In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, executive recruiter Mark Johnson shares insider perspectives on what CEOs are really looking for in today's CFOs.

Discover how the expectations of finance leadership are evolving, what separates top candidates in interviews, and the essential qualities that define success in the modern C-suite.

Whether you’re an aspiring finance leader or a seasoned executive, you’ll gain actionable advice to stand out and thrive at the top.

Expect to Learn

• Beyond the Resume: Why today’s CFOs must stand out with emotional intelligence, resilience, and trust, not just credentials
• AI vs. Human Connection: How automation is reshaping hiring, and why relationships still make the difference
• Interview Strategy: Why performance alone isn’t enough, and how to truly impress in high-stakes executive interviews
• Path to CFO: What it really takes to land your first CFO seat, including mentorship, visibility, and cross-functional experience
• The Four Intelligence Pillars: How IQ, EQ, SQ, and AQ together define the next generation of finance leadership

If becoming a CFO is part of your goals, get your CFO readiness score here: https://thecfo.scoreapp.com/

Don't forget to download the free guide on AI prompts every finance leader needs:

https://www.wassiakamon.com/prompts

Note:

This episode is a pod swap from FP&A Unlocked. We’re sharing it here to help you discover another excellent show in the finance leadership space. All content belongs to the original podcast and host Paul Barnhurst.

Note: This episode is a pod swap from FP&A Unlocked. We’re sharing it here to help you discover another excellent show in the finance leadership space. All content belongs to the original podcast and host Paul Barnhurst.

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst talks with Andrew Hull, a seasoned finance leader in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. They explore the role of FP&A professionals in driving business results, navigating inflation, and transitioning from traditional budgeting to impactful analytics. Andrew Hull is a financial executive with over two decades of experience in CPG.

Currently the Vice President of Finance at UNFI Canada, Andrew has a proven track record of partnering with business leaders to deliver results through strategic insights and principled financial analysis. With a competitive spirit and passion for team leadership, Andrew shares his unique approach to FP&A, analytics, and the importance of actionable storytelling.

Expect to Learn:

• The three pillars of great FP&A: technical skills, storytelling, and actionable decisions.
• Why Andrew advocates for changing FP&A to “FA&P” and focusing more on analytics.
• Lessons learned from leading finance during the pandemic.
• Key metrics for success in the distribution industry, including variable margin and truck utilization.
• Practical advice for accelerating budget processes and focusing on analytics that drive results.

🔗 Connect with Guest Andrew Hull

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhull4/

UNFI Canada: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unfi/

🔗 Connect with Host Paul on

Website: https://www.thefpandaguy.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefpandaguy

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefpandaguy

Join Vivienne Wei, COO of Unified Agent Force Platform at Salesforce and a leading thinker in financial technology, as she shares her journey from Wall Street to orchestrating enterprise-wide AI transformations.

In this episode, Vivienne breaks down the realities and myths of AI in the finance function, from predictive models to generative AI, and reveals how agentic AI is creating a new category of digital workers, “AI agents,” that drive both productivity and resilience in modern businesses.

You'll also learn the essentials of upskilling for an AI-augmented workforce, the leadership behaviors needed to foster adoption, and actionable strategies for CFOs to harness AI for operational and strategic advantage.

Whether you're a finance leader, tech executive, or simply curious about the future of work, discover practical lessons and frameworks to drive innovation and business value in the AI era.

If becoming a CFO is part of your goals, get your CFO readiness score here: https://thecfo.scoreapp.com/

Don't forget to download the free guide on AI prompts every finance leader needs:

https://www.wassiakamon.com/prompts

What does it take to turn a traditional finance team into a true strategic business partner?

In this episode, Paul Young, CFO of Liberty Bank, shares how he connected strategy, budgeting, and talent development to create a finance function built for impact.

Paul brings over 25 years of experience leading finance, strategy, business transformation, and digital innovation across major institutions such as Citizens Bank, TD Bank, CIT, and Siemens Financial Services.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between strategy and execution, this one’s for you.

We talked about:

• How starting strategy early makes budgeting faster and easier
• Why CFOs should own project management and transformation
• What it really takes to attract and keep top finance talent
• How he created a Business Transformation Office within the office of the CFO that helped Liberty Bank cut mortgage closing time in half and become a leader in their space.

This conversation is a masterclass in modern CFO leadership.

If becoming a CFO is part of your goals, get your CFO readiness score here: https://thecfo.scoreapp.com/

Don't forget to download the free guide on AI prompts every finance leader needs:

https://www.wassiakamon.com/prompts

CFOs are expected to drive transformation, lead strategy, and still deliver flawless numbers every month. In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, I sit down with Tom Hood, one of the most influential voices in finance leadership, to unpack what’s really behind the growing pressure on today’s CFOs.

