The CFO Show

During times of uncertainty, CFOs must serve as the guiding compass for their organizations, helping business leaders move beyond reactive decisions toward sustainable, long-term strategies. Myles Corson, leader of EY’s Global and Americas Strategy and Markets, Financial Accounting Advisory Services and host of The Better Finance Podcast, has engaged with numerous CFOs about the complexities of navigating turbulent economic landscapes.

Myles joins host Melissa Howatson to discuss why CFOs are uniquely equipped to drive business success in volatile times. They delve into how finance leaders can harness their comprehensive organizational perspective to not only weather challenges but also position their companies for growth and resilience.

Discover actionable insights on how CFOs can leverage their unique vantage point to ensure their businesses thrive during challenging times.

Discussed in This Episode:

• How finance leaders can use their vision as a navigation tool for informed decision-making and value creation.
• The significance of communicating clear end goals and actively soliciting feedback from stakeholders.
• Strategies for adapting to changing business landscapes without losing sight of long-term objectives.
• An increasing appetite for finance leaders to be critical players in innovation, as well as the challenges they face in implementing innovation within their own departments.

A severe talent shortage is threatening the foundation of the finance function: accounting.

The accounting profession is facing a critical talent shortage, threatening the foundation of financial operations across accounting firms and businesses of all sizes. Mark Maurer, reporter for The Wall Street Journal’s CFO Journal team, joins host Melissa Howatson to explore this pressing issue. Drawing from his extensive coverage of the shrinking talent pipeline, Maurer discusses the factors driving the increased demand for accountants and the dwindling supply of qualified professionals.

As competition for accounting talent intensifies, this episode offers valuable insights for CFOs, finance leaders, and business executives. Join us for a timely discussion on the urgent talent gap and its far-reaching impact on the future of finance teams and beyond.

Discussed in This Episode:

• The consequences of the current talent shortage, both on daily business operations, and long-term opportunities.
• What’s behind the sharp decline in CPA candidates and a dwindling interest in the accounting profession, and what plans are in place to regrow the pipeline.
• How finance leaders can retain talent by making accounting team members feel more engaged and valued.
• Ways to prevent burnout on short-staffed accounting teams, especially given the seasonality of the business function.
• The role AI will play in the future of accounting and solving the talent shortage.

Financial data alone can’t drive a company’s success; it’s the CFO’s ability to turn that data into a compelling narrative that moves the needle. Whether engaging investors, rallying the board, or inspiring internal teams, the power lies in transforming raw data into stories that align with the company’s vision and steer it through both challenges and opportunities.

In this episode, Stephen Bates, Chief Financial Officer of Canford Healthcare Ltd. shares his more than 20 years of experience in finance roles across a wide range of industries in the UK. Stephen discusses the crucial role CFOs play in transforming financial data into engaging stories that drive business outcomes, especially during uncertain times.

Learn how effective narratives and storytelling can propel companies toward their strategic goals.

Discussed in This Episode:

• The importance of transparency and clarity in financial storytelling
• Weaving your strategic vision into the financial stories you tell
• Selecting the right metrics and KPIs that align with your story, and communicating them through data visualization.
• Techniques for connecting financial data with emotional appeals to inspire and motivate stakeholders.
• The key components of an effective change narrative: setting the stage, identifying the drivers of change, outlining the journey, and envisioning the future.

Filmed at Vena’s Excelerate Finance 2024 Summit, this episode features insights from FP&A and accounting leaders about the demands and rewards of their work. Join us as we dive into the importance of cross-functional collaboration, the art of balancing strategic vision with daily tasks, and the leadership skills that make a difference. Discover how teamwork and a purpose-driven mindset are shaping the future of finance.

