems to have little in the way of science and more art involved, so best avoided.  Actually they do a pretty good job of avoiding it, until a certain stage in their careers.  These days clients want to talk to the engineers, so they have to front up and visit the buyer with the salesperson.  If the counterparty is another engineer, then the code is in place and everyone is fine.  Line managers, decision makers, CFOs are different beasts and more difficult.  Even more annoying is the client conducts beauty parades to decide which company's engineers they are going to select. This is where the skilled engineer who can present in a skilled way eats everyone's lunch.  One engineer mumbles, rambles, doesn't look confident and is struggling with basic coherence.  The other is clear, concise, in command of the material and making the key points like a legend.  Well, the choice for the buyer is made pretty easy. In other cases, the engineers get promoted and have to represent their section to the senior leaders in the company.  This is often when we get a call.  “Can you help us please.  We have a great engineer leading the team but his communication skills and presentation skills are dismal and the senior leadership have tasked HR to fix the problem, by finding a training company who can help”.  This sounds good but it is often a difficult task.  The major issue tends to be a lack of awareness around the importance and value of presenting.  These skills are soft skills rather than the hard skills, which their profession demands. They can see them as a bit “fluffy”.  Presentation skills are very much in the eye of the beholder too, so opinions can vary regarding what is a good presentation.  This lack of agreed, concrete measurable aspects can be an anathema to engineers. Fluffy or otherwise, persuasion power is a real thing.  This requires good skills in the design of the talk, the gathering of evidence and in the delivery.  Design here means does the talk flow logically resulting in a clear conclusion, that is credible, because of the evidence assembled to support the main argument.  Ace engineer or not, if we start the presentation with a lot of fiddling around with the tech, there is a strong chance our audience is distracted and reaching for their phones to find something more interesting to do.  We have to know that this is the Age of Distraction and the Era of Cynicism and attention spans are functioning at microscopic levels.  No matter how brilliant our evidence is, we will have lost many in our audience in those first few vital seconds, as we establish that first impression between speaker and listener.  Online is even worse because now everyone is granted a free license to multi-task in the background and ignore the speaker. Our opening has to be a gripper, such that the audience want to hear more, they want to know where you are going with this presentation.  We must speak clearly and confidently.  Easier said than done for laconic engineers, who are not prone to speaking a lot.  Also, not doing a lot of presentations or probably, avoiding to do presentations, has left a confidence vacuum that is filled with nervousness.  Sounding confident to an audience when you are not requires a level of thespian ability, which is usually beyond the grasp of hard skill trained engineers.   Rehearsal is the saviour here and lots of it is required.  We don't want to spend all of our time building the slide deck.  The delivery is what sells the message and that relates straight back to the fact we have to buy what we are saying first and then communicate that belief to the audience.  If we don't understand the power of persuasion, we are likely to fluff off the rehearsal component of making the speech professional. I have never been able to trace this supposed Japanese saying but it does sound good, “more sweat in training, less blood in battle”.  Let's make our mistakes in practice, get the talk timing right, work on the cadence, the order and the delivery.  If we have the right mindset, then good things will happen and all of these other pieces of the puzzle will fit into place nicely.  

Live from the Sage Future conference in Atlanta, Aaron Harris, CTO of Sage, joins Blake and David to explain why he wants to completely eliminate the financial close rather than just make it faster. Harris breaks down the three waves of AI transformation in accounting—from task-based automation to generative AI to fully autonomous agents—and reveals how Sage is building custom language models trained specifically on accounting principles with the AICPA. He also discusses the psychology of trust between CFOs and AI systems, introduces Sage's new AI transparency labels, and explains why his company is taking a more cautious approach than competitors like Intuit when deploying autonomous agents.Meet Our Guest, Aaron Harris, CTO, SageLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-harris-7407b2/Website: https://www.sageintacct.com/leadership/aaron-harrisX: https://x.com/AaronRHarrisLearn more about Sagehttps://www.sage.com/Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastClassifiedsWant to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAdTranscriptsThe full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

This one's for anyone who's ever mistaken SaaS metrics for gospel. I sit down (ok, dine out) with two CFOs—one from a dating app, the other from an HVAC parts company—and come away questioning the whole tech-is-king narrative.Turns out, the guy replacing dirty rugs in Georgia public schools pulled in $22 million last year. And no, he doesn't have a Substack.In this episode:* A billion-dollar business that makes… bolts* SaaS dreams vs. rug-cleaning realities* The myth of “build it once, sell it forever”* Why R&D is just COGS in a costume* A gentle roast of hustle culture and spreadsheet empiresThis is a reminder that while tech has its perks, the world is full of quiet, profitable businesses that don't require churn curves or pitch decks. Sometimes, the best margins come with dirt under the fingernails.Run the Numbers is brought to you by Zenskar.Zenskar is an AI-powered order-to-cash platform that automates billing, revenue recognition, and SaaS reporting — no spreadsheets, no engineering required. Built for modern B2B companies, Zenskar supports any pricing model: subscriptions, usage-based, or complex custom contracts.Step into the future of finance today. Visit zenskar.com/rtn and book a demo! Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

In episode #286 of SaaS Metrics School, Ben Murray breaks down one of the most common — and costly — mistakes SaaS founders and CFOs make when building their Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) schedules: netting contraction and expansion. This seemingly small error can break your ability to calculate key SaaS metrics like Gross Revenue Retention (GRR) and Net Revenue Retention (NRR). What You'll Learn: The essential structure of an accurate MRR waterfall schedule Why separating expansion, contraction, and churn is crucial for calculating SaaS metrics How to calculate GRR and NRR using distinct MRR layers Why trailing 3- and 6-month annualized retention rates offer deeper insights Pro tips on segmenting your MRR by product, ICP, or geography Who This Is For: SaaS founders, CFOs, FP&A leaders, and revenue ops teams looking to improve their SaaS financial reporting and ensure clean, actionable SaaS metrics that stand up to investor scrutiny. Resources Mentioned: Join Ben's private SaaS metrics community: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Subscribe to Ben's newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page Free SaaS Metrics Tools & Templates at TheSaaSCFO.com Enjoying the show? Please rate and review the podcast — it helps more SaaS professionals discover how to build better businesses with metrics that matter.

Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.In this special episode, we explore whether top-performing finance functions have reached a “terminal value” in their cost-cutting journey – and what comes next. As technologies like AI and advanced analytics evolve, finance leaders are shifting focus from efficiency to insight – rethinking operating models, talent strategies, and what it means to create value in a digital era.In this episode, we discuss:1:18 – What “terminal value” means in finance and why top-performing functions may be approaching the limits of traditional cost-cutting4:57 – How evolving finance operating models are incorporating new approaches to data, talent, and technology9:07 – The rise of agentic AI and how autonomous agents are beginning to impact finance workflows18:51 – Key leadership priorities for finance organizations navigating AI adoption and long-term transformationFor more insights, read our publication Have top performing finance functions reached terminal value in the age of AI?Be sure to follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the latest thought leadership.About our guestsAdam Kennedy is a PwC consumer markets finance leader focusing on business process improvement and finance effectiveness for Fortune 500 companies with an emphasis in retail, hospitality, and gaming. Adam provides consulting services on technology-driven finance transformation, end-to-end revenue stream management, merger integration support, financial analysis and reporting, risk management, and process improvement. Edward Ponagai is a PwC partner who leads large-scale back office transformations and merger integrations. He helps CFOs think through their organization's big picture vision and purpose and drill down to address organizational challenges, operational processes, and technological innovations. About our guest host Guest host Diana Stoltzfus is a partner in the National Office who helps to shape PwC's perspectives on regulatory matters, responses to rulemakings and policy development, and implementation related to significant new rules and regulations. Prior to rejoining PwC, Diana was the Deputy Chief Accountant in the Office of the Chief Accountant (OCA) at the SEC where she led the activities of the OCA's Professional Practices Group.Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to us_podcast@pwc.com

When PagerDuty went public in 2019, it was generating just $100 million in annual revenue which made it relatively small for a SaaS IPO. One of the main motivations for this was that visibility into the company's financials would inspire customer trust. In this episode, CJ speaks with Howard Wilson, PagerDuty's CFO, who shares the unique challenges of going public as a small company, how the landscape has changed since then, and how to approach an IPO when you don't have the experts you need in-house. As a former chief commercial officer, Howard brings unique insights into the role of a CFO. He discusses the importance of building a finance team with customer awareness, how he uses customer usage patterns to challenge traditional SaaS metrics, and how to uncover the unexpected pathways that customers take to reach your business. He also talks about the complexities of the “beat and raise" forecast, how market volatility creates opportunity, and breaks down his framework for mapping out potential investment areas.—LINKS:Howard Wilson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardwilson01/PagerDuty: https://www.pagerduty.com/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: http://mostlymetrics.com—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:08) Sponsor – Planful | Tabs | Rippling Spend(06:01) Earnings Calls and Being a Public Company CFO(11:14) How the Bar for Going Public Has Changed Since 2019(14:04) How Going Public Affects Customer Trust(15:50) Sponsor – Pulley | Navan | NetSuite(19:34) Approaching the IPO Process Without the Necessary Experts In-House(21:47) Using Advisors To Fill Functional Gaps in Small Companies(24:38) The IPO Tech Stack for Small Companies(25:44) The Complexities of the “Beat and Raise” Forecast(28:33) How Market Volatility Creates Opportunity(34:37) How Experience as a Chief Commercial Officer Makes a Better CFO(38:16) A Framework for Mapping Out Potential Investment Areas(44:08) Customer Awareness in Your Finance Organisation(47:47) Customer Usage Patterns Versus Traditional SaaS Metrics(52:16) The Unexpected Pathways Customers Take To Reach Your Business(57:54) Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Learning Mindset(59:22) Advice to Younger Self: Don't Stay in Your Lane(01:01:24) Finance Software Stack(01:02:57) Craziest Expense Story—SPONSORS:Planful's financial planning software can transform your FP&A function. Built for speed, accuracy, and confidence, you'll be planning your way to success and have time left over to actually put it to work. Find out more at www.planful.com/metrics.Tabs is a platform that brings all of your revenue-facing data and workflows - billing, AR, payments, rev rec, and reporting - onto a single system so you can automate and be more flexible. Find out more at: tabs.inc/metrics.Rippling Spend is a spend management software that gives you complete visibility and automated policy controls across every type of spend, saving you time and money. Get a demo to see how much time your org would save at rippling.com/metrics.Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit navan.com/Runthenumbers for your demo.NetSuite is an AI-powered business management suite, encompassing ERP/Financials, CRM, and ecommerce for more than 41,000 customers. If you're looking for an ERP, head to https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.#goingpublic #SaaSIPO #CustomerTrust #CustomerAwareness #PagerDuty Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

We are joined by CFO Jared Miller to discuss the basics of CFO and business finance. What's the difference between an accountant and a CFO? What are the job responsibilities of a CFO? What kind of schooling do CFOs traditionally have? What is EBITDA and how long has the concept been around? What kind of debt do companies have and do CFOs manage taking and repaying loans? Do CFOs need to know about tax law? Do CFOs work closely with attorneys? What kind of software do CFOs use? What are the changes in CFO work with AI? Do the numbers always end up clean, or how often does money go missing from a company?

The finance world is shifting fast, and AI is leading this change. However, how can organizations use it responsibly to maintain trust and stay compliant? Ahikam Kaufman, CEO of Safebooks AI, breaks down how AI is helping CFOs and finance teams automate financial data validation, reduce fraud, and navigate growing compliance demands.

Finance can't lead from behind siloed systems. In this episode, we explore how OneStream connects financial and operational data—giving leaders a unified view to forecast faster, plan smarter, and act with confidence. We break down the real cost of disconnected planning, reveal the top pain points CFOs face, and share how integrated data transforms decision-making. Plus: real-world wins from a water treatment company and Academic Medical Centers. Check all episodes from this Nova Advisory podcast, here: http://www.novaadvisory.com/podcast  

Think your business is worth $12 million? It might be closer to $3.5…and here's why. In this episode, Matt and Luigi sit down with Tom Dillon, founder of Frac Finance, to unpack the brutal realities behind business valuations, botched exits, and what most owners get dead wrong about scaling and selling. From M&A landmines to the truth about fractional CFOs, this one's a wake-up call for any entrepreneur who thinks they're ready. What You'll Learn: Why most owners overvalue their business (and what to do about it) The difference between cost-cutting and growth-minded CFOs How the SBA rule changes are shaking up the M&A game Mistakes SMBs make when raising capital or hiring too early Real talk on family businesses, seller financing, and scaling a CFO firm Favorite Quote: “You can't cost-cut your way to profitability forever.” About Our Guest: Tom Dillon is the founder and principal of Frac Finance, a fractional CFO firm helping SMBs scale, prepare for exits, and make smarter financial moves. With a background in investment banking and private equity, Tom brings real-world experience to a space that desperately needs it…and he's not afraid to ruffle feathers along the way. Why You Should Listen: If you're a business owner who thinks you're ready to scale or sell, Tom Dillon will show you exactly why you're not…and how to fix it before it costs you everything.   Connect with Tom: Twitter / X: https://x.com/profithuntercfo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-dillon-cfa/ Website: https://www.frakfinance.com/  

It's no secret CFOs frequently exit soon after a major acquisition—especially when a larger enterprise takes the reins. But Rene Ho stayed.Ho had been CFO of Taulia, a working capital fintech, when it was still an independent company. After helping lead the firm through its acquisition by SAP, he chose to stay on, guiding the company through integration while preserving what made Taulia unique.It's a reality Ho doesn't resist—instead, he works to make those connections scalable. That mindset reflects a broader shift under his leadership. “We're also embedding our technology more and more into the SAP technology,” Ho tells us, noting that when he joined, the two platforms were sold separately. Now, integration enables “more of a single sale,” smoothing the go-to-market motion.While SAP Taulia continues to align its tech stack, one area remains purposefully independent: the financing operations. “We don't use our balance sheet to finance the invoices,” Ho says. Instead, more than 30 financial institutions and non-bank entities fund those transactions.

