Inside the CFO Office

RPA in FP&A

Inside the CFO Office Podcast | Episode 26

What happens when FP&A moves beyond reporting and becomes a true driver of business insight?

In this episode of Inside the CFO Office, I speak with Aaron Zhou, a global finance leader with over two decades of experience across organizations like GE, Rio Tinto, Worley, and RPS, where he has led large-scale finance transformation initiatives.

From starting his career in corporate accounting to stepping into global leadership roles, Aaron shares a practical perspective on how FP&A is evolving through automation, data, and technology.

As finance teams adopt RPA, AI, and intelligent automation, the role of FP&A is shifting from manual reporting to real-time insight generation and strategic business partnership.

Here’s what we unpacked in this episode:

👉 Aaron’s journey across corporate finance, accounting, and FP&A into global leadership roles

👉 How FP&A has evolved from traditional reporting and variance analysis to automated, data-driven insights

👉 Why RPA is best suited for high-volume, rule-based processes like reporting and dashboards

👉 The role of AI in enhancing forecasting through broader datasets and model-driven insights

👉 How FP&A is becoming a “superhuman” business partner with deeper data visibility

👉 Why prioritizing automation based on ROI, complexity, and scalability is critical

👉 The importance of quick wins in driving finance transformation success

👉 How professionals can transition into tech-enabled finance roles through continuous learning

👉 The shift from reporting to insight generation and strategic influence

👉 Why human judgment remains essential despite increasing automation

One insight from Aaron that really stood out:

🗣️ “FP&A will be elevated further — to become a superhuman business partner, because it now has access to far richer data and insights.”

Chapters

00:00 – Teaser
04:00 – Introduction & Context Setting
06:20 – Finance Leadership Journey
08:40 – Defining Moments & Role of RPA in Reporting
11:30 – Evolution of FP&A
14:30 – Finance Transformation & Business Value Lens
17:30 – Implementation Challenges & Stakeholder Alignment
23:00 – RPA Use Cases & Where Not to Automate
25:30 – Prioritization Framework for Automation
28:00 – Change Management & Workforce Mindset Shift
30:00 – Leadership, Governance & Decision-Making
32:30 – AI vs RPA vs Analytics in Finance
35:00 – Future of Forecasting with AI
37:30 – Career Advice for Finance Professionals
40:00 – Closing

#podcast #financeleaders #insidethecfooffice

The All-Round CFO

Inside the CFO Office | Episode 24 | Vivek Hariharan, CFO, Sauce LabsWhat does it take to become an “all-round CFO” — someone who goes beyond finance, partners across functions, drives growth, and embraces AI without losing the human touch?

In this episode of Inside the CFO Office, I speak with Vinod Hariharan, CFO at Sauce Labs, the world’s largest continuous testing cloud for web and mobile applications.

With over two and a half decades of finance leadership experience across PwC, Salesforce, Bazaarvoice, Marketo, Adobe, Alida, ToTotango, and now Sauce Labs, Vinod shares a deeply practical perspective on evolving from a finance operator to a true business partner.

From navigating public company cadence to leading private, PE-backed growth companies, and from managing core finance to overseeing RevOps, legal, HR, and IT — this is a masterclass in modern CFO leadership.

Here’s what we unpacked in this episode:

👉 Vinod’s unconventional journey from PwC to Salesforce during the early SaaS wave

👉 The shift from public-company rigor to private-company flexibility

👉 Why CFOs must shape the business — not just report on it👉 The importance of resource allocation, vertical focus, and operationalizing ICP

👉 Why unifying RevOps under finance helped prevent data and lead leakage

👉 How private equity playbooks reshape automation and performance metrics

👉 AI’s real impact on the Office of the CFO — from forecasting to liquidity

👉 Why AR automation and liquidity management are foundational to growth

👉 Running financial models through LLMs to accelerate budgeting and reporting

👉 The future of real-time finance vs traditional quarterly cadence

👉 Career advice: curiosity, storytelling, strategic thinking, and human-in-the-loop AIOne insight from Vinod that really stood out:

🗣️ “If you go to the C-suite with a problem, you’re expected to go in with potential solutions — not just the issue.”

