7 MAY 2024 · Small businesses rarely have the budget to hire a full finance team, but they still need the same diverse range of support across payroll, accounting and financial planning as a large corporation. Some companies decide to outsource these functions to a dedicated finance and accounting partner as a more cost-effective and efficient way to handle their finance function needs and expedite growth. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendranjames/, founder of https://thefinancefemme.com/, helps female entrepreneurs grow their businesses through virtual financial and accounting advisory. In this episode, Kendra gives us an inside look at a day in the life of a fractional CFO, shedding light on the value outsourced financial services can bring to small businesses. Kendra discusses when entrepreneurs should hire an outside finance partner, as well as how that partner should work with small businesses to stabilize or accelerate growth.   Learn how a fractional CFO or an outsourced accounting team can help small business owners with everything from basic accounting obligations to long-term business strategies.   Discussed in This Episode: - A close-up look at the office of the fractional CFO, from how they function to how they support clients  - The increasing small business need for a trusted financial advisor - When entrepreneurs should seek outside finance assistance and guidance - Entrepreneur’s shifting mindset toward business financial health post-COVID and now during economic uncertainty - How a fractional CFO can support day-to-day operations and bring a growing businesses to the next level

30 APR 2024 · A CFO is expected not only to lead financial reporting and the Office of Finance but also to provide strategic insights and strategy that propel the business forward. As a new CFO, you might feel eager to start doing the latter as soon as possible.  But you don’t need to build your long-term strategy in the first few months on the job. When starting a new role as a CFO, your first 90 days should focus on learning about the organization and its members, building relationships across the business, and setting a long-term vision. Only then can you start making big changes and building a roadmap for the future.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-seegmiller-cpa-ca/, CFO of https://texadasoftware.com/ provides his five-bullet checklist for new CFOs. Tom reflects on what it’s like to navigate the first 90 days - both professionally and personally - and offers practical tips for anyone taking on a new CFO role.  Learn how spending time in the trenches can help you better understand the business and secure some quick wins. Once you have a full understanding of the work your colleagues are doing and how each department operates, you’ll be in a much better position to create long-term strategic value for the organization. Discussed in This Episode:  - The value of building relationships and goodwill with stakeholders and partners across the business - How to make yourself an invaluable partner to your CEO and other members of the C-Suite - Assuming best intent, keeping an open mind, and demonstrating an eagerness to help your colleagues - Aligning your vision to organizational and business goals - Why mentorship matters throughout your career, even as CFO

23 APR 2024 · If you like sports, you might say https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-suh-b269ba has one of the coolest jobs in the world. After 11 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, James became CFO of the NHL’s https://www.nhl.com/panthers/. What a first year he had, as the Panthers went from barely making the playoffs to the Stanley Cup finals!  In this episode, James gives us an inside look at what goes into finance operations for a sports team, and what it was like to lead those operations for an underdog in a breakout year. His experiences offer valuable lessons in strategic planning, underscoring the importance of knowing your market, and prioritizing long-term growth and profitability over quick sales streams.  Discussed in this episode: - Understanding the finances of a hockey franchise - The many streams of revenue in an NHL franchise, and how those differ from team to team - Scenario modeling in an industry and market that are both highly unpredictable - The impact fan behavior has on budgeting and revenue forecasting - How winning impacts work culture, revenues, and operations

16 APR 2024 · Amid uncertain market conditions, many companies are adopting a cautious "wait and see" stance regarding their initial public offering (IPO) plans. However, instead of delaying, proactive planning for an eventual IPO launch is essential. By preparing in advance, companies can capitalize on market opportunities, mitigate risks, and position themselves strategically for a successful public offering when market conditions stabilize.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-dellomo, Former EVP and CFO and Current Senior Strategic Advisor for https://www.lovesac.com/, has has helped three companies go public throughout her long career leading finance teams. In this episode, Donna discusses how she built data-driven finance operations and prepared her teams to operate as public companies – long before they actually were. Donna’s experiences highlight the importance of investing in technology and establishing the right controls to ensure a healthy public offering, as well as how adaptability can help keep your valuation high. Learn what meticulous planning and organization it takes for IPO readiness. While you can’t control when market conditions will shift in your favor, you can ensure you and your finance team are ready when they do.  Discussed in This Episode: - Key factors to consider when timing your IPO - Why building the right team of advisors (bankers, lawyers, auditors, investor relations, etc.) is key to fundraising and storytelling - The role of agile planning and scenario forecasting in your IPO-readiness strategy. - How Donna and her team navigated unprecedented macroeconomic shifts, such as COVID, supply chain disruption, and tariffs - Leveling up as a CFO by learning to communicate with the Street and spearhead investor relations - Cultural differences that arise once you go from private to public, and how to stay true to your company values

