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GrowCFO Show

Kevin Appleby

The GrowCFO Show is the podcast produced for finance leaders by finance leaders

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  • 30 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 34 min
  • English

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  • Tuesday · 39 min

    #309 How AI Is Changing FP&A and the Skills CFOs Need Dhawal Parvatikar Co-Founder, FP&A Professionals Institute

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/3t1EdVh5eVvBugPrhmR9ro Artificial intelligence is reshaping financial planning and analysis (FP&A), making it increasingly important for finance leaders to understand how to use AI while preserving sound judgment, reliable data, and effective business partnership. In the GrowCFO Show, host Kevin Appleby speaks with Dhawal Parvatikar, Co-Founder of the FP&A Professionals Institute, about how AI may automate parts of budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling, and why finance professionals’ skills remain essential. Parvatikar argues that finance professionals should focus less on finding one perfect AI tool and more on learning how to work with AI to accomplish specific tasks. As AI takes on more of the mechanics of building models and reports, professionals can devote more time to checking assumptions, interpreting results, and engaging with business teams. The conversation emphasizes that AI’s usefulness depends on strong underlying data and that human judgment is needed to assess whether its outputs make sense. The discussion also highlights the importance of business partnering and organizational readiness. Parvatikar describes how clear, concise reporting can help business teams act on financial insights, while adoption of more advanced FP&A tools depends on leadership, culture, and functional capability—not technology alone. About Dhawal Parvatikar After serving for 15+ years as CFO and a Finance Leader, I am now on a mission to help finance professionals get to the next level in their careers. As a Finance Career Coach, & Cofounder of FP&A Professionals Institute, I help Finance professionals upskill themselves in FP&A, Finance Leadership , Data Storytelling, Finance Business Partnering & much more. I help CFOs build top performing FP&A teams. Over the last 5 years I have trained more than 6000 professionals on various topics like FP&A, Business Partnering, AI for Finance, CFO Career coaching and much more. Key topics covered: AI can automate parts of forecasting and model-building, allowing FP&A professionals to spend more time on analysis and business relationships. Rather than betting on a single tool, finance professionals should develop the skills to interact with AI and apply it to specific tasks. Reliable data and clearly documented assumptions are critical to reducing inaccurate or unsupported AI-generated outputs. Human judgment remains vital for challenging business assumptions, evaluating model results, and maintaining financial fundamentals. Concise, visual reporting can make financial information more useful to decision-makers than lengthy, dense reports. Successful adoption of FP&A technology and practices such as rolling forecasts requires functional knowledge, leadership support, and cultural change. Links Dhawal Parvatikar on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 00:08:01 — The conversation turns to AI adoption, the skills finance professionals need, and using AI for parts of the forecasting process. 00:13:54 — The speakers discuss data quality, assumptions, and the risk of AI-generated hallucinations. 00:19:46 — They consider how AI could shift finance teams’ time from building models toward verifying and analyzing them. 00:22:01 — The discussion explores the risk that over-reliance on AI could weaken the next generation’s financial judgment. 00:27:47 — Parvatikar describes simplifying reports so business teams can understand and use the information. 00:37:17 — The speakers discuss under-adoption of FP&A tools and the role of leadership and culture in technology adoption. Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • November 3 · 48 min

    #308 Buying AI for Finance? What You Need to Know Before You Commit Lyndon Stickley & Rob Steele CEO & CFO, iplicit

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ewyTy9U4Sv6dwkkpUPU96 Choosing AI for finance is a consequential decision: finance leaders need to weigh the promise of faster analysis against the requirements for accuracy, security, auditability, and predictable costs. In this GrowCFO Show episode, Lyndon Stickley and Rob Steele of iplicit discuss how CFOs can assess the AI market without being swept up in hype or delaying necessary finance-system changes. They compare the current AI investment boom with the dot-com era and consider how uncertainty can make CFOs hesitate when modernizing legacy systems. Stickley and Steele distinguish AI features from the underlying software architecture, emphasizing the importance of a stable cloud foundation and a finance ledger that produces consistent, auditable results. Their practical guidance is to apply AI selectively: use it for analysis, forecasting, modeling, and identifying unusual patterns, while keeping core bookkeeping and ledger processes controlled and dependable. Before committing, finance leaders should also evaluate security, resilience, long-term costs, vendor track record, customer support, and staff readiness. About Lyndon Stickley Lyndon Stickley is a seasoned, ‘hands-on’ serial entrepreneur, having built and sold six companies during the last 35 years. He has a strong technology bias within his portfolio and has been involved in developing businesses from start-up to 400+ employees. With a particular focus on Sales and Marketing, he is expert in building high-performance teams and developing growth strategies for delivering service-orientated propositions. He was instrumental in assembling iplicit’s founding team and GTM strategy, starting out in 2016 as non-executive director, and assuming CEO position in 2022. About Rob Steele Rob Steele’s career in finance software began at 18 when he co-founded Exchequer Software and grew it, without outside investment, into a multi-million-pound business, acquired by IRIS Software in 2005. After supporting a number of start-ups in various industries after this, he joined iplicit as CEO in 2018, when the business had just six employees. He later moved into the CFO seat in 2022 to steer the business through a sustained period of hyper-growth. Key topics covered: Lyndon Stickley compares the AI investment surge with the dot-com bubble, warning that high expectations and investment do not guarantee that every vendor will endure. The speakers say AI marketing labels such as “AI-native” may not explain how a finance product actually works; CFOs should investigate the architecture behind the claims. They stress that the ledger should remain accurate and auditable, with AI used around core bookkeeping rather than trusted to make unverified financial entries. AI is presented as a stronger fit for probability-based work—including forecasting, modeling, variance analysis, and fraud detection—than for deterministic accounting tasks. Finance leaders are advised to assess security, scalability, token-related costs, vendor stability, and access to human support before selecting a system. Rob Steele recommends training staff to use AI responsibly and efficiently, including ways to avoid unnecessary credit consumption. Links Lyndon Stickley on LinkedIn Rob Steele on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 00:06:22 — Lyndon Stickley discusses AI market hype and draws parallels with the dot-com bubble. 00:09:37 — The speakers explore why CFOs are moving away from legacy systems and why AI-related noise can complicate decisions. 00:12:03 — They discuss AI software labels and explain why finance needs a dependable, deterministic ledger. 00:18:02 — The conversation addresses AI security, resilience, scalability, and potentially variable usage costs. 00:33:00 — Rob Steele describes AI as a useful analyst for forecasting and reporting, but a poor substitute for dependable bookkeeping. 00:39:00 — The discussion covers choosing a cloud-based finance partner, planning for future needs, and evaluating service and support. 00:51:46 — The guests recommend training staff to use AI efficiently and responsibly. Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • October 27 · 37 min

    #307 What Should CFOs Fix Before Using AI in Forecasting? Carolina Lago Managing Director, Tactic Financial

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/0rBRhSM8E5kLRjNRvQlG0w Reliable forecasting is essential to sound financial planning, but AI cannot compensate for unreliable data or broken workflows. Carolina Lago, Managing Director at Tactic Financial discusses why CFOs should first establish clear data flows, a single source of truth, and dependable processes before layering AI into forecasting. That groundwork helps make forecasts more consistent, verifiable, and useful for decision-making. The conversation outlines a practical model: use established tools and rules for repeatable calculations, apply AI where analysis and scenario exploration benefit from it, and keep people involved to supply business context and review outputs. With those foundations in place, AI can help finance teams analyze more forecast drivers and test more scenarios—not simply produce results faster. About Caroline Lago Carolina Lago has spent more than 25 years building financial models and leading FP&A teams across Latin America, North America, and Europe. She now runs Tactic Financial and The Tactical Room, where she teaches finance professionals how to actually put AI to work: Python in Excel, AI agents, and her Three forces to AI framework for producing repeatable reliable results. Her focus is the unglamorous middle of AI adoption, the part after the demo and before the rollout, where most finance teams stall. She runs a cohort-based AI Accelerator for FP&A teams, writes The Tactical Room newsletter, and speaks internationally, including at the Global Excel Summit in London and the AFP annual conference. She is a member of the Financial Modeling Global Leaders Council. Carolina is based in Basel, Switzerland, and teaches from the trenches, not the textbook. Key topics covered: CFOs should prioritize process design before selecting or adding AI tools. Finance teams need to map data flows, clarify ownership, and create a reliable source of truth. Repeatable calculations and data-cleaning steps should remain governed by dependable rules and tools such as SQL or Power Query. AI is better suited to analysis and exploring possibilities than to recreating deterministic calculations each time. A human-in-the-loop workflow can add business context and help identify errors or misleading outputs. Once the foundations are sound, AI can help teams examine more line items and test a wider range of scenarios. Links Carolina Lago on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 00:02:55 — AI should build on functioning processes rather than replace them. 00:06:16 — Establish data flows, a single source of truth, and clear process responsibilities. 00:09:14 — Use structured workflows and rules for data cleaning instead of relying on uncontrolled prompts. 00:15:41 — The three-part workflow: deterministic processes, AI analysis, and human judgment. 00:20:11 — AI can help finance teams investigate forecasts more deeply and explore more possibilities. 00:27:20 — Design the workflow first, then identify where AI can add value. Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • October 20 · 32 min