In episode #285 of SaaS Metrics School, Ben Murray dives into one of the most overlooked levers in SaaS financial performance—G&A (General & Administrative) spend. How much should you really be spending on back office functions like finance, HR, legal, and IT? Using data from Benchmarkit.AI, Ben walks through G&A as a percent of revenue across ARR stages—from startups under $1M to companies exceeding $100M. He also explains how operating leverage is created through back office efficiency and why using benchmarks segmented by ARR is crucial in SaaS metrics analysis. What You'll Learn: Why aggregate SaaS benchmarks are dangerous G&A benchmarks by ARR segment (top quartile vs. median) The role of operating leverage in SaaS profitability How to evaluate your own back office spend using metrics Actionable targets for G&A as a percent of revenue SaaS Metrics Covered: G&A % of Revenue Operating Leverage Opex Profile by ARR Benchmarking by ARR vs. ACV Resources Mentioned: Benchmarkit.ai Join Ben's SaaS Metrics community for webinars, templates, and live sessions: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page

Strategic leadership is key to driving innovation in renewable energy, and in this episode, we sit down with a powerhouse in the space. Our guest, Ann Anthony, has led financial strategy for some of the most transformative companies in energy, including Oberon Fuels, where she is CFO. She shares her journey from financial management to scaling organizations, securing billions in capital, and navigating complex industry transitions. We also discuss the intersection of finance and strategy, the role of CFOs in mitigating risks, and how to build a high-performance leadership team. Whether you're in finance, energy, or leadership, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Send us your thoughtsIn this episode of CFO 4.0, host Hannah Munro chats with Karla Smith, CFO at Ogilvy UK, about her unique path to CFO and how finance operates at the heart of a creative, people-driven organisation.Key topics covered include:Karla's career journey from audit trainee to CFOHow to succeed in senior finance roles with flexible hours and build mutual trust with your organisation.The role of finance in creative industriesBuilding financial literacy across teams through internal trainingApproaching talent investment and balancing short-term results with long-term value.Tips for new CFOs on strategic planning, effective delegation, and building strong CEO partnerships.Links mentioned: Karla's LinkedinLearn more about Ogilvy Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here. Subscribe to our Podcast!

 In this episode of the Tactics for Tech Leadership Podcast, Mon-Chaio and Andy discuss common questions that CFOs, CEOs, and other stakeholders should pose to the technical leaders within their organizations. Based on a blog post from payslip.com, the discussion focuses on how CFOs can inquire about tech investments' cost efficiency, agility, flexibility, and security. The conversation emphasizes developing thoughtful questioning processes and the importance of mutual understanding between roles.Transcript: https://thettlpodcast.com/2025/06/10/s3e20-beyond-the-code-your-tech-the-bottom-line/ReferencesTech Questions a CFO Should Be Asking - https://payslip.com/resources/blog/tech-questions-a-cfo-should-be-asking/