We talk about:

✅ How the CFO role has evolved from finance expert to strategic co-pilot

✅ Why upskilling and reskilling are the new competitive edge

✅ How to balance performance with transformation

✅ The real impact of AI and automation on finance teams

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing 5 jobs at once as a CFO, this episode is for you.

Other resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Upskilling & Reskilling Resources - Business Learning Institute (BLI)

https://blionline.org

1. Business Resilience Toolkit

https://www.aicpa-cima.com/advocacy/download/business-resilience-toolkit

1. F.A.M.E. Finance Assessment Model for Effectiveness

https://blionline.org/finance-assessment-model-for-effectiveness

Brought to you by insightsoftware. Register for our upcoming webinar:

https://insightsoftware.com/resources/get-out-of-the-reporting-rut-how-finance-leaders-drive-strategic-impact/

In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, I sit down with Anna Sagan, Senior Principal Solutions Engineer, who brings over two decades of experience in financial software and strategic reporting.

We talked about:

• The evolving expectations from finance teams
• Why Excel is still the most loved BI tool in finance
• Reporting limitations in ERPs
• Why companies underutilize the tools they pay for

Whether you're a controller frustrated by ERP reports or a CFO aiming to future-proof your reporting stack, this episode delivers sharp insights and real-world advice.

If becoming a CFO is part of your goals, get your CFO readiness score here: https://thecfo.scoreapp.com/

Brought to you by insightsoftware. Register for our upcoming webinar:

https://insightsoftware.com/resources/get-out-of-the-reporting-rut-how-finance-leaders-drive-strategic-impact/

What does it take to lead finance through real estate booms, construction slowdowns, and global crises?

In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast, I sit down with Bona Allen, a CFO with three decades of experience across real estate development, construction, and investment. Bona has led finance at both public and private companies, navigated the savings and loan crisis, the 2008 crash, and COVID, and built strategies that kept projects and people moving through uncertainty.

We talk about:

• How the CFO role has changed
• Real estate vs construction finance
• Spotting business cycles
• Crisis leadership
• Building and keeping strong teams

Bona also shares the career moves that shaped him, the mistakes that made him better, and why networking to help others is the best long-term strategy.

If you’re in real estate, construction, or any cyclical industry, this conversation is full of lessons you can use to prepare, adapt, and lead.

If becoming a CFO is part of your goals, get your CFO readiness score here: https://thecfo.scoreapp.com/

Not every CFO starts as a controller or FP&A lead. Axel Talout shares how banking and private equity shaped his journey, why your “different” background can be your edge, and how to intentionally build a team that fills your blind spots.

Brought to you by insightsoftware. Register for our upcoming webinar:

https://insightsoftware.com/resources/get-out-of-the-reporting-rut-how-finance-leaders-drive-strategic-impact/

If becoming a CFO is part of your goals, get your CFO readiness score here: https://thecfo.scoreapp.com/

Mike High (CFO, NAIT; ex-Shell Deep Water CFO) shares leadership lessons from the Army to corporate finance: why the “platinum rule” beats one-size-fits-all leadership, what truly changes when you move from FP&A to the CFO seat, and how to carry a portfolio of crises without burning out.

We discussed:

• practical playbooks to lead through a portfolio of crisis,
• how to keep long-term work moving during emergencies,
• what most companies get wrong about FP&A,
• how to make digital transformation succeed.

Get your CFO readiness score here: https://thecfo.scoreapp.com/

Whether becoming a CFO is your goal or not, this assessment highlights the competencies that matter most at the VP level and above, in finance.

It’s completely free, and you will get personalized results instantly.

Big thanks to insightsoftware for sponsoring this episode.

Join our upcoming webinar on October 15th >

https://insightsoftware.com/resources/get-out-of-the-reporting-rut-how-finance-leaders-drive-strategic-impact/

Andrea Hecht, EVP & CFO at CSAA Insurance Group, walks through the real shifts at each step of her career — from auditor at Big 4 accounting firm, EY, to Controller, and ultimately CFO. She explains how the focus moves from technical detail to culture, strategy, and leadership. We cover:

• Why the first move from public accounting to industry didn’t work, and why the second one did.
• How interviews and expectations change as you move up.
• What makes the Controller → CFO leap so challenging.
• How to get Accounting and FP&A working as one team.
• The habits that keep her sharp while leading finance at a 4,000-person organization.

It's an insightful roadmap for anyone asking what actually changes when you leave public accounting and aim for the CFO seat.

Get your CFO readiness score here: https://thecfo.scoreapp.com/

Whether becoming a CFO is your goal or not, this assessment highlights the competencies that matter most at the VP level and above, in finance.

It’s completely free, and you will get personalized results instantly.