    #306 Feel Behind on AI? Where CFOs Should Start Gavin McGahey CTO & Co-Founder at AccountsIQ

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/1akR1CIZLVRQ89FSp1hAZe As finance teams face mounting pressure to adopt AI, CFOs need a practical starting point – not a rushed, organization-wide rollout. Gavin McGahey, CTO & Co-Founder at AccountsIQ, examines the gap between finance professionals’ interest in AI and their need for confidence in its accuracy, security, and business value. The episode references a survey of more than 1,000 senior finance professionals and reports that 81% mostly or fully trust AI-driven outputs. McGahey recommends beginning with limited, measurable use cases, such as accounts payable automation and anomaly detection. He also stresses the importance of well-structured data, careful review of vendors’ data-protection practices, and human oversight of consequential actions. A deliberate approach can help finance leaders test AI’s potential while maintaining review and audit controls. Key topics covered: Finance leaders see AI’s potential but need confidence in its accuracy, data handling, and verifiability. Initial AI projects should be small and matched to a finance team’s readiness. AP automation and anomaly detection offer practical starting points for saving time and flagging unusual transactions. Well-structured data is essential for useful AI analysis; poor inputs can lead to convincing but incorrect results. Focused AI agents can assist with finance workflows while people retain control over approvals and posting. Finance teams should examine vendors’ data practices, security documentation, and audit trails before adopting AI tools. Links Gavin McGahey on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 00:31 — Finance professionals see AI’s potential but feel pressure to adopt it quickly. 04:11 — Questions to ask about AI solutions, including data use, transparency, autonomy, and traceability. 05:40 — Why well-structured data matters when using AI tools for finance analysis. 09:26 — Start small, choose carefully, and adopt AI at the organization’s own pace. 11:17 — AP automation and anomaly detection as practical early use cases. 20:21 — AI agents supporting finance workflows while users retain control. 31:14 — Reviewing data-protection documentation and supplier practices. 35:03 — Building on sound finance processes when introducing AI. Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • October 13 · 44 min

    #305 What CFOs Need to Know Before Scaling AI Bruce Mullan Managing Partner, AI Governance Partners

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/6kI5GE0gJB2IBBoEGtAWJm As organizations scale AI, CFOs must balance faster, more efficient finance operations with cost control, reliable decision-making, data protection, and accountability. In this episode, the discussion frames AI governance not simply as a compliance checkpoint, but as a performance system—one that can help organizations adopt AI with confidence while supporting business value and innovation. Bruce Mullan, Managing Partner, AI Governance Partners describes how AI adoption in finance can progress from administrative assistance, to process automation, and eventually to automated decisions. Using invoice processing as an example, he explains how governance can be matched to risk: straightforward use cases can receive lighter review, while higher-risk applications warrant more scrutiny. He also emphasizes evaluating whether AI is the right solution in the first place. For CFOs, scaling AI also means understanding where employees are already using it, choosing tools appropriate to the task, protecting confidential information, and weighing the cost of AI against its value. The conversation highlights AI literacy, human oversight, and post-launch feedback as practical ways to monitor reliability, errors, cost, and unintended consequences – without rushing simply to catch up. Key topics covered: AI governance can be designed to enable performance and innovation, rather than operate only as a compliance gate. Finance teams can progress from AI-assisted administration to automated processes and, in some cases, automated decisions. Governance can be proportionate to risk, with lighter review for low-risk use cases and fuller assessment for higher-risk ones. CFOs need visibility into “shadow AI”- tools employees may already be using outside formal processes. AI literacy, human review, and feedback after deployment help teams assess accuracy, reliability, cost, and unintended effects. A measured, steady approach can be more effective than rushing into AI adoption out of fear of falling behind. Links Bruce Mullan on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 00:00 — Kevin Appleby introduces Bruce and frames AI governance as a performance system, not just a compliance system. 12:16 — The discussion turns to AI governance as a way to support value and innovation while avoiding organizational bottlenecks. 18:22 — Bruce outlines stages of AI use in finance, illustrated through invoice processing. 23:43 — Risk-based review and asking whether AI is actually needed for a use case. 27:00–30:20 — AI literacy, human oversight, feedback loops, and monitoring performance after deployment. 34:35 — Advice for CFOs who feel behind: avoid panic and take a measured approach. 37:06 — Shadow AI, employee use of public tools, and the challenge of protecting sensitive information. 45:14–49:21 — AI costs, tool accuracy, and why confidential information should be handled cautiously. Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • October 6 · 35 min

    #304 Why Your Most Profitable Product Might Be Losing You Money Pauline Healey Founder, Logical BI

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/2TUU4Nmtl7w7NGfAz2nzdf A product’s strong gross margin does not always translate into strong profit. When support, sales, customer service, and other indirect costs are left out of product-level analysis, a high-margin product can consume more resources than it generates. In this episode, Pauline Healey explains why businesses need to look beyond headline margins to understand the true cost of serving each product and customer. Pauline Healey, founder of Logical BI, discusses how her fractional CFO work combines finance with operational, supply-chain, and inventory expertise, particularly for manufacturing and engineering businesses. She explains that reliable cash-flow forecasting must account for the full operating cycle—from purchasing stock and managing production to delivery and customer payment. The conversation explores how businesses can improve profitability by investigating operational waste, checking that completed work is invoiced, and examining product costs more closely. Pauline and Kevin discuss how a product with an apparently attractive margin may still reduce overall profit if it drives unallocated costs such as customer support and additional sales effort. They also cover business systems, data consistency, and Pauline’s use of AI and her Profit Harmony Hub membership platform. Key topics covered: Pauline’s background in corporate finance and operations led her to build Logical BI around fractional CFO support for manufacturing and engineering businesses. Supply-chain complexity affects cash flow: forecasts need to account for inventory, supplier payments, production, delivery, and customer payment timing. Businesses should assess whether existing systems and plug-ins can meet their needs before making a costly move to an ERP system. A single source of truth helps teams avoid conflicting figures and focus on business decisions rather than reconciling inconsistent data. Looking for shop-floor waste and process gaps can uncover profit improvements; Pauline described a process loophole that left around £30,000 of completed work uninvoiced. Product profitability analysis should include indirect costs: a high-margin product may reduce overall profit if it requires substantial support, customer service, or sales resources. Links Pauline Healey on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 00:01 — Kevin introduces Pauline Healey and Logical BI. 04:07 — Pauline describes Logical BI’s focus on manufacturing and engineering, and its broader operational support. 06:13 — The discussion turns to supply-chain complexity and its effects on cash flow. 16:29 — Pauline discusses evaluating existing systems and reducing reliance on disconnected spreadsheets. 24:14 — Kevin and Pauline discuss finding waste and improving processes rather than defaulting to overhead cuts. 25:00–26:42 — Pauline describes a missed-invoicing process gap and explains the revenue impact of unbilled work. 28:15–30:42 — They explore how hidden support costs can make a seemingly high-margin product less profitable overall. 31:00 — Pauline shares her perspective on AI use in business and finance. 35:11 — Pauline introduces Profit Harmony Hub, her membership platform for business and finance insights. Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • September 29 · 44 min

