This episode features an interview with Ross Tennenbaum, CFO of Avalara, the leading provider of automated tax compliance software with a market cap of nearly $15B.  

Over his more than 20-year career, Ross has served in operational and financial leadership roles for companies like Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs.  He’s an entrepreneur and investment banker turned software executive, with an MBA from The Wharton School.

On this episode, Ross discusses how to harness skills from previous finance roles to become a strategic partner as CFO, when to bring on a treasurer, and leveraging modern technology to drive growth.

Quotes

“There are many different types of paths to be CFO. There are many different people with different experiences.  But really understanding how to run and operate a business and how it works is a key differentiator to being a great CFO, beyond the accounting nuts and bolts.  The question is how do I help my team make this company the best it can be?”

Time Stamps

*[0:36] Intro

*[1:47] Interview begins

*[8:56] The importance of understanding all aspects of the business as CFO

*[12:27] Cash Crossroads: How the pandemic shaped the world of finance

*[23:56] The Playbook: Finance strategy

*[24:41] When is it time to get a treasurer?

*[42:42] Report from the Future:  The future of the CFO

*[47:23] Quick Hits

Sponsor

The Invisible Vault is powered by the team at Kyriba, the global leader in cloud treasury and finance solutions, empowering CFOs and their teams to transform how they activate liquidity as a dynamic, real-time vehicle for growth and value creation. To learn more visit www.kyriba.com

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