The CFO Project

In this episode of the CFO Project Podcast, we dive into the essential soft skills every CFO advisor needs to succeed. While technical expertise like forecasting and budgeting are crucial, soft skills like empathy, resourcefulness, and active listening are what truly set top advisors apart. Jeff Prager, co-founder of the CFO Project, joins the conversation to discuss how these skills help CFO advisors better understand their clients, build trust, and provide real value to small business owners.

We explore how curiosity, conviction, and a drive to constantly improve are key to helping clients achieve their business goals. CFO advisors who can relate to business owners, see challenges from their perspective, and provide insightful guidance are far more valuable than those who simply crunch numbers. If you’re looking to strengthen your role as a trusted advisor, this episode is packed with insights to help you stand out. Don't forget to sign up for our free weekly newsletter at TheCFOProject.com/newsletter for more tips!

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In this insightful episode of The CFO Project Podcast, host Adam Lean sits down with Lauren Baptiste, founder of Aquilo and former CPA, to tackle the critical issue of burnout in the accounting profession. Lauren shares her personal journey from experiencing severe burnout that led to hospitalization, to discovering how mindset shifts and self-awareness can transform our relationship with work. As a fellow accountant who's been in the trenches, she offers a unique perspective on why high-achieving professionals are particularly susceptible to burnout.

Whether you're pulling late nights during month-end close or feeling overwhelmed by client demands, this episode provides practical strategies for recognizing and addressing burnout before it takes a toll on your health and career. Lauren and Adam explore how perfectionism, people-pleasing, and false perceptions about workplace expectations can contribute to burnout, while offering actionable steps to break free from these patterns. Learn why changing your mindset might be more important than changing your job, and discover how small, intentional changes can lead to sustainable work-life harmony in the accounting profession.

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Learn More About Acheloa Wellness
https://www.acheloawellness.com/

In this eye-opening episode of The CFO Project Podcast, host Adam Lean sits down with Sara Bryson of CFO Yeah to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing accounting professionals today: effectively communicating with clients. Sara shares powerful insights on how to translate complex financial concepts into language that business owners not only understand but are motivated to act upon. Through real-world examples and candid stories of both successes and failures, this episode reveals why speaking your client's language is crucial for driving meaningful change in their businesses.

Discover why traditional financial reports often fall flat with clients and learn practical strategies for connecting with business owners on their terms. Adam and Sara explore how accountants and bookkeepers can shift from overwhelming clients with technical jargon to becoming trusted advisors who inspire action. Whether you're offering CFO services, tax preparation, or bookkeeping, this episode provides invaluable guidance on communicating in ways that demonstrate your value and help clients achieve their business goals.

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Learn More About The CFO Project:
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Learn More About CFO Yeah
https://www.cfohyeah.com/

Join Adam Lean as he sits down with Pam Greb, founder of Cloud Nine Financial, to explore her journey from corporate America to building a thriving bookkeeping and CFO advisory practice. After a 20-year career spanning engineering, account management, and sales, Pam shares how she transformed her traditional bookkeeping services into a high-value advisory practice that makes a bigger impact while requiring less time with each client.

Discover practical insights on how to successfully add CFO services to your existing practice, including how to balance current bookkeeping clients while scaling up, creating repeatable processes, and hiring contractors to free up your time for advisory work. Pam also discusses why embracing advisory services is crucial in an era where traditional bookkeeping risks becoming commoditized by advancing technology. Whether you're considering adding CFO services or looking to scale your existing practice, this episode provides actionable steps and valuable perspective from someone who's successfully made the transition.

In this eye-opening episode of The CFO Project Podcast, host Adam Lean welcomes price and profit coach Loren Fogelman to discuss how accounting professionals can break free from price-based competition. Loren shares powerful insights on the crucial difference between selling features versus benefits, explaining why most firms struggle by focusing on technical aspects like workflows and reports instead of communicating the transformative outcomes they deliver to clients.

Learn how to transition from hourly billing to value-based pricing and discover Loren's proven five-step process for converting existing clients to a new pricing model without losing them. Whether you're running a bookkeeping, tax, or accounting firm, this episode reveals practical strategies to elevate your pricing, attract better clients, and increase revenue while working less. Loren and Adam dive deep into real examples, including how one bookkeeper transformed her practice by targeting entertainment industry trades and eliminating the "starving artist syndrome" for her clients.

