The CFO Show

Growth often looks impressive from the outside. New markets, new capabilities and new headlines. But as organizations scale, leaders quickly discover that growth is the visible part. Integration is the real work.

In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson sits down with Jim Peko, CEO of Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, to discuss one of the most significant transformations in the firm’s 100-year history. As Grant Thornton evolves from a traditional partnership model into a unified multinational platform bringing together nearly 20 firms and 25,000 professionals, Jim shares lessons on governance, leadership, culture and long-term value creation.

Together, they explore:

• Why true transformation requires more than incremental change
• How governance structures can accelerate or hinder growth
• The difference between acquisition and integration, and why integration creates value
• How leaders can balance global consistency with local autonomy
• Why transparency and communication matter during periods of change
• How AI and technology investments support quality, scalability and client outcomes
• Leadership lessons from transforming a 100-year-old organization

Whether leading a major acquisition, scaling internationally or modernizing a legacy business, this conversation offers practical insights for CFOs and enterprise leaders navigating transformation at scale.

The path to becoming a CFO is rarely linear. In today’s environment of constant change, finance leaders are expected to move between strategy, operations, and capital markets while developing the judgment needed to navigate uncertainty and drive growth.

In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson speaks with Greg Mrva, Chief Financial Officer of GoFundMe, about how varied career experiences shape stronger finance leaders. Drawing on decades of experience across investment banking, public company leadership, and high-growth technology businesses, Greg shares how moving between roles builds pattern recognition, resilience, and better decision-making. His journey from investment banking to CFO offers a practical lens on how finance leaders can expand their capabilities over time.

Together, they explore:

• Why non-linear career paths create stronger CFOs
• How experience in banking and operating roles builds strategic insight
• Lessons from integrating acquisitions and building unified teams
• How GoFundMe is scaling a platform at the intersection of money, trust and technology
• The role of AI in accelerating finance workflows and decision-making
• How to develop “range of motion” across strategy, operations and analytics
• The critical skills CFOs need to lead in environments defined by ambiguity and change

Whether building a finance career, leading transformation, or preparing for the next generation of CFO leadership, this conversation offers practical insights on adaptability, growth, and long-term success.

Business agility has become a defining capability for organizations operating in today’s environment of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). But while many companies focus on operational flexibility or technology investments, fewer understand the critical role finance plays in enabling true agility across the business.

In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson speaks with Mitch Max, founder of BetterVu and Executive in Residence for the Association of Financial Professionals, about what separates organizations that survive from those that thrive during disruption. Drawing on research and decades of experience in enterprise performance management, Mitch shares how agility is less about tools and more about culture, decision-making, and embedded finance leadership.

Together, they explore:

• The difference between finance agility and true business agility
• Why only a small percentage of companies outperform during volatility
• The “sense, decide, act” model for faster, more effective decision-making
• How finance teams act as early warning systems and strategic partners
• The role of EPM systems in enabling real-time planning and collaboration
• How to manage data overload and focus on actionable insights
• Where AI is delivering value today, from automation to advanced analytics

Whether navigating economic uncertainty, implementing new planning systems, or redefining the role of finance, this conversation offers practical guidance for CFOs and finance leaders looking to build more agile, resilient organizations.

One of the most consequential decisions a CFO will make is selecting and implementing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform. Yet beyond vendor comparisons and licensing costs lie hidden risks—customization overruns, stalled implementations, legacy system constraints, and organizational change fatigue.

In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson speaks with Harpal Mattu, FCMA, Managing Director at Agilyx Group, about what truly determines ERP success or failure. Drawing on decades of experience guiding global ERP transformations, Harpal shares practical lessons from both high-performing implementations and recovery projects where things went wrong.

Together, they discuss:

• The true total cost of ERP ownership beyond implementation fees
• Why excessive customization creates “Frankenstack” environments
• When to adapt your processes versus customizing the system
• How to structure ERP programs to reduce risk and avoid burnout
• Phasing vs. “big bang” go-lives—and what CFOs must protect
• Why change management must begin before system selection
• The evolution of ERP from system of record to system of reasoning

Whether you’re modernizing a legacy ERP, evaluating new platforms, or leading a finance transformation initiative, this conversation offers a strategic lens for navigating ERP decisions with confidence and discipline.

Real-time reporting promises faster decisions, but without trusted and governed data, speed can become a liability. 

John Hagerty, Distinguished Analyst at Dresner Advisory Services, joins Melissa Howatson to unpack what it really takes to achieve data mastery in modern finance organizations. Drawing on more than 35 years of experience across enterprise performance management, business intelligence and analytics, John explains why data governance is no longer an IT problem, it’s a business imperative. 

In this conversation John shares why finance can’t operate in data silos, how CFOs and CIOs must evolve into true partners, and why analytics only deliver value when built on consistent definitions, shared responsibility and clean data foundations. 

From centers of excellence and data stewardship to AI adoption and real-time decision-making, this episode offers a practical roadmap for finance leaders looking to turn data into a strategic advantage. 

Discussed in this episode: 

• Why real-time analytics fail without trusted data 

• Data governance as a shared enterprise responsibility 

• The evolving CFO–CIO partnership 

• Centers of excellence vs. data stewardship (and why you need both)

For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.      

Healthcare finance leaders are operating under unprecedented pressure. Rising costs, staffing shortages, payer complexity, and constant uncertainty. 

Matthew Ennen, Senior Vice President of Finance and Business Development at Ensemble Health Partners, shares how finance leaders can navigate volatility while staying anchored to their mission, their people and long-term resilience. 