    #303 The True Cost of AI: What CFOs Need to Know Ed Barrow Founder & CEO, Cloud Capital

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ZNZMVgTlQPe0bhhozHSRb For fifteen years the software P&L was a settled question: hosting was a rounding error, gross margins held above 80%, and investors underwrote growth against a predictable annuity stream. That assumption is breaking. AI and cloud infrastructure has become one of the largest and least predictable costs on the P&L, moving faster than most finance teams have built the vocabulary or forecasting discipline to handle it. Ed Barrow, Founder and CEO of Cloud Capital, joins Kevin Appleby to unpack research with 100 growth-stage CFOs: 96% blew through their AI budget last year, with overruns driven more by compute and storage than by model costs, and the average software company now spends 15–20% of revenue on compute and AI, a fourfold jump, while over half of AI-native companies exceed 30%. Barrow draws a distinction many finance teams miss: workforce AI scales with headcount and belongs in OPEX, while product AI scales with customer usage and belongs in COGS. Getting that split wrong distorts unit economics badly — he has seen entire cloud bills dumped into gross margin, and entire model bills buried in R&D. He also warns against betting on falling token prices: consumption has outrun per-unit declines, and providers will pivot to profitability much as Uber did. With roughly $800 billion of debt-financed data centre buildout this year, the market will shift from pay-as-you-go to committed multi-year contracts. His prescription: befriend engineering, learn the language of tokens and model selection, and act as a chief investment officer who sets guardrails before the bill arrives. Key topics covered: 96% of CFOs exceeded their AI budget last year, and the overruns were driven more by compute and data storage than by model and token costs, a blind spot for teams focused solely on token spend AI spend has reached 15–20% of revenue for the average software company, up fourfold in months, with over half of AI-native companies above 30%, a fundamentally different business model from the 80%-margin SaaS playbook investors built their assumptions on Workforce AI belongs in OPEX and product AI belongs in COGS, and misallocating between them distorts gross margin in either direction, particularly when tokens arrive through three or four billing routes at once, including hosted models inside AWS, Google Cloud and Azure invoices Seat-based pricing breaks when costs scale with customer usage, creating the “token treadmill”, loyal, highly engaged customers accumulate data and context and become the least profitable cohort over time unless pricing is aligned to value and outcomes Betting on falling token prices is a dangerous gamble, consumption growth has outrun per-unit price declines, and heavily funded model providers heading toward IPO will move from subsidised customer acquisition to profitable pricing, following the Uber trajectory Debt-financed data centre buildouts will push the market from pay-as-you-go to committed contracts, handing CFOs material long-term liabilities to underwrite, with commitments often carrying 30–40% discounts but real balance sheet risk if utilisation falls short Links Ed Barrow on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 00:32 — From rounding error to runaway bill: how the cloud line item changed 03:32 — Workforce AI vs. product AI: the OPEX/COGS split that changes everything 13:15 — 96% of CFOs blew their AI budget — and compute, not tokens, was the culprit 18:18 — The token treadmill: why your most loyal customers become your least profitable 20:55 — The end of the 80% gross margin playbook, and the Uber analogy for token pricing 26:41 — $800bn of debt-financed data centres and the coming shift to committed contracts 30:53 — What to do tomorrow: befriend engineering and think like a chief investment officer 36:11 — Paying for tokens through four different channels, and the allocation trap Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • September 22 · 36 min

    #302 Is AI Creating a Finance Jobs Crisis? Ademola Odewade CEO, K-Dems Consulting Ltd.

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/3iVbLkvEWH7j8zxvRzOsK6 Rapid advances in AI are transforming how finance teams forecast cash flow, detect fraud, and automate routine reporting, raising difficult questions about what happens to traditional roles when machines can achieve in minutes what once took analysts days. At the same time, many economies are grappling with skills shortages in some areas and structural unemployment in others, especially among younger professionals trying to break into the industry. Understanding whether new technologies are eliminating jobs, reshaping them, or creating entirely new categories of work has become a strategic imperative for anyone leading—or aspiring to lead—in the finance function. Amid these shifts, Kevin Appleby is joined by Ademola Odewade, CEO of K-Dems Consulting Ltd., to examine the real impact of AI on employment in finance and whether the industry is drifting toward a full-blown jobs crisis. Drawing on Ademola’s background as a former Big 4 chartered accountant and CFO, and his new book Human Led AI Powered Finance, the discussion reframes AI from a perceived threat into a powerful enabler whose effects depend on how leaders choose to design teams, workflows, and controls. Ademola introduces his ACCOUNT framework—Aim, Capability, Controls, Operating Workflows, Underlying Data, Numbers, and Trust—as a practical blueprint for adopting AI without losing the human judgment that underpins sound financial stewardship [episode302]. Rather than focusing solely on job losses, the conversation challenges finance leaders to rethink skills, data foundations, and governance so that automation handles the heavy lifting while people move into higher-value analytical, strategic, and advisory roles. About Ademola Odewade Ademola Odewade, MBA, ACA, BSc (Economics), is a finance leader, entrepreneur, author and podcast host with a background in Big Four advisory at PwC and KPMG. He is the Founder and CEO of K-Dems Consulting Ltd and CAIO at CreatrHub, where he contributes to the intersection of AI, innovation and the creator economy. He is also the host of Diary Of A CFO and The King Dems Podcast, where he explores finance, leadership, AI and business growth with global executives and thought leaders. A Chartered Accountant and MBA, Ademola’s work focuses on helping finance leaders and organisations move beyond traditional reporting towards more strategic, human-led and AI-powered decision-making. He is also the author of Human-Led, AI-Powered Finance, which examines how finance professionals can combine human judgement, leadership and emerging technology to create greater business impact. Key topics covered: Ademola explains the vision behind Human Led AI Powered Finance and why finance leaders must take a proactive stance on AI rather than wait for disruption to hit their teams. The conversation tackles fears about a “jobs crisis” head-on, contrasting rising youth unemployment with the capacity of AI to automate routine work and free humans for higher-value activities. Ademola lays out his ACCOUNT framework (Aim, Capability, Controls, Operating Workflows, Underlying Data, Numbers, Trust) as a practical blueprint for implementing AI responsibly in finance. Kevin and Ademola explore how AI can enhance cash flow forecasting, anomaly detection, and decision support—while still requiring human oversight of assumptions and data quality. They discuss AI’s role in strengthening fraud detection and controls, highlighting how AI can surface unusual transactions and support better segregation of duties. The episode closes with clear guidance on measuring AI success through efficiency, accuracy, risk reduction, and, crucially, the level of trust business leaders place in AI outputs over time. Links Ademola Odewade on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 0:00:01 – Introduction to Ademola Odewade, his background in finance and digital technology, and the premise of Human Led AI Powered Finance 0:05:22 – Why early adopters in finance can gain a structural advantage from AI, and why the “AI will take all our jobs” narrative is overly simplistic [0:15:33–0:15:56] – Direct discussion of whether AI is driving a jobs crisis in finance, with reference to UK youth unemployment and the need for re-skilling and training 0:16:18 – Deep dive into the ACCOUNT framework for structuring AI initiatives in finance teams 0:18:59 – Practical examples of AI in cash flow forecasting, including the importance of understanding assumptions, data quality, and anomaly detection 0:26:31 – How AI can enhance fraud detection and internal controls, and where human judgment must remain non-negotiable 0:32:54 – The critical role of documented processes and high-quality data in making AI implementations reliable and auditable 0:37:53 – Metrics and KPIs for AI success in finance—time savings, accuracy, variance reduction, and risk impacts—plus how to build executive trust in AI 0:41:45 – Wrap-up and details on the book’s availability, reinforcing why staying current on AI is now a core responsibility for finance leaders Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • September 15 · 35 min