Featured Guests in Order of Appearance:

• [00:00], [01:03] Blake Dunaway, Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, Corcentric
• [00:46] Eugene Fedorinov, MBA, CFA,Sr. Manager, Finance Database & Budget Analysis, Arizona Cardinals 
• [02:43] Pat Jones, SVP, Corporate Controller, PetIQ
• [04:15] Sultan Akif, Unicorn Account Executive,  Microsoft
• [06:02] Harjot Ghai, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Delbridge Solutions, Inc.
• [06:48] Christine Harms, Vice President and Controller, The Tuscon Roadrunners
• [07:26] Brian Krause, Chief Financial Officer, Community First Solutions
• [07:34] Jesse Funes, Senior Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis, New Horizons
• [11:07] Dan Crumb, Chief Financial Officer, Kansas City Chiefs
• [13:04] Carrie Self, Senior Director of Business Intelligence, Tacala Companies

Discussed in This Episode:

• What finance leaders enjoy most about their jobs, from working with so many other teams to being at the center of every major business decision.
• How finance leaders feel they could be even more impactful with the help of their team and colleagues,
• What finance leaders wish other colleagues understood about their jobs, and what it takes to be successful.
• How FP&A roles have changed over time, and why it’s so important to have a bridge between strategic and tactical work,

The CEO-CFO partnership is arguably the cornerstone of an organization’s success, shaping not only its financial health but its strategic trajectory. This relationship is a delicate balance of mutual respect, candid dialogue, and aligned vision. A thriving CEO-CFO dynamic goes beyond simple collaboration; it involves a continuous cycle of challenging each other’s perspectives, reinforcing financial discipline, and driving innovative strategies. 

Our host and CFO of Vena, Melissa Howatson, shares such a dynamic relationship with Vena CEO Hunter Madeley. Together, they explore the unique perspectives of their respective roles and how aligning them is key to ensuring that the business is healthy today and positioned for sustainable growth.

Learn how the CEO and CFO partnership can be a strategic catalyst for success and discover how this strategic alliance is more than just a business necessity—it’s the key to unlocking the full potential of an organization, ensuring its resilience today and its growth well into the future.


Discussed In This Episode: 

• What’s top of mind for today’s CEOs and how finance leaders can support them through uncertain economic times
• The evolving role of CFOs, and whether they should be perceived as order-takers or strategic sparring partners in shaping the future of the business
• How CFOs can use their unique vantage points to help other functional leaders be more future-centric
• The horizons of investments, and how CFOs can help CEOs commit to short and long-term goals

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been in effect since 2018, reshaping how businesses handle personal data across the globe. While many view GDPR as solely a legal or IT challenge, its impact ripples far beyond those departments—it touches every aspect of an organization. 

For CFOs, GDPR isn’t just about compliance; it’s about safeguarding the financial health of the company, managing operational risks, and ensuring long-term sustainability. CFOs must be at the forefront of creating a GDPR-compliant organization, not only to avoid costly penalties but to protect the organization's reputation.


Greet Gemels is the Chief Financial and Operating Officer at Advantage Group International, where she oversees the Finance, Human Resources, and Operations functions of a global market research company. In this episode, Greet and host Melissa Howatson discuss the critical implications of GDPR for CFOs and analyze the financial and operational risks involved.

Discover how CFOs can effectively navigate current and evolving GDPR requirements to mitigate data security risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and safeguard their organization's financial and operational integrity.

Discussed in This Episode

• How GDPR data privacy laws have transformed data handling practices and regulatory compliance across organizations.
• The tangible and intangible costs of achieving GDPR compliance, along with the serious repercussions of non-compliance.
• The risks and implications of working with third-party vendors for tasks such as human resources and payroll.
• The critical need for strategic resource allocation, cross-functional collaboration, and robust metrics to assess the financial impact of GDPR compliance efforts.

Filmed at Vena’s Excelerate Finance 2024 Summit, we had the opportunity to engage with a range of FP&A leaders, discussing the current state of business operations and their financial priorities as they strategize for 2025 and beyond.

Learn what’s top of mind for CFOs, finance leaders and Microsoft, and how they plan to support business growth in the year ahead.