9 APR 2024 · As your business grows, you may feel a lot of pressure to meet increasing operational demands. However, investing in new resources brings the company additional risk, especially in times of economic uncertainty. How do you strike the right balance between prioritization, creating operational efficiencies and hiring? https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-young-12067310/, CFO at https://www.h-f.co.uk/, has led finance teams through multiple acquisitions and periods of high growth. In this episode, Andy and host Melissa Howatson discuss how to scale up finance operations amongst global economic shifts. Their conversation focuses on re-evaluating the traditional financial framework and implementing innovative strategies as technologies advance and business structures become more complex. Learn how to approach seasons of high growth and lead your team through major business changes.  Discussed in This Episode: - The challenges of scaling up and practical solutions to address them - How to lead and inspire a finance team through business and economic changes  - What to do when there’s a misalignment between resources and growth plans - Automating processes to trim down operations while you scale up - The importance of a dedicated team during acquisitions

2 APR 2024 · Startups in highly regulated industries have to strike a tough balance — keeping operations both lean and compliant. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sruthilanka, CFO at http://public.com, leans on her engineering background, as well as out-of-the-box thinking from her team, to meet both criteria. Sruthi explains why she made process efficiency a top priority for her team, and how a combination of high and low-tech solutions have created efficiencies and mitigated risk.  Learn what it takes to fortify your organization against unforeseen risk management challenges with this in-depth look at Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and internal controls. Discussed in this Episode: - The impact of automation on internal controls and how to make time for automation when you’re resource-constrained - The importance of accurate and unified data across the business - Ensuring regulatory and data compliance when leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) - How smarter checks and balances and risk management can improve the quality of your business

26 MAR 2024 · Achieving optimal growth calls for collaboration between marketing and finance. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthzive/?originalSubdomain=ca, CMO at https://www.liveperson.com/, joins Melissa to dive into data-driven decisions and the critical need for business partnering between the CMO and CFO. She shares insights on driving scalable growth, pipeline coverage and brand awareness in B2B SaaS marketing, as well as nuanced marketing metrics and the impact of AI investments on customer experience. Discussed in This Episode: - Marketing strategy and data-driven decision making - Improving finance-marketing business partnerships for better outcomes - Metrics, ROI, and efficiency in enterprise B2B SaaS

19 MAR 2024 · When it comes to metrics, less is more. Our host, Melissa Howatson, is joined by https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-schiff-bpm/, Founder and CEO of https://www.bpmpartners.com/. A pioneer in Business Performance Management, Craig helped create and define the field as it evolved from generic business intelligence and analytic applications into BPM. In this episode, we unpack the crucial components — dashboards, scorecards, KPIs, and metrics — that drive business performance management and strategic business success. We discuss the mismatch between technological progress and the slow evolution of organizational processes and culture in performance management. This conversation is filled with practical advice on navigating the complexities of business performance metrics and creating synergy between strategy and execution.  Discussed in This Episode:  - The challenges of today’s performance management and business metrics. - How the Office of Finance can take the lead when it comes to performance culture within the business. - Differences between dashboards, scorecards, KPIs, and metrics. - Common pitfalls companies face, from static approaches to KPI development to internal political resistance that hinders strategic execution.  - How to align business strategies with performance measures and foster a productive and enjoyable work culture.

27 FEB 2024 · Finance business partnering is crucial for aligning financial strategies with overall business objectives, but what are the essential skills that finance professionals need to make truly successful business partners? In this episode, our hosts discuss moving beyond finance and technical expertise to develop key skills such as empathy, communication, negotiation, leading with influence and developing business acumen. These skills are crucial for fostering effective collaboration, understanding diverse perspectives and driving meaningful outcomes in today’s dynamic business landscape. Key Learnings in This Episode: - How to balance technical expertise with empathy and influence to shape business strategies and drive change. - Have a genuine interest and understanding the other parts of the business and what they’re doing and be willing to get out of your lane of Finance to form solid partnerships - Encourage a culture where failure is a learning tool that fosters team growth and innovation. - Embrace lull periods within business for skill development, to ensure the team is prepared to lead and adapt to new challenges.

20 FEB 2024 · How can you showcase value and ROI effectively when talking about your business- with customers and with stakeholders across the business? In this episode, our host Melissa Howatson sits down with https://www.linkedin.com/in/iancampbellnucleusresearch/, CEO of https://nucleusresearch.com/, to explore the intricacies of finance collaboration in driving business success. Ian, a Wall Street Journal best-selling author celebrated for his expertise in “the value sale,” offers invaluable insights on integrating sales knowledge and ROI best practices throughout businesses. His approach prioritizes payback and customer satisfaction, providing a comprehensive framework for evaluating decisions and driving success across all facets of an organization. Join us as Melissa and Ian discuss: - Leading sales conversations with value propositions and ROI calculations - Empowering sales teams with finance insights to articulate the benefits of products or services effectively - The significance of collaboration between finance and sales in driving revenue growth and aligning sales strategies with financial objectives - Implementing finance collaboration principles across Marketing and Product development to optimize investments and maximize returns