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   Justin interviews James Lam about the evolving role of the CRO since the pandemic, vital competencies for today's CROs, risk appetite frameworks, and a case study of E*Trade and how they succeeded with a strong risk appetite framework. They continue the discussion with an examination of James's upcoming six-module virtual course, the RIMS-CRO Certificate in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management. James concludes with his vision of the future of ERM using AI as an enabling tool. Listen to learn more about successful strategies CROs can apply to their ERM programs.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:17] About this episode of RIMScast. Our guest is one of the great thought leaders in risk management, James Lam. He returns to RIMScast today to talk about ERM and a new bi-weekly virtual course he'll be teaching for RIMS that begins in July. [:48] RIMS-CRMP Workshops! Register by July 1st for the next RIMS-CRMP Virtual Workshop, which will be co-led by Parima. That course will be held on July 8th and 9th. [1:04] The next RIMS-CRMP-FED virtual workshop will be led by Joseph Mayo on July 17th and 18th. Register by July 16th. Links to these courses can be found on the Certification Page of RIMS.org and through this episode's show notes. [1:23] RIMS Webinars! The next RIMS Webinar will be held on June 17th. It will be presented by Origami Risk. It's titled “Strategic Risk Financing in an Unstable Economy: Leveraging Technology for Efficiency and Cost Reduction”. Register today through RIMS.org/Webinars [1:43] RIMS Virtual Workshops! On June 12th, Pat Saporito will host “Managing Data for ERM”, and she will return on June 26th to present the very popular new course, “Generative AI for Risk Management”. [2:00] A link to the full schedule of virtual workshops can be found on the RIMS.org/education and RIMS.org/education/online-learning pages. A link is also in this episode's show notes. [2:12] Mark your calendars for November 17th and 18th for the RIMS ERM Conference 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The agenda is being built. Soon, we will distribute a Call for Nominations for the ERM Award of Distinction. I'll update this episode's show notes when that link is ready. [2:35] Think about your organization's ERM program or one that you know of, and how it has generated value. We will have more on that in the coming weeks. [2:43] On with the show! Our guest today is a risk management trailblazer who is widely considered the world's first Chief Risk Officer. I'm talking about James Lam. [2:54] Starting on July 16th, James will host a six-module course for RIMS, The RIMS-CRO Certificate in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management. It's a bi-weekly course that will run through Wednesday, September 24th. Registration closes on July 9th. [3:14] James is here to discuss and share his ERM philosophies, how the practice has changed in the past five years since he was last on the show, and to give us a preview of what the upcoming course will be like and how it could boost your risk career. [3:31] Interview! James Lam, welcome back to RIMScast! [3:37] James was a guest on RIMScast in the Fall of 2020. We've gone through a lot in the last five years! We've lived through a pandemic, and companies realized the importance of operational resilience and strategic risk management. [4:14] James says today we are facing unprecedented geopolitical risk. We are also facing AI risks and opportunities. Some Chief Risk Officers have stayed relevant and elevated their careers and skills, while others have failed in their organization's ERM programs. [5:01] James tells what may cause a CRO to fail. Applying a “check the box” approach or a compliance approach, without staying relevant with the evolving risk landscape. [5:29] Speaking of successful CROs, James said one CRO he worked with went from being a treasurer reporting to the CFO, to becoming the CRO, then the CFO, and eventually the CEO, all within eight years. [5:58] He and other successful CROs had learned how to add strategic value and be relevant to key decision-makers at the board level and the executive level. [6:15] A key competence is applying risk analytics to quantify and minimize unexpected earnings, helping companies maintain sustainable, predictable profitability. [6:40] Then, evolving that to understanding capital management to optimize capital allocation, dividend policies, and risk transfer strategies, ultimately, applying the same risk analytics to support corporate and business decisions. [7:05] Being able to add strategic value is the most important competence for a Chief Risk Officer today. [7:26] Management and corporate directors are concerned about the unexpected. As CROs, how do we connect our work with things that are the most meaningful to the decision-makers and key internal stakeholders? All boards, CEOs, and CFOs are concerned about earnings. [7:53] Unexpected earnings variance and guidance are things that they are concerned about. CROs can help them with predictable profitability, long-term capital management, and value creation. [8:10] How does a CRO support the leaders' decision-making at the corporate level, where there's M&A or new products, and at the business level, in terms of risk-based pricing and risk transfer decisions? [8:43] James thinks the risk appetite framework is one of the most important processes and capabilities for advanced enterprise risk management. [9:01] Frameworks that don't do well tend to be mostly or entirely qualitative. They tend to be static, maybe updated once a year, with very little change. [9:15] The frameworks that are more strategic and add more value to companies tend to be a combination of quantitative and qualitative. [9:42] Successful risk appetite frameworks also consider risk capacity in terms of capital resources, earnings, and liquidity, relative to our risk management capability and track record. [10:01] Successful risk appetite frameworks look at opportunities. What is the opportunity for profitability, growth, and innovation, relative to risk? If the opportunity is high, then we should be willing to take on more risk. [10:19] Successful risk appetite frameworks tend to be more dynamic in a way that allows the company to reduce risk when it is appropriate but also to take more risk when it is appropriate. [10:31] James says a good risk appetite framework would guide organizations to take more risk, on a selective basis. [10:57] James uses E*Trade as a case study. James was on the board of E*Trade and chaired its risk committee. This case study is in the RIMS CRO Certificate Program in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management. [11:28] James will invite E*Trade's CRO, the head of ERM, and one of the regulators, to provide first-hand experiences and lessons learned. [11:41] James gives examples of how ERM improved E*Trade's business outcomes and profitability. Based on a robust risk appetite framework, E*Trade thought it needed to take more risk in new product innovation and shorten the time to market dramatically. [12:21] Because of that, E*Trade was the first company to offer retail investors the capability to trade stocks and mutual funds on their Apple Watch. It was a very important business opportunity as the Apple Watch was hugely popular. [12:49] This tied into E*Trade's founding as the first internet company to allow retail investors to trade on the internet. It was a proud moment for E*Trade. It shows how a robust ERM program and risk appetite framework can support innovation and business growth. [13:16] In the eight years James was on E*Trade's board until it was sold, its stock went from $8 to $59 a share. It went from B to BBB, from losing money to making money, and from a weak capital position to buying back over $1 billion in stock and offering its first-ever dividend. [13:52] In addition to the E*Trade case study, the course will look into other case studies, good and bad. We will learn from organizations that didn't manage risks effectively and what we could learn from them to prevent that for our organizations. [14:13] We will learn from best-practice companies in the energy and healthcare space. [14:30] Plug Time! The very first RIMS Texas Regional Conference will be held from August 4th through the 6th in San Antonio at the Henry B. González Convention Center. Public Registration is open here. [14:43] Hotel cut-off for the discounted rate is available through July 7th. The full Conference Agenda is now live, so you can start planning your experience. Don't miss the post-conference workshop, the RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Course, available onsite. [14:59] Any chapter member can attend. Links are in this episode's show notes. [15:14] You can also visit the Events Page of RIMS.org for more information. We look forward to seeing you in Texas! [15:21 Just a month later, we will be up North for the RIMS Canada Conference 2025, from September 14th through 17th in Calgary. Registration opened today. Visit RIMSCanadaConference.CA and lock in favorable rates. We look forward to seeing you there! [15:42] Let's Return to My Interview with James Lam!  [16:00] Starting on July 16th, there will be a new course that James is leading. It's the RIMS CRO Certificate Program in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management. If you're listening to this on the week of publication, you've got about a month to register. Registration closes on July 9th. [16:22] James is one of our favorite collaborators! [16:27] James tells what led to the launch of this program. He's very excited to be partnering with RIMS! His motivation for doing this program is that he has worked in risk management for over 40 years. He has been a management consultant working with over 100 companies. [17:10] James has been an eight-time board member, chairing the risk committee, chairing the audit committee, and overseeing risk management, not day-to-day but from a board perspective. [17:22] What James wants to do in this program is to share the lessons he has learned and some of the best practices in a very practical way. He also wants to invite other risk experts to share from their different domains. James has had this idea for over three years. [17:56] He met with the RIMS board members and the Professional Development Team to talk about this. They got an agreement in place, and within a few weeks, they got the outline and the website up. James tells of the team that helped him put it together in bi-weekly meetings. [18:31] The program came together within weeks. The early registrations are above expectations. The market reception has been strong. James says this course will provide an amazing learning experience for the participants. [18:54] It's a six-module, bi-weekly course with four-hour live virtual sessions, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern Time, starting July 16th and running through September 24th. There will also be self-study with James's book, other articles, and research papers. [19:24] We've got the link in this episode's show notes. A brief description of each of the six modules is on the website. Module 4 is The Role of the Chief Risk Officer and Risk Appetite Statement. That's the James Lam wheelhouse! [19:44] The CRO, the risk appetite statement, and ERM will be critical topics. Other important topics are the role of the board, how risk professionals should not only serve the board but also leverage the board, and strategic decision-making. [20:13] Before the pandemic, teaching virtually was not James's favorite method. He enjoys interacting with participants. Since the pandemic, we've all learned how to learn and to teach in a virtual environment. James says we can make it dynamic and interactive, with a lot of sharing.  [22:53] James thinks they will get into individualized problem-solving. Participants can highlight challenges or opportunities they're facing. Collectively, the group will help with individualized problem-solving. [21:12] James will bring in guest speakers. He has a strong network of excellent board directors and experts with backgrounds in AI, cybersecurity, and ERM. These include former or current CROs with stories to share. He believes all that will make the program relevant and dynamic. [21:45] Plug Time! Let me tell you about the Spencer Educational Foundation. Spencer's goal to help build a talent pipeline of risk management and insurance professionals is achieved, in part, by its collaboration with risk management and insurance educators across the U.S. and Canada. [22:05] Since 2010, Spencer has awarded over $3.3 million in General Grants to support over 130 student-centered experiential learning initiatives at universities and RMI non-profits. Spencer's 2026 application process is now open through July 30th, 2025. [22:27] General Grant awardees are typically notified at the end of October. Learn more about Spencer's General Grants through the Programs tab of SpencerEd.org. Be sure to check out Spencer's Monthly Virtual Campus.  [22:41] On Thursday, June 12th, we will have Reinsurance 101, hosted by Lee Vuu, Founder and President of the MRIA. A link is in this episode's show notes. Register today! [22:53] Let's Conclude Our Interview with James Lam! [23:22] James says the future is bright. AI and risk analytics are going to change our careers and our lives. In the next five years, we're going to see some interesting dynamics with AI and we're going to have some unintended consequences. There will be risks and opportunities. [23:54] For risk professionals, being able to help our organizations and address the risks, whether it's privacy, model risks such as hallucination, or data governance, all those are going to be in our wheelhouse, and we could add a lot of value.  [24:11] James thinks AI could create opportunities to enhance enterprise risk management by tapping into structured and unstructured data and help us minimize unexpected earnings variance, optimize capital structure, and support corporate and business-level decisions. [24:47] A basic question that any AI model asks is, “What would an expert do?” What would an expert driver do in terms of an autonomous car? What would an expert doctor do in this specific situation? In risk management, the senior risk professionals and CROs are the experts. [25:12] James says the CROs have an opportunity to design the training data that would train these AI agents. They would have an impact on training these AI agents directly in terms of being part of the feedback loop. [25:32] James is very excited about where ERM is going to be in the next three to five years. AI will become a very important tool. He doesn't think it will replace risk practitioners. [25:49] The expertise, judgment, governance, and perspective that risk practitioners bring to the table will be valuable. AI will be a huge enabler. [26:11] Looking forward 10 years, James asks, using AI, how do we help with scenario planning and scenario analysis? Regarding many of the emerging and disruptive risks that we face today, we don't have a lot of data or models, so scenario analysis is going to be a critical tool. [26:48] The ultimate level of enterprise risk management would be to create a digital twin of our organization's overall risk profile, including our strategic, financial, operational, compliance, and reputational risks, and run scenarios to stress-test that system with AI. That's not far off. [27:25] James, it has been such a pleasure to reconnect with you. I have a great feeling about the RIMS CRO Certificate Program in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management. Remember, everyone, you have until July 9th, 2025, to register. Virtual seats are filling up! Check out the link! [27:43] I have a good feeling that we're going to be hearing more and seeing more from James in 2025 and beyond, here at RIMS. James, we value you very much. That's why you're here! [28:11] Special thanks again to James Lam. Register now for the RIMS CRO Certificate Program in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management. It is a bi-weekly course that starts on July 16th. Virtual seats are filling up fast, so register by July 7th. The link is in this episode's show notes. [28:32] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [29:00] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [29:18] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [29:35] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [29:52] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [30:06] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. You can email Justin at Content@RIMS.org. [30:14] Thank you all for your continued support and engagement on social media channels! We appreciate all your kind words. Listen every week! Stay safe!   Links: RIMS-CRO Certificate in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management — Featuring Instructor James Lam! Register by July 7. | Bi-weekly course begins July 16. RIMS Texas Regional 2025 — August 3‒5 | Registration now open. RIMS Canada 2025 — Sept. 14‒17 | Registration now open! RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Risk Management magazine RIMS Now The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center Spencer Education Foundation — General Grants 2026 — Application Deadline July 30, 2025 Spencer Virtual Campus — Next Course on June 12 RIMS ERM Conference 2025 — Nov 17‒18 in Seattle! [Save the Date!] James Lam & Associates RIMS Webinars: RIMS.org/Webinars “Strategic Risk Financing in an Unstable Economy: Leveraging Technology for Efficiency and Cost Reduction” | Sponsored by Origami Risk | June 17, 2025   Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — July 8‒9, 2025 | Presented by RIMS and PARIMA RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — July 17‒18 Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule “Managing Data for ERM” | June 12 | Instructor: Pat Saporito  “Generative AI for Risk Management” | June 26 | Instructor: Pat Saporito See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops   Related RIMScast Episodes: “AI Risks and Compliance with Chris Maguire” “RIMS 2025 Risk Manager of the Year, Jennifer Pack” “ERM, Retail, and Risk with Jeff Strege” “Collateral Benefits Of Pre-Mortem Analysis” “ERMotivation with Carrie Frandsen, RIMS-CRMP” “Live from the ERM Conference 2024 in Boston!”   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience” | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) “Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs” | Sponsored by Zurich “Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding” | Sponsored by Zurich “What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping” | Sponsored by Medcor “Risk Management in a Changing World: A Deep Dive into AXA's 2024 Future Risks Report” | Sponsored by AXA XL “How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips” | Sponsored by Alliant “RMIS Innovation with Archer” | Sponsored by Archer “Navigating Commercial Property Risks with Captives” | Sponsored by Zurich “Breaking Down Silos: AXA XL's New Approach to Casualty Insurance” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Weathering Today's Property Claims Management Challenges” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Storm Prep 2024: The Growing Impact of Convective Storms and Hail” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Partnering Against Cyberrisk” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Harnessing the Power of Data and Analytics for Effective Risk Management” | Sponsored by Marsh “Accident Prevention — The Winning Formula For Construction and Insurance” | Sponsored by Otoos “Platinum Protection: Underwriting and Risk Engineering's Role in Protecting Commercial Properties” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Elevating RMIS — The Archer Way” | Sponsored by Archer   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Kristen Peed!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: James Lam, Founder, James Lam & Associates   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.  