Featured Guests in Order of Appearance:

• [00:00], [01:53] Dan Crumb, Chief Financial Officer, Kansas City Chiefs
• [00:48],  [11:40]  Harjot Ghai, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Delbridge Solutions, Inc.
• [03:05] Jesse Funes, Senior Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis, New Horizons
• [03:53], [09:05] Eugene Fedorinov, MBA, CFA, Sr. Manager, Finance Database & Budget Analysis, Arizona Cardinals
• [04:13] Pat Jones, SVP, Corporate Controller, PetIQ
• [04:51] Sultan Akif, Unicorn Account Executive,  Microsoft
• [06:34] Carrie Self, Senior Director of Business Intelligence, Tacala Companies
• [07:26] Brian Krause, Chief Financial Officer, Community First Solutions

Discussed In This Episode:

• The state of business operations at various organizations, including recent process improvements and investments, as well as ongoing challenges
• How CFOs plan to adapt their financial strategies in the second half of the year to navigate potential economic shifts or market volatility
• Strategies CFOs and other finance leaders are implementing to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of financial reporting processes and prepare their organizations for growth
• Where CFOs feel they need to make continued investments in the year ahead, including AI and other technologies

Today's CFOs must excel at both driving organizational productivity while ensuring operational efficiency.

Brian Krause is CFO at Community First Solutions, and has over 20 years of experience building and leading financial teams, a VP of Finance, Controller, and three-time CFO. Brian joins host Melissa Howatson to delve into the distinction between productivity and efficiency, exploring how CFOs can strike the perfect balance between to drive optimal results.

Learn how to maximize productivity on your finance team without sacrificing efficiency, and vice versa.

Discussed In This Episode:

• Distinguishing productivity from efficiency, and the critical importance of ensuring all team members grasp this fundamental difference
• The potential pitfalls of emphasizing either productivity or efficiency
• How to leverage technology and streamline processes to build lean, agile finance teams
• Actionable insights to help CFOs become ultra-efficient leaders in today's dynamic business environment
• Strategies for finance leaders to cultivate an organizational culture that prioritizes both productivity and efficiency

The ability to transform raw complex financial data into a compelling narrative has become a critical skill. Mastering the art of finance data storytelling enables finance professionals to distill complex information into strategic insights, driving pivotal boardroom decisions and shaping business strategy.

Akash Kapoor is the CFO at ColdBlock Technologies and has been advising finance leaders on operations and strategy for the last 25 years. Host Melissa Howatson welcomes Akash to explore the transformative power of financial storytelling. Together, they delve into how mastering this critical skill can revolutionize organizational decision-making and propel finance professionals to new heights in their careers. As new technologies give us access to swaths of data, it’s more important than ever to have a finance department that can interpret data and turn numbers into clear business narratives. 

Learn how financial professionals can break down data silos and guide strategic decisions through compelling, data-driven narratives.

Discussed in This Episode:

• Discover techniques to transform complex financial data into engaging stories that inform and inspire action.
• The importance of tailoring presentations to various stakeholders, including C-suites, employees, and investors, depending on their financial acumen and objectives.
• Learn how to leverage storytelling techniques, narrative structures, and data visualization tools to bring your financial data to life and make your insights impossible to ignore.
• Understand why emerging technologies are elevating the role of finance professionals within organizations.

In today's customer-centric business landscape, a leadership team that truly understands its customers is crucial. Everyone on the C-Suite should be learning from one another, and challenging one another to be more customer-focused.

April Oman, the Chief Customer Officer at Resilinc, brings a unique perspective to the leadership team. While her primary role is championing customer success, she's gained invaluable insights about her customers from unexpected sources—including the company's CFO. April is an accomplished customer success executive with 20 years of experience. She is known for driving results and revenue and transforming organizations to be customer-centric in a wide variety of industries and company sizes

In this installment of our "Better Business Partnering" series, April joins host Melissa Howatson to explore the powerful synergy between Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and Chief Customer Officers (CCOs). They delve into April's collaborative experiences with CFOs, examining how this partnership drives innovation across the organization, improves operational efficiency through cross-functional teamwork, and fosters sustainable growth.

Discover how breaking down silos between finance and customer success can lead to transformative outcomes and customer satisfaction.


Discussed In This Episode:

• Strategies to nurture a strong partnership between the finance and customer teams
• How to align financial strategies with customer-centric initiatives
• The number one trait April values in a CFO, and how a CFO can help a CCO be more effective
• The value a CCO offers to CFOs and the broader C-suite
• Points of friction between CFOs and CCOs, and how to overcome them