    #301 Could Your High Standards Be Hurting Your Team? Jeanné Els GrowCFO Mentor

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/2VMHWSc8joPjk5plFwizjr High-achieving leaders often pride themselves on attention to detail, relentless drive, and demanding the best—from themselves and everyone around them. Yet the very qualities that fuel success can quietly erode team confidence, autonomy, and performance. When expectations become uncompromising, people stop taking initiative, avoid risks, and operate in fear of making mistakes. A critical leadership challenge is learning how to maintain excellence without creating pressure that stifles creativity, burns people out, or drives the best talent away—and how a few intentional shifts can turn high standards into a force for sustainable growth rather than harm. In this GrowCFO Show episode, host Kevin Appleby is joined by Jeanné Els, GrowCFO Mentor and founder of coaching and facilitation practice Selah, to explore how high standards play out in real teams and real careers. Drawing on more than a decade in corporate finance and her work with high-performing professionals, Jeanné shares candid reflections on times when her own drive and perfectionism unintentionally created pressure and reduced ownership in her teams, and contrasts that with a more sustainable approach built on psychological safety, trust, and clear expectations. Together, Kevin and Jeanné connect these leadership lessons back to finance business partnering, showing how insight, storytelling, and curiosity can raise the bar while keeping both leaders and teams out of burnout. Key topics covered: Jeanné shares her journey from aspiring musician to chartered accountant and ultimately to coach and facilitator, illustrating how high performers often reinvent themselves when their old success patterns stop working The discussion reframes finance business partnering as a storytelling and insight function, not just a reporting role, emphasizing the importance of communicating what really matters to stakeholders Jeanné unpacks the concept of sustainable ambition, explaining how unchecked high standards can push leaders into overdrive, creating disconnects between who they are and how they show up at work She explains how her own high standards once created pressure for her team, and how focusing on psychological safety, questions, and trust led to stronger, more autonomous performance The episode explores imposter syndrome and the transition from technical expert to leader, highlighting why leaders must let go of needing all the answers and instead create space for their teams to learn and experiment Jeanné outlines her vision for Selah as a community and support system for high-performing professionals who want to maintain ambition without sacrificing wellbeing or team health Links Jeanné Els on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 00:00 – Kevin introduces Jeanné Els, her background in corporate finance, and sets up the importance of examining how high standards shape leadership and team dynamics 03:20 – Discussion of finance business partnering as moving beyond historic reporting into insights, communication, and influencing decisions—not just “being right” with the numbers 13:11 – Jeanné reflects on lessons she wishes she’d known earlier, including how relentless standards and over-responsibility can backfire on both career and team 13:27 – Jeanné explains the story behind Selah, her focus on sustainable ambition, and the need for safe spaces to step back and reflect on how you’re leading and living 20:47 – Deep dive into psychological safety, trusting your team, and treating mistakes as learning opportunities instead of evidence of falling below impossible standards 32:06 – Jeanné shares her vision for expanding Selah and building communities where driven professionals can maintain high standards without burning themselves or their teams out Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • September 8 · 31 min

    #300 Will AI Reduce Finance Team Headcount? Dan Wells Founder & CEO, GrowCFO

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/1fQvZ06RhWiGAaCPATzx08 In today’s finance function, the question is no longer whether AI will have an impact, but whether it will fundamentally change team size and structure. This landmark 300th episode of The GrowCFO Show asks directly: will AI actually reduce finance team headcount, and how should CFOs prepare? Dan Wells, Founder & CEO of GrowCFO, examines how automation, machine learning, and generative AI are reshaping core finance activities—from reporting and month-end close to forecasting and transactional processing—and what that means for resource planning, role design, and long-term capability building. Dan sets out a pragmatic framework for separating hype from reality. He considers which finance activities are most automatable, where AI is likely to create capacity rather than eliminate roles, and how leading CFOs are using that capacity—whether to cut cost, reinvest in analysis and business partnering, or build new capabilities altogether. Listeners come away with a structured way to think about headcount, role design, and capability building in an AI-enabled finance function, along with practical next steps they can apply in their own teams. Key topics covered: Why the question “Will AI Reduce Finance Team Headcount?” is now a strategic issue for CFOs, not just a technology debate A clear distinction between automating high-volume tasks and making decisions about structural headcount Specific areas where AI can meaningfully reduce manual effort in reporting, month-end close, and forecasting workflows Which finance roles and skill sets are most exposed to automation, and which will become more valuable in an AI-enabled team How progressive CFOs are redeploying capacity towards partnering, scenario analysis, and decision support instead of pure cost-cutting Key governance, risk, and change-management considerations when using AI to reshape the finance operating model Links Dan Wells on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 00:00 – 03:30 – Introduction: why AI and finance headcount is now a board-level topic 03:30 – 10:00 – Mapping the current finance operating model and identifying automation hotspots 10:00 – 18:00 – Tasks vs. roles: what AI can automate today versus what still needs human judgement 18:00 – 28:00 – Example scenarios: where AI could change team size and structure in reporting, close, and forecasting 28:00 – 38:00 – Future skills and profiles: what CFOs should hire, retain, and develop in an AI-driven finance function 38:00 – 45:00 – Strategic implications: balancing cost savings with capability, culture, and stakeholder expectations Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • September 1 · 31 min

    #299 What It Takes to Become CFO by 33 Audrey Lagresle CFO, Automobile En Direct

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU-RseAyGQw .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/6btUL4oyp02GAFIzpP2kja Becoming a CFO by 33 takes far more than technical finance skills; it demands strategic breadth, deep business exposure, and the confidence to operate at board level. In this GrowCFO Show episode, Kevin Appleby talks with Audrey Lagresle, CFO of Automobile On Direct, about how she reached the CFO seat so early in her career and why today’s CFO must be a value creator and change leader, not just a chief accountant. Audrey shares her journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family in France, to driving global finance transformation at Bombardier, and then building the FP&A and finance business partnering function from scratch in a fast‑growing Canadian automotive business. She explains how she now leads a 19‑person finance team, focuses on strategy and decision support, shapes the company’s AI agenda, and applies lessons from ERP transformation and a volatile used‑car market. Along the way, she reflects on imposter syndrome, the role of the GrowCFO program, and how non‑traditional routes can successfully lead to the modern CFO role. About Audrey Lagresle Audrey Lagresle is the Chief Financial Officer of Automobile en Direct, Quebec’s leading used‑car retailer. At 35, she oversees strategy, governance, and major transformation initiatives for a fast‑growing, 400‑employee organization. Audrey joined the company six years ago to build its FP&A function and was promoted to CFO in 2024. Born into a family of entrepreneurs in France, she developed an early understanding of how businesses operate and a lasting affinity for small and medium‑sized companies. She immigrated to Montreal at 18 to study at HEC Montréal, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Finance, a Master’s degree in Strategy, and competing as an elite student‑athlete. Audrey built a non‑traditional CFO path through eight years at Bombardier, gaining experience in accounting, financial modeling, finance transformation, corporate strategy, and M&A. She later joined Automobile en Direct, where she led FP&A, strategic planning, corporate governance, a multi‑bank loan syndication, a divestment plan, and major innovation projects including ERP replacement and the launch of an internal AI Committee. Key topics covered: Audrey’s journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family in France to becoming CFO of a leading Canadian used‑car retailer by age 33. How global finance transformation work at Bombardier—shared services, FP&A systems, and post‑merger integration—equipped her with change, people, and risk management skills vital for the CFO seat. Why she left a multinational for a fast‑growing medium‑sized business and how she built FP&A, budgeting, cash flow planning, and monthly performance reviews from the ground up. Audrey’s view of the modern CFO as a value creator and strategic partner to the CEO and COO, rather than a traditional “chief accountant,” and how the GrowCFO program reinforced her readiness for the role. Lessons from navigating the post‑COVID used‑car downturn, executing a divestment plan, and still opening new branches while maintaining financial discipline . How she is leading the company’s AI and technology agenda—creating an internal AI committee, adding a Director of Technology and Innovation, and using AI to enhance decisions without cutting headcount. Links Audrey Lagresle on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 0:00:01 – Introduction to Audrey Lagrell and Automobile On Direct; overview of the used‑car business model and scale (14,000+ cars per year, #1 used‑car retailer in Canada focused solely on used cars) 0:02:04 – Audrey’s early exposure to entrepreneurship in her family’s furniture business and how living “inside the business” shaped her holistic understanding of how companies operate 0:04:20 – Bombardier finance transformation: building shared service centers in Costa Rica, Romania, and the Philippines; project management, process mapping, and large‑scale change management in a 60,000‑employee multinational. 0:09:18 – Standardizing finance across multiple plants and learning from major divestments and post‑merger integrations, including work with Airbus on carve‑outs and integration activities. 0:14:10 – Transition from multinational to a growing medium‑sized automotive business; building FP&A, budgets, cash flow, treasury policies, and monthly financial reviews from scratch. 0:16:46 – The GrowCFO program, evolving expectations of the CFO role by 2030, and why Audrey believes the CFO’s primary mission is to create value and help the CEO make better decisions—not just close the books. 0:21:01 – Imposter syndrome, stepping into the CFO role at 33, and realizing she was already operating as a strategic influencer before the title formally changed. 0:25:25 – Audrey’s finance team structure: strong corporate controller, dedicated FP&A, and treasury support that free her to focus on growth, strategy, and partnerships with the CEO and COO. 0:28:40 – How she is leading AI in the business: internal AI committee, evaluating use cases across marketing, finance, and reconditioning, and insisting on clear ROI and risk management. 0:33:39 – Lessons from a major ERP replacement to Microsoft Business Central and why the CFO must stay close to tech projects to ensure they genuinely create business value. Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • August 25 · 35 min