In this episode, Tim Koller, co-author of Valuation and a leading authority on corporate finance, offers a substantive examination of capital allocation decisions under real-world constraints. The discussion moves beyond theory to explore how CEOs and CFOs should approach resource deployment in mature, capital-rich companies—where investment opportunities are limited not due to lack of ambition but due to economic reality.   Key insights include: - Share Buybacks as Rational Policy: Many firms undertaking significant buybacks—particularly in tech, life sciences, and consumer products—do so because they generate more cash than they can reinvest profitably. Koller argues that, in such cases, returning excess capital to shareholders is not a sign of strategic failure but of disciplined decision-making. - The Fallacy of Diversification Without Advantage: Koller highlights repeated failures by capital-rich companies that expand into unrelated sectors to deploy cash, citing historical missteps in energy, utilities, and industrials. He emphasizes the need to assess whether the firm has a genuine competitive advantage before moving beyond its core business. - Granular Leadership in Resource Allocation: Effective CEOs are directly engaged with capital allocation at the business-unit level. Delegating such decisions without maintaining enterprise-wide oversight often leads to underinvestment in high-return growth areas and misaligned incentives at the divisional level. - The Perils of Uniform Cost-Cutting Mandates: Broad directives to improve margins often result in cuts to product development and customer experience—leading to long-term degradation despite short-term financial gains. Koller stresses the importance of distinguishing between cost efficiencies that enhance value and those that erode it. - Timing and Judgment in Capital Deployment: In cyclical, capital-intensive sectors such as chemicals and energy, building capacity in sync with competitors can destroy value. Koller calls for contrarian timing, grounded in independent analysis, even when boards and markets are predisposed to follow the cycle.   Additional themes include the underuse of postmortems in capital projects, the misalignment between project planners and operators, and the distinction between executional and experimental failure. Throughout, Koller reiterates that sound capital allocation depends not only on financial modeling, but also on institutional learning, leadership judgment, and clarity of strategic intent.   This conversation offers practical, senior-level guidance for executives, board members, and investors who must navigate capital planning amid structural constraints, investor pressures, and organizational complexity.   Get Tim's book here: https://shorturl.at/nk7Z9 Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies   Here are some free gifts for you:   Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