Working with the C-Suite: A CFO PlaybookInside the CFO Office | Episode 23

What does it really take to work effectively with the C-suite, boards, and investors—and grow as a finance leader across companies of every shape and size?

In this episode of Inside the CFO Office, I speak with Venkatraman G S (Venky), CFO at MathCo, who shares a deeply practical playbook on working with senior leadership and navigating complexity at the highest levels.

With finance leadership experience across large global enterprises, Indian multinationals, listed companies, PE-backed firms, and high-growth organizations — including Wipro, Accenture, Mindtree, Subex, Maveric Systems, and now MathCo — Venky brings a rare, well-rounded perspective on how finance leadership expectations evolve as companies scale.

Venky walks us through his journey from controllership and business finance to the CFO role, and breaks down what truly matters when partnering with CEOs, boards, and investors—beyond just reporting numbers.

Here’s what we unpacked in this episode:

👉 How working across services, product, and vertical-focused firms shaped Venky’s leadership approach

👉 What changes—and what stays constant—when moving across different company stages

👉 How CFOs should communicate with CEOs, boards, and investors

👉 Why listening carefully before responding is critical at the C-suite level

👉 How crisp, focused communication builds credibility and trust

👉 Why finance leaders must bring context, not just data

👉 Where AI is most likely to disrupt finance: financial reporting and FP&A

👉 How AI can move finance from static reports to real-time insight and decision-making

👉 Career advice for finance professionals navigating a technology-driven futureOne insight from

Venky that really stood out:

🗣️ “When you go to the C-suite with a problem, you’re expected to go in with potential solutions—not just the issue.”

If you work closely with senior leadership—or aspire to—this episode offers practical, real-world guidance on judgment, communication, and operating effectively at the C-suite level.

Chapters:

00:00 – Teaser

03:28 – Introduction

04:42 – Finance leadership journey across diverse firms

17:22 – Working with the C-Suite: A CFO Playbook

27:13 – AI’s impact on CFOTech

34:11 – Career advice for finance professionals

39:00 – Closing reflections#podcast #insidethecfooffice

to be added

Inside the CFO Office – Episode 22 with Brenda Williams Johnson

Podcast Page – https://finfloh.com/podcast

How do you modernize order-to-cash, automate high-volume AR workflows, and move from delayed, manual processes to real-time operations?In this episode of Inside the CFO Office, I speak with Brenda Williams Johnson, Vice President of Invoice-to-Cash at Marketing.com, a marketing technology firm executing multi-touch campaigns from design to tracking. Brenda brings deep expertise in tech transformation and O2C architecture across Koch Industries, Georgia Pacific, Miller Environmental Group, and several private-equity-backed companies.Brenda shares her journey from supporting Georgia Pacific to becoming a solutions architect for AR transformation — and how automation, process discipline, and real-time systems have reshaped O2C over the last two decades.

Here’s what we unpacked in this episode:

👉 AR, billing, cash app, and collections once needed large teams due to manual work.

👉 Before teams were always behind—kickbacks, rejections, and mailbox delays slowed customer responses.

👉 Shifting from mailed invoices to digital workflows improved O2C speed and accuracy.

👉 Transformation happens through incremental wins, small automations, and steady process improvements.

👉 Early automations cut repetitive tasks and freed teams for higher-value work.

👉 Legacy processes—paper invoicing, envelope stuffing, printers—blocked remote and efficient operations.

👉 Platforms like Billtrust sped invoice delivery and improved communication with timestamp visibility.

👉 Brenda’s team built a self-sustaining O2C system independent of ERP constraints.

👉 Integrating data into one environment improved accuracy and reduced human error risk.

👉 Automation ensured numbers were trusted by eliminating manual miscalculations and inconsistencies.