    #298 How Can You Fast-Track Your Career to CFO? Becky Glover Chief Financial Officer, Mazuma

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU-RseAyGQw .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/4dDqz9crVX05wHlwbFskwN A CFO role is no longer just about reporting the numbers; it’s about driving strategy, shaping growth, and leading with commercial insight. For ambitious finance professionals, understanding how to deliberately design a career that accelerates you into that top seat has never been more important. From gaining the right breadth of experience to leveraging technology, networks, and non‑traditional opportunities, there are practical ways to intentionally fast‑track your journey to CFO. In this episode, Kevin Appleby interviews Becky Glover, Chief Financial Officer at Mazuma, about her unconventional and accelerated journey to the CFO seat. Becky outlines how she progressed from leaving school at 17 to qualifying through the AAT and ACCA routes, building a portfolio of varied roles, and eventually stepping into the CFO role without a traditional university background. The conversation positions her story as a practical blueprint for finance professionals who want to fast‑track their careers by focusing on the right experiences, networks, and skills rather than just job titles and salary progression. The episode also explores how running her own e‑commerce business, engaging with professional bodies such as AAT and ACCA, and contributing to initiatives like Connection Career Collective all accelerated Becky’s development as a modern, technology-enabled CFO. Listeners gain insight into how exposure to technology, automation, marketing, and SME operations can significantly increase a finance leader’s impact and readiness for the top finance role. The discussion highlights that the path to CFO is becoming more diverse and that intentional career design, continuous learning, and meaningful connections can dramatically shorten the journey. Key topics covered: Becky’s non‑traditional path: from AAT apprenticeship to ACCA-qualified CFO without a university degree How diverse roles, board work, and “saying yes” to opportunities helped fast‑track her career Lessons from running an e‑commerce wine business and how it sharpened her technology and commercial skills How Mazuma combines fintech and accountancy to serve small SMEs with proprietary automation (MazApp) Why future CFOs must leverage technology and automation to focus on advisory and value creation Becky’s work with AAT, ACCA, and Connection Career Collective to build networks in male‑dominated fields Links Becky Glover on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 0:00 Becky’s unconventional route from AAT apprentice to CFO. 0:03 Key factors that accelerated her path to the CFO role. 0:05 How launching an e‑commerce wine business changed her finance skill set. 0:08 Practical lessons from entrepreneurship for aspiring CFOs. 0:11 Inside Mazuma’s fintech‑accountancy model and SME focus. 0:13 The role of technology and AI in the future CFO toolkit. 0:16 Giving back through AAT and ACCA and why networks matter. 0:19 Confidence, imposter syndrome, and Becky's mindset strategies. 0:25 Connection Career Collective and building connections in male‑dominated sectors. 0:28 Becky’s vision for her future and the evolving CFO role. Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • August 18 · 29 min

    #297 How Tax Professionals Can Become Fractional CFOs Scott Winters CEO & Chairman of the Board, Financial Gravity

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU-RseAyGQw .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/0zOed7gVBbs25h2TaJetQo For tax professionals wondering what comes after traditional compliance work, this episode offers a practical roadmap for evolving into a more strategic, better-paid role. As AI and automation increasingly handle routine tax tasks, the real opportunity lies in stepping up as a trusted financial guide to business owners, not just a form-filler or historian of the past In this episode, host Kevin Appleby interviews Scott Winters, CEO & Chairman of the Board at Financial Gravity, on how tax professionals can successfully transition into fractional CFO roles. The discussion frames this shift as both a strategic career move and a necessary response to the rapid commoditization of tax compliance, driven largely by AI and automation. Rather than remaining in backward-looking compliance work, Scott argues that tax professionals are uniquely positioned to become forward-looking strategic advisors, helping business owners make better decisions, scale, and ultimately create more enterprise value . Scott introduces a five-stage business evaluation and scaling framework and explains how it can be applied by tax professionals who want to broaden their remit beyond tax filings . He explores the mindset shift required to move from technician to strategic partner, the skills gap between traditional tax advisors and seasoned CFOs, and practical models for offering fractional CFO services, including tiered offerings and retainer-based pricing. The episode makes a strong case that those who adapt will thrive in a world where AI takes over routine work, leaving humans to deliver higher-value insight, judgment, and leadership. Key topics covered: Why AI is commoditizing tax compliance and pushing advisors toward value-added fractional CFO services The five-stage framework Scott uses to evaluate, fix, and scale client businesses The skills tax professionals must develop to bridge the gap between compliance work and strategic CFO leadership How to design a tiered service offering that layers advisory and fractional CFO work on top of core tax services Shifting from hourly billing to a retainer-based model that supports deeper, ongoing client relationships Why the demand for fractional CFOs is growing, and how tax professionals can differentiate in a crowded advisory market Links Scott Winters on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 0:00:02 – Scott Winters’ background and entrepreneurial journey 0:03:17 – Why tax professionals should become fractional CFOs 0:06:31 – Skills gap between tax compliance work and fractional CFO roles 0:08:45 – Scott’s five-stage business evaluation and scaling process 0:13:15 – Challenges and upskilling opportunities for tax professionals 0:14:33 – The value proposition of fractional CFO services 0:20:25 – Impact of AI on tax, accounting, and advisory services 0:24:08 – Fractional CFO market demand and competition 0:29:16 – Creating a tiered tax, advisory, and fractional CFO offering 0:30:52 – Moving from hourly billing to retainer-based models 0:32:55 – Book promotion and closing thoughts on “Tax Professional to Fractional CFO” Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • August 11 · 38 min

    #296 AI Is Giving CFOs Confidently Wrong Answers Don Rogers Managing Partner & Founder, Invictus Global Advisors, LLC