How do you know when a company is ready to go public? And what do you do to prepare for this? Chirag Shah, CFO of Motive and former CFO of Kong and Cornerstone OnDemand, joins CJ to share insights from his experience of scaling businesses from $30 million to nearly $1 billion and tripling ARR. He talks about taking companies public and how he helped take one private again in a $5.2 billion deal. In this episode, he explains what signals indicate that a company is ready to accelerate its growth, the art and science of building sales capacity, and how to balance efficiency and growth in hypergrowth mode. He also covers how to achieve a great valuation without a strong performance, the biggest headache on the road to IPO, and whether you should IPO in the first place or remain private.—LINKS:Chirag Shah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chirag-shah-787b1b20/Motive: https://gomotive.com/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: http://mostlymetrics.com—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:11) Sponsor – Tabs | Rippling Spend | Pulley(06:25) Personal Product Market Fit: Preparing Companies for IPOs(10:34) How Being a General Manager Made Chirag a Better CFO(15:02) Sponsor – Navan | NetSuite | Planful(18:11) Asking Better Questions in Finance(20:08) Signals That a Company Is Ready To Accelerate Its Growth(25:10) The Art and Science of Building Sales Capacity(28:35) The Dangers of Adding Too Many Sales Reps(33:22) Determining the Numbers of Recruiters and Sales Manager Interviews(35:03) How To Garner a Great Valuation Without a Strong Performance(37:18) The Sweet Spot for Earnings Guidance(41:22) The Biggest Headache on the Road to IPO(44:03) Underappreciated Challenges of Being a Public SaaS Company(46:42) Taking Cornerstone OnDemand Public and Then Private Again(50:17) IPO or Stay Private: Advice for CFOs(52:15) Optimizing for Public Company Holders Versus Private Equity Investors(55:05) Balancing Efficiency and Growth in Hypergrowth Mode(58:34) Long-Ass Lightning Round: Preparation for Being a CFO(01:01:34) Advice to Younger Self(01:04:04) Finance Software Stack(01:05:01) Craziest Expense Story—SPONSORS:Tabs is a platform that brings all of your revenue-facing data and workflows - billing, AR, payments, rev rec, and reporting - onto a single system so you can automate and be more flexible. Find out more at: tabs.inc/metrics.Rippling Spend is a spend management software that gives you complete visibility and automated policy controls across every type of spend, saving you time and money. Get a demo to see how much time your org would save at rippling.com/metrics.Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit navan.com/Runthenumbers for your demo.NetSuite is an AI-powered business management suite, encompassing ERP/Financials, CRM, and ecommerce for more than 41,000 customers. If you're looking for an ERP, head to https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.Planful's financial planning software can transform your FP&A function. Built for speed, accuracy, and confidence, you'll be planning your way to success and have time left over to actually put it to work. Find out more at www.planful.com/metrics.#scaling #goingpublic #hypergrowth #IPO #PrivateVersusPublic Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

AI is rewriting the rules for marketing roles—and the expectations that come with them. In episode 88 of B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks, Brian Graf and Stijn Hendrikse dig into how job descriptions, hiring, and performance standards are shifting as AI becomes a core part of every marketer's toolkit.What you'll learn:Why activity-based job descriptions are outdated, and why outcomes and ownership matter more than everThe new skills that set marketers apart—like prompt engineering, mastering AI tools, and delivering a high signal-to-noise ratio in your workHow the definition of “quality” has changed, and why B+ work is no longer enough when everyone has access to the same AI-powered shortcutsThe idea that every hire is now a “team of one” backed by powerful AI, and what that means for productivity and accountabilityHow to update your job descriptions and interviews to focus on creativity, critical thinking, and the ability to drive real business results—not just outputWhy testing, feedback, and iteration are now table stakes, and why marketers need to use their extra time for deeper work, not just more workYou'll hear practical examples for content marketing roles, tips for raising the bar on quality, and a candid look at how reputation and professional equity are evolving in the age of AI. The conversation is honest, sometimes a bit unfinished, and full of real-world perspective from two leaders who've seen the shift up close. B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks is one of the most respected voices in the SaaS industry. It is hosted by two leading marketing and revenue growth experts for software:Stijn Hendrikse: Author of T2D3 CMO Masterclass & Book, Founder of KalungiBrian Graf: CEO of KalungiB2B SaaS companies move through predictable stages of marketing focus, cost and size (as described in the popular T2D3 book). The best founders, CFOs and COOs in B2B SaaS rely on a balance of marketing leadership, strategy and execution to produce the customer and revenue growth they require. Staying flexible and nimble is a key marketing asset in a hard-charging B2B world.Resources shared in this episode:The State of B2B SaaS SEO in the Age of AI [2025]Unlocking the power of AI: Transform your content creation processHow Google's New AI Mode Is Reshaping B2B SaaS Marketing T2D3 CMO MasterclassSubmit and vote on our podcast topicsABOUT B2B SAAS MARKETING SNACKS Since 2020, The B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks Podcast has offered software company founders, investors and leadership a fresh source of insights into building a complete and efficient engine for growth.Meet our Marketing Snacks Podcast Hosts: Stijn Hendrikse: Author of T2D3 Masterclass & Book, Founder of KalungiAs a serial entrepreneur and marketing leader, Stijn has contributed to the success of 20+ startups as a C-level executive, including Chief Revenue Officer of Acumatica, CEO of MightyCall, a SaaS contact center solution, and leading the initial global Go-to-Market for Atera, a B2B SaaS Unicorn. Before focusing on startups, Stijn led global SMB Marketing and B2B Product Marketing for Microsoft's Office platform.Brian Graf: CEO of KalungiAs CEO of Kalungi, Brian provides high-level strategy, tactical execution, and business leadership expertise to drive long-term growth for B2B SaaS. Brian has successfully led clients in all aspects of marketing growth, from positioning and messaging to event support, product announcements, and channel-spend optimizations, generating qualified leads and brand awareness for clients while prioritizing ROI. Before Kalungi, Brian worked in television advertising, specializing in business intelligence and campaign optimization, and earned his MBA at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business with a focus in finance and marketing.Visit Kalungi.com to learn more about growing your B2B SaaS company.

