The CFO Show

Have you ever been frustrated with your work, putting in so much effort, hitting every deadline, to then feel stuck in a never-ending cycle? Never have the time or energy to make the systematic changes needed for more efficient processes?

There are many reasons why we feel stuck, but there are also solutions to break the cycle. Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller sit down to acknowledge the frustrating cycles as well as bring answers to how companies can change their systems by thinking bigger, working ahead, and prioritizing the projects needed to grow the business.

Discussed in This Episode:

• Why it’s easy in finance to get wrapped up in the day-to-day and neglect larger projects
• How tracking your time can help teams move forward in the long run
• Reducing teams' stress while also making progress as a team
• When to look at the bigger picture, even when it comes to small tasks

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

When you hear “Gen-Z,” what are the first words or characteristics that come to mind? Perhaps it’s a motley mix of terms like TikTok, climate change, transparency, honesty, and social responsibility. Now, apply all of those qualities to a modern workforce.

Generation Z is defined as anyone born between 1997 and 2012, putting the eldest of the group in their mid-twenties. They are the only generation to grow up blind to a world without the internet which has made them naturally more curious, direct, and technologically and data-savvy than generations prior.

Hosts Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller welcome Janine Moir, National Digital Assurance Leader and A&A Innovation Leader at Deloitte Canada to discuss qualities of the demographic that make them unique and ideal additions to today’s workforce.

Discussed in This Episode:

• How Gen-Z is modernizing the workplace
• Leadership keys to employee growth and retention
• Why management isn’t for everyone
• What makes a great place to work
• Best advice for finance leaders

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

An IPO is a major milestone in the history of any company. But what happens after the debut?

A company’s life after an IPO can be a broad and significant shift from cultural transitions to systems and process changes that impact everyone from entry and mid-level employees to executives in the C-Suite, including the CFO. Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller sit down with Sukaran Mehta, former Chief Financial Officer at global learning platform Docebo, as he traces the company’s post-IPO journey.

Discussed in This Episode:

• Understanding and selling the company story
• Adapting new day-to-day systems and processes
• Helping employees acclimate to a new culture
• Nurturing and growing relationships with investors
• Advice for CFO’s post-IPO

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

The new year is quickly approaching, and after 2023 being the year of AI and economic uncertainty, who knows what 2024 will bring? With more uncertainty on the horizon, including inflation and interest rate fluctuations, predicting the financial landscape in 2024 is a tricky proposition. Nevertheless, preparing for the road ahead is a crucial component of a CFO’s role.

Hosts Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller break down their predictions of not only the future of finance but also how finance teams will adapt and evolve in 2024.

Discussed in This Episode:

• Interest rates, inflation, the funding climate, and a potential recession
• How geopolitical uncertainty will impact the finance world
• AI and how it will influence the reallocation of tasks and talent
• The rise of efficiency and operational excellence
• The ongoing importance of organizational design

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

Picture a football game: the quarterback drops back to scan the field, reads the defense, and fires a pass to an open receiver. Touchdown! Now picture a CFO: the quarterback of a finance team, reading the economic landscape, assessing risks, and making smart, decisive moves that score major wins for their organization.

The parallels between finance and football run deep. Both professions involve teamwork, competition, practice, adaptability, and pressure. To unpack the similarities, Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller welcome Dan Crumb, CFO of the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, to the show. As Dan explains, football and finance might be different, but success in both requires the same ingredients.

Discussed in This Episode:

• How finance and football approach team-building
• The equivalent of winning a Super Bowl in finance
• What we can learn from coaches about rallying our teams
• Keys to effective communication and teamwork
• Why both types of teams must plan for every scenario

Resources:

• How To Use Financial Reporting To Reduce Your Operational Costs, Add Efficiencies, and Align Your Business
• 5 Ways To Adapt Your Financial and Operational Planning for Today's Volatile Business Environment

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

Businesses today spend an average of 52% of their budget on their workforce. Some go as high as 70%. The expense is worth it, of course, as the only way to true financial success is by having the right talent. But given this enormous cost, it’s worth asking: are the people metrics you’re tracking the ones that will make the biggest impact on your business? Or are you missing out on the full potential of your workforce?

To help us understand the people metrics that matter, Melissa Howatson welcomes RJ Milnor to the show. RJ is the Founder and CEO of People Analytics Partners and was formerly the Global Head of People Analytics at Uber. Through his research and experience, RJ has uncovered some remarkable insights and truths about the way we work, how it’s evolved post-pandemic, and what the future of work looks like.

Discussed in This Episode:

• The surest indicator of high-value employees
• What to analyze to see how your M&A integration is going
• A viable replacement for productivity-killing meetings
• How to get the greatest ROI out of office spaces
• One word of advice for leaders to be more effective

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

As each year draws to a close, CFOs are gearing up for one of the most critical tasks in their financial calendar: the year-end financial close. There are key areas to focus on and best practices to ensure this process goes smoothly… but what happens when it doesn’t? More importantly, what is it that trips finance teams up at the last minute?

To explore the ins and outs of year-end close, hosts Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller sit down with Benno van Ingen, Lead Consultant CFO Tech, Finext. Benno has served in various financial roles over the past 20 years, giving him extensive experience with corporate financial processes and firsthand insight into how things can go awry.

Discussed in This Episode:

• How an organization is hampered by a lackluster year-end close
• The specific pitfalls that finance teams want to avoid
• Ways to mitigate the time crunch associated with this process
• Legacy tools and systems that can prevent a successful close

Episode Resources:

• 7 Ways To Conquer Your Year-End Close Nightmares
• The Ultimate Guide to Financial Close

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

• Sorting through a crowded fintech space to find the right option
• Who to engage with to make tech decisions for your organization
• Mistakes that can hinder digital transformation efforts
• Personnel requirements to ensure a smooth implementation
• How decision-makers should think about integrating their systems

In today’s business landscape, the relationship between the CFO, CEO, and Board of Directors is a pivotal axis that can either drive an organization to new heights or lead it astray.

To better understand the intricacies of this relationship, Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller enlist the help of someone with a unique point of view: Kim Eaton, Operating Managing Director at

Vista Equity Partners. Kim has served as both a CEO and a board member, giving her unique insights into what causes this relationship to flourish (and what makes it fall apart).

Discussed in This Episode:

• How CFOs can help build a shared trust with their CEO and board
• Tips for managing a productive board meeting
• Handling disagreements in a way that preserves relationships
• The importance of pre-meeting touch points (e.g. the board dinner)
• Traits of the most effective CFOs from the board’s perspective

Episode Resources:

• Managing Your Relationship as the CFO With the CEO and Board of Directors

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