👉 Automation enabled smooth COVID operations by removing dependence on physical processes.

👉 AI enables real-time O2C—scanning mailboxes, interpreting responses, and speeding cash application.

Chapters

00:00 – Teaser
03:10 – Introduction
04:24 – Brenda’s 20-year journey across Koch, Georgia Pacific & other firms
05:32 – Overall Transformation of A/R as a Solutions Architect
10:25 – Businesses being behind the curve of automation
14:11 – Transformation projects
14:34 - Small change - Automating invoice delivery and building a self-serving O2C
17:31 – Big Change - Connecting the systems for data centralization
24:43 – Projects and Learnings at Georgia Pacific
26:32 – Take on applications of AI in O2C
28:30 - Advice to finance professionals
30:34 – Closing reflections

You can also watch the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and Amazon.

#insidethecfopodcast #cfodiaries #order2cash #arautomation #techtransformation #podcast

Inside the CFO Podcast Episode 21 with Swarn Kamal

Podcast Page - https://finfloh.com/podcast

How do you scale finance across countries, build trust-driven global teams, and transform cashflow performance using process, technology, and leadership mindset?In this episode of Inside the CFO Office, I speak with Swarn Kamal, Vice President of Finance at Akraya Inc., where he leads finance teams across the US, Canada, the Philippines, and India. With nearly two decades across E&Y, Deloitte, Thomson Reuters, and US Tech Solutions, Swarn brings deep operational and strategic insight into building modern finance organizations at scale.Swarn shares his journey from audit and controllership to driving value creation, finance transformation, global team leadership, and cashflow excellence — including reducing DSO from 78 days → 42 days in under six months.

Here’s what we unpacked in this episode:

👉 Scaling finance across geographies and building culture-driven teams

👉 Technology transformation

👉 Combining cash + process + technology to drive transformation

👉 Weekly team sync as a leadership ritual for alignment and ownership

👉 Why trust is the core of leading global teams

👉 His framework: The 3 I’s of ERP — Integration, Intelligence & Insight

👉 Why ERP systems lack predictive intelligence and how AI fills the gap

👉 Leadership principles — manage mindsets, not geographies

👉 Advice for future finance leaders to think beyond accounting and stay curiousOne insight that stands out:

🗣️ “Once you start leading a team, it’s not about managing geography — it’s about managing mindsets.”If you’re scaling global finance teams, optimizing cashflows, or exploring how automation and AI reshape the CFO office, this episode is packed with practical learning.

Chapters

00:00 – Podcast Teaser

03:34 – Introduction

05:04 – Swarn’s two decades of journey into finance leadership

08:58 – Scaling Akraya post-COVID and driving margin improvement

13:11 – Technology transformation

16:11 – Weekly sync cadence & mindset-based leadership

22:46 – The 3 I’s of ERP: Integration, Intelligence & Insight

25:10 – AI as a strategic enabler for finance

29:10 – Advice for future CFOs & staying curious

31:28 – Closing reflectionsYou can also watch the podcast on Apple, Spotify and Amazon

#insidethecfopodcast #cfodiaries #podcast #erp #ai

How do you automate credit decisions, manage change across a growing organization, and build stronger partnerships between finance and sales?In this episode of Inside the CFO Office, I spoke with Deana Reynolds, Director of Credit at Edges Electrical Group, one of Northern California’s largest independent electrical distributors.Deana’s journey is remarkable — from flying jets in the U.S. Air Force to leading credit at a fast-growing company that successfully merged two businesses without a single layoff. With nearly two decades of experience in credit, she shares how she’s embraced technology, automation, and AI to transform credit operations.Here’s what we unpacked in this episode:👉 How Edges Electrical Group automated credit applications and transformed manual processes into fully digital workflows👉 Why change management and buy-in are the hardest (and most rewarding) parts of digital transformation👉 The human side of credit decisions — where data and tech meet judgment👉 How AI can flag low-risk and high-priority customers to speed up onboarding and improve cashflows👉 Why collaboration between credit and sales drives both revenue growth and risk controlOne insight from Deana that really stood out:🗣️ “Never stop learning. Embrace change, embrace technology, and always keep an open mind — that’s how finance leaders grow.”If you’re leading AR, credit & collections, or exploring how automation and AI are transforming finance operations, this episode is full of actionable insights from a practitioner who’s seen it all — from paper applications to AI-driven workflows.#podcast @#insidethecfooffice #cfotech

How do you transform Accounts Receivable into a strategic, customer-facing function while leveraging AI and technology to drive impact?