You've probably come across Oxygen Advisors if you've spent any time around Aotearoa's startup scene. And if you haven't, well - you've almost certainly heard of the companies they've helped grow. They've been behind the scenes with the likes of Tracksuit, Auror, Ideally and dozens more - helping them grow, operate best in class finance teams and raise capital - guiding them through the tough parts of building. With over 100 startups backed and a 97% survival rate, Matt Dold and Mike Mandis have built a track record that's almost unheard of. In this episode, they join us to pull back the curtain - sharing the frameworks that work, the good habits to cultivate, and the mistakes they help founders avoid. They're speaking more publicly now because they want more founders to succeed. And if you're building something - or thinking about it - this conversation's well worth a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode #284, let's break down AI ARR. As artificial intelligence transforms SaaS business models, a new metric is gaining traction: AI ARR (Artificial Intelligence Annual Recurring Revenue). But what exactly is AI ARR, how do public SaaS companies define it, and why should private SaaS operators care? In this episode, Ben Murray dives deep into how companies like Verint Systems are reporting AI ARR in their earnings and press releases. Ben breaks down the nuances of these definitions, the implications for SaaS valuation, and what founders, CFOs, and GTM teams need to know to stay ahead of the curve. Key Topics Covered What Is AI ARR? Understand how public companies define AI-based recurring revenue and what makes it distinct from traditional ARR or subscription ARR. Case Study: Verint's AI ARR Disclosure Learn how Verint, a customer and communication automation platform, separates AI ARR from Subscription ARR, and why AI now accounts for 50% of its recurring revenue. Run Rate vs. Recognized Revenue Explore the concept of “annualized quarterly run rate” and why some AI ARR definitions include overages and signed (but not yet active) SaaS contracts. Why AI ARR Matters for SaaS Metrics & Board Reporting Discover how AI ARR can become a key growth driver metric, especially for AI-first SaaS platforms or tools with significant AI adoption. Benchmarking and Financial Transparency Trends Understand why SaaS companies are simplifying metric reporting and focusing on high-signal KPIs like AI ARR for investors and stakeholders. Who Should Listen This episode is a must-listen for: SaaS founders and CEOs scaling AI-powered platforms CFOs and FP&A teams defining KPIs for board decks SaaS investors tracking AI monetization trends RevOps and metrics leaders modernizing dashboards Anyone serious about becoming a SaaS metrics expert Why This Episode Matters As SaaS businesses race to integrate and monetize AI, understanding how to measure, disclose, and leverage AI ARR could be your edge in strategic planning, fundraising, or M&A. SaaS Metrics School isn't just about numbers—it's about empowering you to lead with data. Subscribe & Follow Never miss an insight from the top SaaS metrics podcast. Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page

For years, security has been treated as a necessary evil - a budget line item that CFOs approve without truly understanding its business impact. But what if cloud security could be a revenue driver, an efficiency enabler, and a cost-saving powerhouse? In this episode, Dani Woolf sat down with Chris Thomas, Chief Revenue Officer at AlgoSec, to break down how CFOs should really evaluate cloud security investments, not just as a defensive measure, but as a business accelerator. They dove into the cost of inaction, the inefficiencies draining budgets, and the financial case for security automation - all from a CFO's perspective. If you're still treating security as an overhead cost, this conversation will change the way you think about it. To get a demo of AlgoSec, visit: https://www.algosec.com/lp/request-a-demo

Jeff Harrington, CFO of Children's Hospital Colorado, joins the podcast to share his perspective on the evolving role of CFOs in healthcare. He discusses pressing concerns around potential Medicaid cuts and the growing challenges in recruiting pediatric specialists. Jeff also reflects on how the financial leadership landscape is shifting in response to these complex industry dynamics.

How can finance leaders identify where their capital is silently going to waste and where it can be better used to drive growth? In this episode, CJ interviews Russell Lester, the CFO of Tropic, where capital allocation is both the product and the mission. Russell introduces the concept of “spoilage”, deployed capital that fails to deliver its intended value. He also talks about “levers”, positive actions that force multiply your efforts, and “leakages”, headwinds or detractors that sap momentum. Russell believes it is the job of the CFO (or “Chief Alignment Officer”) to proactively go looking for these levers and leakages. He then explains how he uses his "center of the table" framework to redeploy the freed-up capital to fuel growth. Russell also covers how to address misalignment, what helicopter skills are and why you need them, what a data safari is and why you should take one daily, and why every CFO needs a spend management tool.—LINKS:Russell Lester on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-lester-aa98463/Tropic: https://www.tropicapp.io/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: http://mostlymetrics.comRELATED EPISODES:The Roadshow, the IPO Process, and Ringing That Bell, With CFO Amanda Whalen of Klaviyo.CFO Jenny Decker Unveils Top Frameworks Used at Front. —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:34) Sponsor – Rippling Spend | Pulley | Navan(06:18) The Business of Star Wars(08:33) The Concept of “Spoilage” in Business(10:27) How To Identify Spoiled Capital(15:10) Spoilage Caused by Strategy Drift(16:25) Sponsor – NetSuite | Planful | Tabs(20:06) What Are “Levers and Leakages”(21:40) Identifying Levers(25:52) Identifying Leakages(26:37) The Center-of-Table Framework for Budgeting(31:03) The CFO As “Chief Alignment Officer”(33:06) How To Address Misalignment(34:57) What Alignment Looks Like in a Founder-Led Business(35:54) What Helicopter Skills Are and Why You Need Them(38:07) Data Safaris and Curiosity as a Secret Weapon(42:54) Aligning Data and Defining Metrics(45:08) Using Tropic for Capital Allocation Decisions(48:13) Spend Management: Cutting Costs Versus Driving Growth(51:08) Why Every CFO Needs a Spend Management Tool(52:59) Long-Ass Lightning Round: Alignment With Investors(55:13) Auto-Renewals: Good or Bad(56:25) Advice to Younger Self(57:08) Finance Software Stack(57:57) Craziest Expense Story—SPONSORS:Rippling Spend is a spend management software that gives you complete visibility and automated policy controls across every type of spend, saving you time and money. Get a demo to see how much time your org would save at rippling.com/metrics.Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit navan.com/Runthenumbers for your demo.NetSuite is an AI-powered business management suite, encompassing ERP/Financials, CRM, and ecommerce for more than 41,000 customers. If you're looking for an ERP, head to https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.Planful's financial planning software can transform your FP&A function. Built for speed, accuracy, and confidence, you'll be planning your way to success and have time left over to actually put it to work. Find out more at www.planful.com/metrics.Tabs is a platform that brings all of your revenue-facing data and workflows - billing, AR, payments, rev rec, and reporting - onto a single system so you can automate and be more flexible. Find out more at: tabs.inc/metrics.#capitalallocation #spendmanagement #capitalspoilage #centerofthetableframework #spendmanagementtool Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