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU-RseAyGQw .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ZGZXsiAU9uEVPsIAGbSUj AI is now embedded in almost every corner of the finance function, powering forecasts, reports, and board-ready insights at unprecedented speed. Yet when powerful systems are plugged into weak data, broken processes, or poor governance, they don’t just make mistakes, they do it with absolute confidence and immense credibility. For CFOs, the real risk isn’t that AI is wrong; it’s that it looks so right no one stops to question it. In this GrowCFO Show episode, Kevin Appleby speaks with Don Rogers, Managing Partner & Founder of Invictus Global Advisors, LLC, to explore how AI can mislead finance teams with highly convincing but incorrect outputs, and what CFOs must do to protect decision-making. Rogers explains that while AI has reignited interest in finance transformation, many CFOs are layering powerful AI tools onto broken operating models and poor-quality data. The result is not better insight, but faster, more polished versions of the same flawed information, sometimes delivered with total confidence, yet fundamentally wrong. He stresses that without strong governance, data enablement, and process discipline, AI will amplify dysfunction rather than cure it. Rogers positions AI as a catalyst that forces CFOs to rethink the strategic finance operating model, not a magic fix. He introduces a 10-component model spanning strategy, talent activation, service delivery, process optimization, governance, data, digital and AI, insights and analytics, constituent experience, and benefits realization. Throughout the conversation, he illustrates how weak change management, undocumented processes, and poor culture (e.g., fear of “red” status) cause transformations to miss their promised benefits, even when the technology works. His message is clear: AI can unlock the long-promised vision of finance as a true strategic advisor, but only if CFOs fix their operating model, embed strong governance, and keep “humans in the loop” to challenge and validate AI outputs. Key topics covered: Don explains how AI, when layered on top of a broken finance operating model and poor data governance, will “amplify the dysfunction” and produce confidently wrong answers instead of better insight. He shares a real client example where the same AI prompts produced two completely different board reports, underscoring the risks of hallucinations, model drift, and weak governance in AI-led reporting. Rogers introduces his Strategic Finance Operating Model with 10 components, showing CFOs how to connect corporate strategy, talent, processes, data, AI, and benefits realization into one coherent blueprint. The discussion highlights sobering transformation statistics (e.g., high failure and dissatisfaction rates) and links them directly to poor change management, cultural resistance, and cutting “change” from budgets first. Don stresses the need for a new apprenticeship model in finance: young professionals must learn AI, data, and tools, while experienced leaders focus on change enablement, strategic storytelling, and constituent experience. The conversation explores the evolution from bespoke AI to generative and agentic AI, and why CFOs must demand strong guardrails, governance, and documented processes before trusting AI in core finance tasks like journal entries. Links Don Rogers on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 0:02:21 – AI, changing expectations of CFOs, and why layering AI on a broken model only “amplifies the dysfunction.” 0:04:46 – Don’s story of a CFO getting two different AI-generated board reports from the same prompts, and the risks of hallucination, drift, and bad data. 0:06:13 – How young professionals must learn AI, data, and tools, while senior leaders become change catalysts and keep “humans in the loop.” [episode296] 0:11:39 – Why 50% of transformations never get off the ground and ~70–80% fail to deliver expected benefits; Don links this directly to change management and human behavior, not technology. 0:17:32 – The importance of tracking outcomes and benefits: business cases are created, funded, then forgotten, driving the gap between promised and realized value. 0:20:23 – Culture, governance, and the “green-to-red” effect: why everything looks green until a project suddenly turns red, and how fear and blame stop early escalation. 0:22:41 – Don outlines the Strategic Finance Operating Model components (strategy, talent activation, service delivery, process optimization, governance, data enablement, digital & AI, insights & analytics, constituent experience, outcomes & benefits). 0:23:39 – Evolution of AI in finance: from bespoke models to embedded generative AI in ERPs and point solutions, and now to agentic AI acting on goals, not just instructions. 0:28:27 – Agentic AI and governance: Don’s epilogue on corporate and government responsibility for guardrails, and why AI is still only as good as the instructions and constraints given. 0:32:16 – Journal entry example: a client’s agentic AI project hits a 96% fail rate because underlying code-block rules weren’t built into the model. 0:33:33 – The hidden risk: critical business processes exist only in people’s heads, never documented, leaving AI with no reliable instructions to follow. 0:35:04 – Deeper dive into the 10 components and how to prioritize projects when organizations can only handle 5–7 major initiatives at a time. 0:39:59 – Don’s upcoming book: “Building the Strategic Finance Operating Model: The CFO’s Blueprint for Value Creation in the Age of AI” and its practical, conversational style. Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • August 4 · 36 min

    #295 Can AI Replace the CFO? Rick Sanchez Managing Principal and CEO, Robyn Consulting Group

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU-RseAyGQw .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/6BAhYyRQAlmf5YteAOrCI0 As automation and algorithms take on more financial analysis, the role of the finance leader is under increasing scrutiny. Boards and founders are asking what truly requires human judgment at the top of the finance function, and what can be handed over to machines. In this episode, Kevin Appleby talks with Rick Sanchez, Managing Principal and CEO of Robyn Consulting Group, about whether AI can replace the CFO. They explore how AI can accelerate decision-making, supercharge FP&A, streamline routine workflows, and deepen insight into unit economics, pricing, and retention, while highlighting why strategy, interpretation, and stakeholder leadership still demand an experienced finance executive. The discussion turns this vision into practical guidance: building a robust financial operating system, using AI to lower barriers to building and scaling SaaS products, and applying data to pricing and recurring revenue models. Rick also looks ahead to how fractional CFO services will evolve, arguing that those who blend FP&A expertise with AI tools will be best placed to solve complex problems. and that AI is ultimately a force multiplier for CFOs, not a replacement. Key topics covered: Rick outlines his transition from corporate revenue management and FP&A into a fractional CFO role, bringing Fortune 500–style tools and frameworks to founder-led and SaaS businesses. He explains why unit economics (price, quantity, and retention) are central levers for SaaS growth and how exercises like MRR growth ceiling analysis reveal where to focus effort. The conversation dives into pricing strategy, including starting with lower prices to acquire customers, then using value-based increases and retention to drive long-term profitability. Rick and Kevin explore how AI will reshape finance, from automating routine tasks to enhancing planning, analytics, and CEO decision-making, while still requiring human oversight and strategic judgment. They discuss how AI is lowering barriers to entry in SaaS, enabling rapid prototyping and go-to-market, while highlighting that distribution, marketing, and scalable business models still determine success. Looking ahead, Rick predicts strong growth in fractional CFO services powered by AI and bespoke FP&A tooling, and stresses clear differentiation between bookkeeping, controllership, and high-value CFO advisory work. Links Rick Sanchez on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 0:00:01 - Rick’s background and journey from corporate CFO roles to founding his own fractional CFO firm, working with startups and founder-led businesses. 0:01:39 - Deep dive into his corporate career in technology, revenue management, and FP&A, and how those disciplines shape his current advisory approach. 0:04:31 - Discussion of specialization in SaaS and tech companies, including unit economics, recurring revenue, and the critical importance of retention. 0:07:52 - Practical pricing strategies for startups and established firms, covering low-entry pricing, retention dynamics, and managing paid-in-full and deferred revenue. 0:21:39 - Core segment on AI in finance and fractional CFO work, how AI can automate tasks, elevate decision quality, and fit into a layered financial operating system. 0:28:17 - How AI reduces product development friction in SaaS, plus the remaining challenges around scaling, marketing, and infrastructure for young tech CEOs. 0:36:22 - Future trends: growth in fractional CFO demand, the role of creativity plus AI in solving complex problems, and the rise of in-house FP&A tools tailored to niche markets. 0:39:52 - Closing reflections on AI’s long-term impact on finance, the necessity of clean and accurate data, and the upskilling imperative for finance professionals. Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • July 28 · 39 min

    #294 The Skills Every CFO Will Need by 2030 Myles Corson EY Global Financial Accounting Advisory Services, Strategy and Markets Leader