In this episode of Inside the CFO Office, I speak with Tracy Mitchell, Director of Accounts Receivable at Trinity Logistics, about exactly that.

Tracy’s career journey—from AP and billing roles to leading AR for a global logistics firm—gives her a unique perspective on building resilient AR teams that balance people, processes, and technology. She shares practical insights on driving efficiency, collaborating with Sales, and embracing AI in credit & collections.

Here’s what we unpacked in this episode:

1. Tracy’s journey from AP and billing to leading AR at Trinity Logistics
2. Why a strong AR–Sales partnership is essential for customer success
3. How AI is transforming credit & collections from spreadsheets to predictive insights
4. The future of ERP systems with AI layered on topLeadership in finance through emotional intelligence and people skills

One insight from Tracy that really stood out:“AR leadership isn’t just about numbers — it’s about building strong partnerships, embracing technology, and leading with emotional intelligence.”

If you’re leading AR, credit & collections, or exploring how AI and digital transformation are reshaping finance operations, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways.

How do you lead global credit & collections teams across geographies, drive digital transformation, and prepare for the future of AI in finance?

This episode with Mark Beaubouef, Senior Global Director of Credit, Collections & AR at Trellix, dives into exactly that.

Mark’s career spans leading finance functions at Evoque, IBM, NEC Corporation, Rexel USA, Samsung Electronics & more — giving him a rich perspective on building resilient global AR organizations. He’s managed teams across the US, Ireland, and India, overseen large-scale ERP rollouts, and driven multiple transformation programs in credit & collections.

Here’s what we unpacked in this episode:

 👉 The power of empathy when managing global teams across cultures and regions

 👉 Mark’s journey and stories at Trellix and other firms 👉 Mark’s biggest transformation stories in credit & collections — and lessons learned 👉 How ERPs could evolve to better serve credit, collections & AR leaders 👉 The role of AI in credit & collections (including how Mark uses tools like ChatGPT to review financial statements in seconds for credit assessments) 👉 Why policies, technology, and people empathy together unlock the full value of A/R

One insight from Mark that really stood out: 🗣️ “Empathy isn’t just a leadership skill — it’s the glue that holds global teams together.”

If you’re leading AR, credit & collections, or exploring how AI and digital transformation are reshaping finance operations, this episode is packed with practical takeaways.

This episode features Josh Rappoport, VP of Finance at Acumatica – a finance leader with a career that spans private equity, venture capital, SaaS, fintech, and strategic advisory.

Josh brings a rare blend of investor mindset and operator experience – having worked with firms like Summit Partners, Microsoft, BillGO, and now leading FP&A at Acumatica, one of the top cloud ERP providers in the world.

In this episode, Finance Leadership at High-Growth SaaS Firms, we explore:

🔹 The 3 priorities for any finance leader in SaaS: GTM efficiency, resourcing, and the new cost dynamics of delivery

🔹 Why finance must move beyond reporting - and lead with storytelling, not just spreadsheets

🔹 Why finance needs to be the “Rosetta Stone” of the business - translating between teams and enabling strategic decisions

🔹 The evolving CFO tech stack, and why AI is only as powerful as the “shoulders” wielding it

🔹 Candid advice for aspiring finance leaders - from storytelling with data to embracing what you don’t know

This conversation is packed with real insight for anyone shaping the future of finance, especially in high-growth SaaS.