In this episode, Paul Barnhurst sits down with Paul Lynch, the energetic and straightforward CEO of Centage. They dive into what makes great FP&A in today's world and why so many companies are still stuck with outdated tools and bad habits. From growing startups to leading mature SaaS businesses, Paul shares lessons learned, mistakes made, and why data, not gut instinct, is what really drives success. You'll hear why Excel refuses to die, how sales and finance can (and should) work better together, and why chasing growth without understanding your numbers is a recipe for disaster. Paul Lynch has spent his career leading B2B software companies and helping them scale with better decision-making tools. He's been CEO at Assembla and Import.io, and now heads up Centage, a modern FP&A platform. Originally from Dublin and now living in Texas, Paul brings a mix of humor, experience, and blunt truths about finance, growth, and leadership. He's also a former whiskey salesman in South Africa, a passionate cook, and a lifelong Liverpool fan. Expect to Learn:Why reporting is not just planning should be the core of FP&A.How poor unit economics can quietly destroy your business.Why hiring data people early matters more than sales or recruiters.The lasting dominance of Excel and what that says about innovation.How Paul's early sales career in South Africa shaped his leadership style.Here are a few quotes from the episode:“We need to stop worshipping Excel and start building tools for the next 40 years.” - Paul LynchMany companies chase growth without even knowing if they're making or losing money.” - Paul Lynch“The moment you think you know more than your customer, your business starts to fail.” - Paul LynchPaul brings energy, candor, and real-world perspective to a topic that's often bogged down in spreadsheets and jargon. This episode is a must-listen for finance professionals who want to rethink how they use data, sharpen their business instincts, or learn from someone who's built and led through both booms and busts. If you've ever questioned how to grow responsibly, build a smarter team, or move beyond Excel, Paul's insights will challenge your thinking and leave you with practical takeaways to act on.Corporate Finance Institute: Master real-world finance skills with CFI's FMVA program to learn financial modeling, valuations, and strategic insights top finance teams use. Get 30% off any plan and take the next step in your career. Explore now at https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/pricing-FP&A guy/?utm_source=FP&A guy&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=podcast_adsFollow FP&A Tomorrow:Newsletter - Subscribe on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6957679529595162624 Follow Paul Lynch:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulglynch/Website - https://www.centage.com/Follow Paul: Website - https://www.theFP&A ndaguy.com LinkedIn -

When Matthias Steinberg entered the CFO office at MindBridge in 2022, the audit files displayed on his laptop were already being processed by the company's own AI. KPMG, he adds, was using the same platform to automate journal‑entry testing—work “traditionally done manual.” That shift marked “a big step toward continuous audit,” Steinberg tells us.The platform, he explains, monitors “all relevant financial flows” for two audiences. External audit firms—including “a number of the top 100 in North America”—rely on it to surface anomalies with machine‑learning speed. Enterprise finance teams deploy the same engine as a “monitoring cockpit” that flags vendor over‑charges, payroll errors, and revenue leakage so managers can intervene before profits slip. Replacing after‑the‑fact sampling with continuous insight, it gives auditors and CFOs a single source of truth. By serving both constituencies, MindBridge fuses compliance certainty with operational advantage.Capital strategy now occupies equal attention. Founded in Ottawa, MindBridge had completed several Canadian and U.S. venture rounds; its last raise before Steinberg arrived was led by Silicon Valley's PeakSpan, he tells us. Charged with “professionalizing the business and also [doing] a fund‑raise,” he orchestrated a recap that introduced Boston‑based PSG Equity and offered early backers a partial exit. The diversified balance sheet, Steinberg says, funds the product roadmap that keeps KPMG—and every controller chasing real‑time insight—a step ahead of the next anomaly. Fresh capital also fuels deeper AI R&D and global reach, he adds.

Most leaders think hiring is about resumes. It's not. In this episode of No Broke Months, Dan Rochon tells the raw story of hiring four CFOs in six months—and what finally made the fourth one thrive. It's a lesson in culture, clarity, and leadership. You'll learn why the right person makes the job feel effortless, how to define your company culture using one question, and why your vision, values, and expectations must align. If you're growing a business, building a team, or striving to lead with purpose—this episode is your blueprint.What you'll learn on this episodeThe Wrong Hire Doesn't Mean the Person Is Wrong—Just That They're Wrong for YouThe One Question That Defines Your Culture: “How do I like to be treated?”Why the Right Person Makes the Job Feel EasyThe Scarlet Framework – Self-Starter, Competitive, Assertive, Relationship-Based, Learning-Based, Team PlayerHow to Align Vision, Mission, and TalentLeadership vs. Management – Leaders inspire; managers maintainWhy Clear Expectations Are Non-Negotiable – You can't lead what you don't defineTracking Wins and Failing Forward – Create a culture of ownership without guiltEmotional Safety Matters – Your team should feel supported, not shamedPersonal Reflection Fuels Leadership Growth – Ask: What inspires me? and journal your way to clarityIf you're tired of turnover, misalignment, and team drama—it's not just a hiring problem. It's a leadership opportunity.Teach to Sell isn't just about sales. It's about influence—the kind that builds high-performing teams, attracts aligned clients, and creates a culture that lasts. This book is your guide to becoming the kind of leader people want to work with and buy from.Preorder Teach to Sell today and start building a business—and a team—that never has another broke month. https://www.nobrokemonths.com/teach-to-sell-preorderResources mentioned in this episodeTeach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell And What They Do Instead – Dan's upcoming book focused on transforming the sales industry through influence, not pressure.The Scarlet Hiring Framework: A tool for identifying top talent that aligns with your leadership style.CPI Community: A place for sales pros and business owners to create consistent, predictable income through leadership and systems. To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:Website: No Broke MonthsPodcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople PodcastInstagram: @donrochonxFacebook: Dan RochonLinkedIn: Dan RochonTeach to Sell Preorder: Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do Instead