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Learn More About Business Success Solutions
https://www.businesssuccesssolution.com/work-with-loren/

In this episode of The CFO Project Podcast, host Adam Lean is joined by Keila Hill-Trawick, Founder of Little Fish Accounting. They discuss the idea that you don't have to be a big firm to be successful in the accounting industry. Keila shares how she built her practice to serve the "little fish" - small businesses and sole proprietors - by offering a concierge-level experience regardless of the client's size.

Keila emphasizes the importance of defining "enough" for your firm and not constantly chasing growth for growth's sake. She talks about how she structured her team and services to provide maximum value to her clients without burning out. This episode is full of practical advice for accountants, CPAs, and bookkeepers who want to build a sustainable, fulfilling practice that aligns with their personal and professional goals.

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Learn More About The CFO Project:
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Learn More About Little Fish Accounting
https://www.littlefishaccounting.com/

Struggling to market your accounting or advisory firm effectively? In this episode of The CFO Project Podcast, host Adam Lean sits down with Christian Jones, CEO of Tax Pro Marketer, to discuss the best marketing tactics for accounting and advisory practices.

Christian shares insights on building genuine relationships with potential clients, creating a marketing funnel that converts, and leveraging online and offline strategies to attract your ideal customers. Whether you're a tax practitioner, bookkeeper, or advisory services provider, this episode is packed with practical tips to grow your firm through smart, effective marketing. Don't miss it!

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https://thecfoproject.com/start-a-cfo-service

Learn More About The CFO Project:
https://thecfoproject.com/

Learn More About TaxProMarketer
https://taxpromarketer.com/

In this enlightening episode of The CFO Project Podcast, host Adam Lean sits down with Shelby Ashley, founder of Optimized Financial Solutions, to tackle the challenging topic of setting boundaries with demanding clients. Shelby shares her journey from corporate financial analyst to successful CFO advisor, and discusses how learning to say "no" transformed her business - leading her to sign three new clients in just one month after letting go of a problematic one.

Join Adam and Shelby as they dive into practical strategies for managing client expectations, setting clear boundaries, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance while delivering high-value CFO services. They explore why financial professionals often struggle to turn down client requests, how to structure engagements to prevent scope creep, and when it's appropriate to part ways with clients who aren't the right fit. Whether you're an established CFO advisor or just starting your journey from accountant to advisor, this episode offers valuable insights on building a sustainable and profitable practice.

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And check out The CFO Project's free training here:
https://thecfoproject.com/start-a-cfo-service

Learn More About The CFO Project:
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Learn More About Optimized Financial Solutions
https://www.optimizedfinancialsolutions.com/

In this insightful episode of The CFO Project Podcast, host Adam Lean sits down with Shahram Zarshenas, founder of Financial Cents, to discuss essential tips for running an efficient accounting practice. Shahram shares his journey from investment banking to creating a practice management tool specifically designed for accountants and bookkeepers. Learn how implementing the right systems can help you transition from being just an accountant to becoming a successful firm owner, capable of scaling your business and achieving a better work-life balance.

Discover the three core problems that growing firms face: visibility, creating a single source of truth, and automation. Shahram offers practical advice on how to address these challenges, emphasizing the importance of starting early in your firm's journey. Whether you're a solo practitioner or managing a team of 20, this episode provides valuable insights on leveraging technology to streamline your workflow, improve client communication, and ultimately find peace of mind in your practice. Don't miss out on these game-changing strategies that can transform your accounting firm's efficiency and scalability.

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https://thecfoproject.com/start-a-cfo-service

Learn More About The CFO Project:
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Learn More About Financial Cents
https://financial-cents.com/

Join host Adam Lean and special guest Michelle Weinstein, the "Pitch Queen" and founder of The Abundant Accountant, as they tackle one of the biggest challenges facing financial professionals: selling services without feeling like a salesperson. In this enlightening episode of The CFO Project Podcast, they dive deep into why accountants and bookkeepers often struggle with sales, debunking common misconceptions and fears about selling high-value services.

Discover practical insights on transforming your mindset from "doing the work" to confidently selling your expertise at premium rates. Michelle shares invaluable perspectives on overcoming the fear of rejection, understanding your true value, and approaching sales as a way to genuinely help clients. Whether you're an accountant, CPA, or bookkeeper looking to grow your practice, this episode provides actionable strategies to elevate your sales game while staying authentic to your professional identity.

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And check out The CFO Project's free training here:
https://thecfoproject.com/start-a-cfo-service

Learn More About The CFO Project:
https://thecfoproject.com/

Learn More About The Abundant Accountant
https://theabundantaccountant.com/