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU-RseAyGQw .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Wf1pMCeUmlEym9EYVRF37 In the coming years, finance leaders will operate in an environment shaped by rapid technological disruption, new business models, and rising stakeholder expectations, where a role once focused on reporting and cost control now sits at the center of strategy, value creation, and transformation. In this context, traditional accounting and compliance expertise must be complemented by fluency in data, technology, and AI, as well as much stronger leadership, communication, and collaboration skills; capabilities that will define the next generation of high-performing, future-ready finance functions. In this GrowCFO Show episode, host Kevin Appleby welcomes Myles Corson, EY Global Financial Accounting Advisory Services, Strategy and Markets Leader, to explore what skills will define successful CFOs by 2030. Against a backdrop of rapid technological disruption and shifting business models, the conversation anchors on EY’s long-running “DNA of the CFO” research, based on over 1,500 global CFO and senior finance leader responses. The episode underscores why today’s CFOs must move beyond traditional stewardship and reporting roles to become true enterprise value creators, strategic partners, and transformation leaders. The discussion examines the widening gap between CFOs’ ambition to lead value creation and the current reality that only about one in four are truly doing so in practice. Corson highlights that by 2030, the most effective CFOs will blend technical excellence, strategic acumen, AI fluency, and human-centered leadership, especially communication, collaboration, and change management. The conversation emphasizes that technology, including AI, is only a catalyst; sustainable success will depend on how CFOs develop their teams, reshape enterprise value metrics, and navigate uncertainty with adaptability and curiosity. Key topics covered: EY’s multi‑year “DNA of the CFO” research shows a persistent gap between CFOs’ desire to lead value creation and the small minority actually doing so day-to-day. Future-ready CFOs will be distinguished less by technical credentials and more by strategic thinking, cross-functional collaboration, and human-centered leadership. AI adoption in finance remains early: only around 20% of organizations consider themselves advanced, with most struggling on data, culture, skills, and scaling beyond “science experiments.” Successful finance transformations correlate strongly with team adaptability and clear articulation of the “why” behind change, not just the technology or cost targets. The most impactful CFOs intentionally build varied career experience (operations, strategy, international roles) and focus on mentoring, networks, and peer benchmarking. In an AI-driven world, people remain the decisive factor: leadership, communication, and culture ultimately determine whether technology investments deliver value. Links Myles Corson on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 0:00:02 – Introduction to Miles Corson, EY Global Leadership Team and framing the reality vs. perception of the CFO role. 0:02:07 – Miles’ career journey and how diverse roles across geographies, audit, management accounting, government, and advisory shaped his CFO perspective. 0:08:00 – Discussion on curiosity, varied experience, and mentorship as critical enablers of finance career progression and leadership. 0:10:52 – Key findings from the DNA of the CFO survey: CFOs’ ambition to lead value creation vs. the reality that only ~25% do so in practice; the need to rethink enterprise value metrics. 0:21:12 – Deep dive into AI in finance: low maturity of adoption, challenges with data, culture, and skills, and the importance of focusing on business outcomes rather than technology hype. 0:26:31 – Why most finance transformations underperform; the pivotal role of human factors, communication, and storytelling in driving successful change. 0:38:31 – Long-term trends in the CFO role: evolution rather than revolution, with enduring importance of strategic vision, collaboration, and the human side of leadership. 0:43:32 – Conclusion: in a world of AI and advanced technology, people, culture, and talent still determine whether CFOs and finance functions can truly transform and create value. Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • July 21 · 35 min

    #293 Why Profitable Businesses Still Run Out of Cash Scotty Palmer Fractional CFO and Founder, Palmers Advisors

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU-RseAyGQw .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/1UpfxeVtifPbatGQtj5bFV Understanding why some companies run short of the one resource they simply cannot operate without, cash in the bank, even when they are hitting revenue and profit targets has become an essential leadership skill. Cash flow problems rarely appear in the headline numbers, yet they can quietly derail growth plans, strain supplier relationships, and, in the worst cases, threaten the survival of an otherwise profitable business. For founders, CEOs, and finance leaders, success depends on looking beyond the profit and loss statement to understand the timing, predictability, and movement of cash. Organisations that master cash flow are better equipped to scale with confidence, navigate uncertainty, and seize opportunities while competitors struggle to meet their obligations. In this episode of The GrowCFO Show, host Kevin Appleby is joined by Scotty Palmer, Fractional CFO and Founder of Palmer's Strategic Advisors, to explore one of the most common challenges facing growing businesses: why profitable companies still run out of cash. Scotty explains how tight margins, hidden costs, and rapid growth without effective cash flow planning can quickly create a liquidity crisis, even when the profit and loss statement looks healthy. Drawing on his experience advising small and mid-sized businesses in the food and beverage sector, he shares practical examples of how cash constraints can emerge despite strong financial performance. The conversation also explores the tools and disciplines that help businesses strengthen cash flow and improve decision-making. Scotty discusses the role of financial modelling, KPI tracking, and AI-powered forecasting in creating greater visibility over future cash needs. He explains how a better understanding of unit economics, more accurate cost allocation, and challenging assumptions about seemingly profitable product lines can uncover hidden value and improve financial resilience. Throughout the discussion, he demonstrates how a fractional CFO can act as a strategic partner, helping founders balance ambitious growth with the financial discipline needed to build a sustainable business. Key topics covered: How a fractional CFO helps profitable businesses avoid cash crunches by improving visibility into true costs and cash conversion Why food and beverage businesses are especially vulnerable to cash-flow problems due to thin margins and complex cost structures A client case where disciplined financial modeling and KPI tracking helped increase business performance 10x Practical strategies to balance passion for product with commercial viability, including pricing, cost allocation, and product mix decisions How Scotty uses AI tools and spreadsheets to build agile financial models and improve decision-making speed for clients Scotty’s longer-term vision of building a specialist team of food and beverage advisors to support more founders at scale Links Scotty Palmer on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 0:00:01 – Scotty’s background and journey from corporate accounting at Honey Baked Hams to becoming a fractional CFO for food and beverage businesses 0:02:57 – The personal and financial challenges of leaving a stable corporate role to build a fractional CFO practice, and the central importance of predictable cash flow 0:07:14 – Why the food and beverage sector is high-risk for cash shortages despite apparent profitability, and how thin margins amplify operational missteps 0:08:39 – Case study: managing a large retailer opportunity, understanding true costs, and avoiding overextending cash to chase volume 0:22:37 – Using cost analysis, pricing strategy, and product-level profitability to turn around a struggling taproom restaurant 0:29:21 – Leveraging AI (Claude, Gemini, Google Sheets) to power financial modeling and scenario analysis without heavy financial systems 0:40:05 – Advice for corporate finance professionals considering a move into fractional CFO work, including risk, reward, and impact Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • July 14 · 33 min

    #292 The Reporting Change Every CFO Needs to Prepare For Paula Kensington GrowCFO Mentor

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU-RseAyGQw .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/38fJP7clsDYlUsNT51JxH5 In today’s finance landscape, corporate reporting is undergoing one of the most profound shifts in decades. Boards, investors, regulators, and lenders are no longer satisfied with backward‑looking financial statements alone; they expect CFOs to explain how evolving risks, regulation, and stakeholder expectations will shape business models, capital allocation, and long-term resilience. For finance leaders, this is no longer a peripheral compliance task but a core strategic responsibility that will increasingly determine market credibility and access to capital. In this GrowCFO Show episode, host Kevin Appleby speaks with returning guest Paula Kensington, GrowCFO Mentor, about what she describes as a “once in 100‑year change” in corporate reporting and why CFOs must act now rather than treat it as a box‑ticking exercise. The conversation explores the new International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) climate and sustainability standards (S1 and S2), their adoption in markets such as Australia and across Asia, and the phased implementation by entity size that is rapidly pulling mid‑market businesses into scope. The episode reframes so‑called “climate reporting” as a strategic exercise in business resilience, not a peripheral ESG disclosure. Paula explains how climate‑related risks and opportunities will increasingly drive strategy, governance, risk management, and metrics—and why these new disclosures may, over time, become more important to investors than traditional backward‑looking financial statements. She highlights the emerging regulatory expectations, the evolving role of assurance and audit, and the personal liability implications for directors and CFOs who underinvest or delay, emphasizing that the apparent savings from aiming for “minimum compliance” today may be dwarfed by future costs once standards, regulator expectations, and market scrutiny have fully matured. For further information, visit Authentyx and subscribe to the newsletter to receive practical resources, including downloadable checklists and a 90-day action plan designed to support confident, effective leadership and lasting success. Key topics covered: Paula positions the new ISSB climate standards (S1 and S2) as a once-in-a-century shift in corporate reporting that many CFOs are still underestimating. She explains the phased roll-out by company size, showing how mid‑market organizations (Group 2 and Group 3) are quickly becoming subject to these requirements and cannot rely on being “too small” to be affected. The discussion reframes climate reporting as forward‑looking resilience analysis, where climate scenarios and risks inform strategy and may ultimately become more critical to stakeholders than traditional P&L and balance sheet statements. Paula distinguishes between physical risks (e.g., assets and warehouses threatened by climate events) and transition risks (e.g., changing policies, markets, and customer expectations making existing products or models obsolete). She outlines how governance, risk registers, and board oversight must evolve so climate risks and opportunities actively drive decision‑making rather than sit as a static compliance document. The episode stresses that aiming for minimum viable compliance is a high‑risk strategy in light of director liability, potential fines, and increasing regulator and investor focus on the quality and consistency of climate disclosures. Links Paula Kensington on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 00:00–02:30 – Introduction to Paula and framing of the topic as a major, under-appreciated change in corporate reporting. 02:30–04:30 – Explanation of Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3 entities and why mid‑market CFOs are now “on the hook.” 04:30–07:30 – Reframing climate reporting as business resilience rather than ESG box‑ticking; climate disclosures as potential primary statements. 09:17–11:19 – Deep dive into physical vs transition risks with practical examples (warehouses, energy, low‑cost apparel). 15:19–18:38 – How assurance and audit standards are evolving, and why investors will focus on climate‑driven risks and opportunities more than last year’s earnings. 19:47–21:25 – The four pillars of ISSB (governance, risks and opportunities, metrics and targets, strategy) and their implications for how strategy is set. 22:11–23:33 – Discussion on the risk register as a living, strategic tool rather than a periodic governance formality. 28:22–31:40 – Why only ~20% of CFOs are taking this seriously; dangers of focusing solely on AI and cyber while underplaying climate risk. 33:28–34:51 – Regulator expectations, linkage between prior risk disclosures and current climate scenarios, and potential fines and director liability. 35:09–36:54 – Global implications, including differences in US regulation and why international supply chains will still force adoption. Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • July 7 · 30 min