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience across healthcare and consumer industries, Matthew explains why finance skills are highly transferable, how analytics and scenario planning enable proactive decision-making, and why transparency, empathy and communication are now essential leadership requirements. 

From balancing cost containment with innovation to keeping teams motivated through periods of transformation, Matthew offers practical insights for finance leaders in any industry facing rapid change. 

Discussed in This Episode:  

• Leading finance teams through uncertainty and transformation 
• Why finance skills transfer across industries 
• Balancing cost control with innovation in mission-driven organizations 
• Using analytics to move from reactive to proactive decision-making 
• The role of transparency, empathy and communication in leadership

For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.      

What separates good finance teams from great ones? In this special episode, host Melissa Howatson brings together insights from more than 20 finance leaders to answer one deceptively simple question: 

What is the hallmark of a mature finance team? 

Across industries and company sizes, their perspectives reveal a shared truth: modern finance teams don’t just report on the business; they help shape where it’s going. 

From strategic storytelling to cross-functional partnership, from data clarity to embracing AI as an amplifier for decision-making, this episode uncovers the practices that define today’s most effective finance organizations. 

Discussed in This Episode: 

• Why mature finance teams guide rather than control the business 
• How partnership and communication earn finance a seat at the table 
• The importance of ownership, consistency and predictable processes 
• Why data culture matters more than “perfect” data 
• How AI frees teams to spend more time on storytelling and strategy 
• Why transformation is never one big moment, but an ongoing mindset 

Guests in Order of Appearance: 

• John Hagerty, Distinguished Analyst, Dresner Advisory Services  
• Sandra Clarke, Former EVP & COO, Blue Shield of California 
• Tom Panther, CFO, National Christian Foundation (Formerly of Corpay) 
• Amy Ward, CFO, Blue River PetCare  
• Hugh Cumming, Chief Technology Officer, Vena  
• Kaz Takemura, Managing Director, FP&A Technology Services, ModelCom Inc.  
• Aaqil Kassamali, Procurement Director, Vena  
• Rajat Bahri, CFO, Icertis  
• Scott Engler, CEO, Sync Executive Partners 
• Anisha Sood, Chief Financial & Strategy Officer, First Choice Health  
• Darren R. Campbell, EY Americas Tax Technology and Transformation Leader 
• Matthew Ennen, SVP, Finance and Business Development, Ensemble Health Partners 
• Tom Seegmiller, CFO, Texada Software  
• Janelle Gorman, CFO, York IE  
• Troy Anderson, CFO, Kelly  
• Dave Helmer, EY Global Tax and Finance Operate Leader 
• Craig Schiff, CEO, BPM Partners  
• Igor Stelea, Former Director, CFGI 
• Brandon Sharp, Chief Information Officer, Brookfield Residential  
• Nick McKeehan, Managing Director, CFO Solutions, Protiviti  
• Charlie X.W. Liu, Chief Happiness Officer, MCC 
• Peter Emerling, Director, Digital Transformation Practice, Citrin Cooperman

For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.     

Financial consolidation has long been treated as a “back-office necessity,” but in today’s complex, data-dense businesses, it’s becoming a strategic engine. 

Craig Schiff, Founder and CEO of BPM Partners joins Melissa to unpack the evolution of consolidation, why it’s resurging in importance, and how AI is reshaping both FP&A and controllership. 

Craig shares what companies are getting wrong, why consolidation and planning belong together and the trends he’s seeing as organizations move from legacy systems, Excel-heavy processes and fragmented tools toward unified performance management. 

He also explains the critical connection between actuals, planning accuracy and strategic speed, and why more CFOs now lead with consolidation at the center of their data strategy.  

Discussed in This Episode:  

• Critical features of modern financial close and consolidation software 
• Building a unified finance tech stack 
• AI in performance management: What CFOs need to know 
• The future of close and consolidation

For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.     

Finance doesn’t need to chase a mythical “best-in-class” model; success comes from mastering the fundamentals. 

In this episode of The CFO Show, Charlie X.W. Liu, Founder and Chief Happiness Officer of MCC, joins Melissa Howatson to unpack the FP&A Trifecta: finance, data and systems and how getting these right transforms finance teams from spreadsheet operators into strategic partners.  

Charlie shares lessons from 15+ years advising startups and Fortune 500s on optimizing EPM systems, improving data quality and building finance functions that scale with the business. He also explores how AI is changing finance roles, helping professionals shift from cost controllers to storytellers who drive business growth. 

Discussed in This Episode:  

• The three pillars of modern FP&A: finance, data and systems 
• Why clean data isn’t the goal, useful data is 
• How to avoid common EPM implementation pitfalls 
• Why finance leaders must become “story sellers,” not just storytellers 
• How AI is reshaping skills and structure in the finance team

For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.    

Career growth isn’t always a straight line, and sometimes the biggest leaps come from taking a step sideways.  

Troy Anderson, Chief Financial Officer at Kelly, shares the defining moments, pivotal decisions, and leadership lessons from his 35-year career spanning industries from telecom to education to talent solutions.  

He reflects on leading major turnarounds and public company transformations, navigating mergers and acquisitions, and building finance teams that act as trusted business partners. Troy also discusses how to communicate through change, the importance of listening before leading, and how AI is reshaping the role of today’s CFO.  

Discussed in This Episode:  

• The career pivots that shaped Troy’s path to CFO  
• How to lead transformation with conviction and clear communication  
• The power of listening and empathy in leadership  
• Balancing strategy with detail in a modern finance role  
• Preparing finance teams for AI and the next era of transformation

For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.