    #291 Why Most AI Projects Fail to Deliver ROI Sinohe Terrero CFO and COO, Envoy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU-RseAyGQw .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/6raW3lf3gJuwTrYNbdkf0F Too many organisations are pouring time and money into AI only to find that the promised efficiency gains and cost savings never materialise, leaving CFOs struggling to justify the investment. Understanding why most AI projects fail to deliver ROI, and what finance leaders can do differently, is now a critical skill for anyone responsible for steering strategy, systems, and spend. In this GrowCFO Show episode, host Kevin Appleby sits down with Sinohe Terrero, CFO and COO of Envoy, to explore why so many AI initiatives fall short and how finance leaders can change the outcome. Drawing on his experience as a serial startup CFO and operator in high-growth tech companies, Sinohe reframes AI as a practical toolkit for augmentation, task automation, and application development, and explains how confusion between these use cases leads to poor deployment and weak returns. Throughout the conversation, Sinohe shares real examples from Envoy’s finance function, from AI-powered reconciliations and automated interview workflows to custom dashboards that bring data together in one place. He also dives into AI governance, describing the AI council he leads and the data policies that allow innovation while protecting sensitive information, ultimately positioning the CFO as a hands-on AI leader focused on both value creation and risk management. Key topics covered: Companies misunderstand what AI can do, deploy it inappropriately (e.g., trying to “fully automate everything”), and often lack in-house application developers who can tailor solutions to their actual workflows. Sinohe breaks AI use into augmentation, task automation, and application development, arguing that most ROI today comes from targeted task automation and small, purpose-built tools, not sweeping end-to-end automation projects. Envoy’s finance team used AI to automate health insurance and other reconciliations, identifying about $40,000 in recoveries and turning tedious, quarterly work into a largely automated process. Sinohe personally builds AI-powered applications to reconcile accounts, summarize emails and Slack, prep and debrief interviews, and create a “morning coffee” dashboard that consolidates operational and financial insights into a single pane of glass. As head of Envoy’s AI council, Sinohe has helped design a data governance matrix that clarifies what data can be used in which tools, allowing experimentation and creativity while strictly protecting company and customer data. Sinohe is bullish on increased data accessibility (e.g., via banks and platforms like Salesforce) and predicts a shift toward custom, CFO‑designed dashboards and tools, with legacy point solutions being displaced by in‑house applications that do exactly what the business needs. Links Sinohe Terrero on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 0:01:36 – Sinohe explains Envoy as a workplace technology platform focused on managing physical spaces (visitor check-in, security, emergency notifications, desk allocation) with 6,000+ global customers and around 250 employees. 0:03:35 – He shares how timing, a tight investor story, and demonstrating strong cash flow and operational discipline were critical to a successful Series C raise during a turbulent market. 0:04:47 – Sinohe lays out the core reasons AI fails in many organizations and introduces his three-part framework: augmentation, task automation, and application development. 0:07:11 – He describes teaching himself to build AI-powered applications, including an asset-account reconciliation tool that cut a two-hour monthly process down to about two minutes. 0:12:21 – Using tools like Scribe to document workflows, Envoy’s finance team identifies automation candidates; a payroll-led AI skill for health insurance reconciliations surfaced roughly $40,000 owed to the company. 0:17:53 – Sinohe explains Envoy’s AI council, clear AI policies, and a data governance matrix that defines what data can be used where, enabling safe experimentation at scale. 0:21:17 – He details his personal AI setup: automated interview briefing/debriefing via Granola + Claude, daily digests of emails/Slack/meetings, and automated summaries of operational metrics and customer activity. 0:24:58 – Sinohe predicts job disruption in large teams (e.g., 100 accountants potentially shrinking to 60) but sees smaller teams using AI to focus on higher-value, advisory work rather than basic reconciliations. 0:26:30 – He describes replacing tools like Flowcast, Asana/Monday, and other SaaS products with custom AI-enabled applications that do 75% of what generic tools do—but 100% of what Envoy actually needs. 0:33:36 – Sinohe forecasts greater bank and platform data accessibility, more automated reconciliations, and a shift that frees CFOs from operational drudgery so they can focus on higher‑value strategic work. Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

  • June 30 · 34 min

    #290 What First-Time CFOs Need to Know About Board Leadership Michael Anderson GrowCFO Mentor

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU-RseAyGQw .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/5rFlxuL66fW6AAkx6MShdM For first-time CFOs, board leadership is not merely a governance checkpoint; it is the arena where strategy, risk, and capital allocation converge. The board is the highest‑stakes audience, setting direction, probing assumptions, and expecting crisp narratives grounded in data and judgment. Mastering board dynamics early enables a new CFO to accelerate trust, shape decisions before they harden, and navigate uncertainty with confidence. From scenario planning and accountability to stakeholder alignment and strategic storytelling, board fluency becomes the multiplier that elevates a CFO from competent operator to indispensable strategic partner. In this episode, Michael Anderson, a GrowCFO Mentor, traces a varied finance leadership journey that began at KPMG in Silicon Valley and evolved through operating roles in tech, biotech, media, and international logistics. He reflects on the pivotal shift from compliance to value creation, sharing how exposure to IPOs, M&A, and complex post-acquisition integrations at Getty Images sharpened his instincts around urgency, risk, and decision-making with imperfect information. Anderson underscores that the best finance leaders pair technical acumen with character, curiosity, and the courage to have difficult conversations early. Anderson emphasizes understanding business processes before technology decisions, scenario planning to navigate uncertainty, and the importance of mentorship to build clarity, confidence, and conviction. He illustrates how board effectiveness grows when CFOs bring structured thinking, stakeholder empathy, and strategic storytelling, and he connects leadership depth to personal experiences, including lessons learned as a parent, that inform how he supports CEOs and boards in high-stakes contexts. Key topics covered: Why the AI skills gap is now a core strategic issue for finance leaders. Guy’s journey from chartered accountant and VC to AI trainer for finance teams. The essential foundational skills: prompting, architecture, and context management. How AI is creating new roles and responsibilities instead of simply removing jobs. Managing AI cost, tokens, and model choice like any other major operating expense. The danger of AI-built financial models without proper financial modeling discipline. Links Michael Anderson on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps: 00:03 — Transition from KPMG to tech; push beyond compliance into value creation 00:07 — Getty Images lessons: urgency, risk, and integrating acquisitions effectively 00:15 — Cross-industry perspective: biotech and logistics shaping CFO judgment 00:21 — Mentorship frameworks for leadership clarity and confidence 00:24 — Financing story: aligning with lender strategy to expand credit 00:39 — Supporting CEOs in board contexts; priorities for first-time CFOs Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

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