The CFO Show

Vena Solutions
The CFO Show

With today's increasingly challenging business conditions, finance leaders are taking on more responsibilities and facing more change than ever.    Join Vena’s CFO Melissa Howatson for The CFO Show, a weekly podcast featuring interviews with forward-thinking finance and business leaders.  Get timely commentary on today’s biggest issues in business, hear from finance leaders on how their work is transforming their organizations and get practical advice for ushering your finance team into the future.    The CFO Show isn’t just a podcast; it’s your forecast for the future of finance. 

  1. The Accounting Talent Crunch | Mark Maurer, WSJ

    NOV 12

    The Accounting Talent Crunch | Mark Maurer, WSJ

    A severe talent shortage is threatening the foundation of the finance function: accounting. The accounting profession is facing a critical talent shortage, threatening the foundation of financial operations across accounting firms and businesses of all sizes. Mark Maurer, reporter for The Wall Street Journal’s CFO Journal team, joins host Melissa Howatson to explore this pressing issue. Drawing from his extensive coverage of the shrinking talent pipeline, Maurer discusses the factors driving the increased demand for accountants and the dwindling supply of qualified professionals. As competition for accounting talent intensifies, this episode offers valuable insights for CFOs, finance leaders, and business executives. Join us for a timely discussion on the urgent talent gap and its far-reaching impact on the future of finance teams and beyond. Discussed in This Episode: The consequences of the current talent shortage, both on daily business operations, and long-term opportunities.What’s behind the sharp decline in CPA candidates and a dwindling interest in the accounting profession, and what plans are in place to regrow the pipeline.How finance leaders can retain talent by making accounting team members feel more engaged and valued.Ways to prevent burnout on short-staffed accounting teams, especially given the seasonality of the business function.The role AI will play in the future of accounting and solving the talent shortage.

    29 min
  2. Unlocking Excellence: Insights from Finance Leaders

    OCT 29

    Unlocking Excellence: Insights from Finance Leaders

    Filmed at Vena’s Excelerate Finance 2024 Summit, this episode features insights from FP&A and accounting leaders about the demands and rewards of their work. Join us as we dive into the importance of cross-functional collaboration, the art of balancing strategic vision with daily tasks, and the leadership skills that make a difference. Discover how teamwork and a purpose-driven mindset are shaping the future of finance. Featured Guests in Order of Appearance:[00:00], [01:03] Blake Dunaway, Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, Corcentric[00:46] Eugene Fedorinov, MBA, CFA,Sr. Manager, Finance Database & Budget Analysis, Arizona Cardinals [02:43] Pat Jones, SVP, Corporate Controller, PetIQ[04:15] Sultan Akif, Unicorn Account Executive,  Microsoft[06:02] Harjot Ghai, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Delbridge Solutions, Inc.[06:48] Christine Harms, Vice President and Controller, The Tuscon Roadrunners[07:26] Brian Krause, Chief Financial Officer, Community First Solutions[07:34] Jesse Funes, Senior Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis, New Horizons[11:07] Dan Crumb, Chief Financial Officer, Kansas City Chiefs[13:04] Carrie Self, Senior Director of Business Intelligence, Tacala Companies Discussed in This Episode:What finance leaders enjoy most about their jobs, from working with so many other teams to being at the center of every major business decision.How finance leaders feel they could be even more impactful with the help of their team and colleagues,What finance leaders wish other colleagues understood about their jobs, and what it takes to be successful.How FP&A roles have changed over time, and why it’s so important to have a bridge between strategic and tactical work,

    15 min
  3. The C-Suite Sweet Spot: CFO and CEO as Indispensable Partners | Hunter Madeley

    OCT 22

    The C-Suite Sweet Spot: CFO and CEO as Indispensable Partners | Hunter Madeley

    The CEO-CFO partnership is arguably the cornerstone of an organization’s success, shaping not only its financial health but its strategic trajectory. This relationship is a delicate balance of mutual respect, candid dialogue, and aligned vision. A thriving CEO-CFO dynamic goes beyond simple collaboration; it involves a continuous cycle of challenging each other’s perspectives, reinforcing financial discipline, and driving innovative strategies.  Our host and CFO of Vena, Melissa Howatson, shares such a dynamic relationship with Vena CEO Hunter Madeley. Together, they explore the unique perspectives of their respective roles and how aligning them is key to ensuring that the business is healthy today and positioned for sustainable growth. Learn how the CEO and CFO partnership can be a strategic catalyst for success and discover how this strategic alliance is more than just a business necessity—it’s the key to unlocking the full potential of an organization, ensuring its resilience today and its growth well into the future. Discussed In This Episode:  What’s top of mind for today’s CEOs and how finance leaders can support them through uncertain economic timesThe evolving role of CFOs, and whether they should be perceived as order-takers or strategic sparring partners in shaping the future of the businessHow CFOs can use their unique vantage points to help other functional leaders be more future-centricThe horizons of investments, and how CFOs can help CEOs commit to short and long-term goals

    45 min
  4. Building a Strong GDPR Compliance and Data Privacy Framework

    OCT 15

    Building a Strong GDPR Compliance and Data Privacy Framework

    The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been in effect since 2018, reshaping how businesses handle personal data across the globe. While many view GDPR as solely a legal or IT challenge, its impact ripples far beyond those departments—it touches every aspect of an organization.  For CFOs, GDPR isn’t just about compliance; it’s about safeguarding the financial health of the company, managing operational risks, and ensuring long-term sustainability. CFOs must be at the forefront of creating a GDPR-compliant organization, not only to avoid costly penalties but to protect the organization's reputation. Greet Gemels is the Chief Financial and Operating Officer at Advantage Group International, where she oversees the Finance, Human Resources, and Operations functions of a global market research company. In this episode, Greet and host Melissa Howatson discuss the critical implications of GDPR for CFOs and analyze the financial and operational risks involved. Discover how CFOs can effectively navigate current and evolving GDPR requirements to mitigate data security risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and safeguard their organization's financial and operational integrity. Discussed in This EpisodeHow GDPR data privacy laws have transformed data handling practices and regulatory compliance across organizations.The tangible and intangible costs of achieving GDPR compliance, along with the serious repercussions of non-compliance.The risks and implications of working with third-party vendors for tasks such as human resources and payroll.The critical need for strategic resource allocation, cross-functional collaboration, and robust metrics to assess the financial impact of GDPR compliance efforts.

    30 min
  5. How Finance Leaders Are Preparing for What’s Ahead

    OCT 8

    How Finance Leaders Are Preparing for What’s Ahead

    Filmed at Vena’s Excelerate Finance 2024 Summit, we had the opportunity to engage with a range of FP&A leaders, discussing the current state of business operations and their financial priorities as they strategize for 2025 and beyond. Learn what’s top of mind for CFOs, finance leaders and Microsoft, and how they plan to support business growth in the year ahead. Featured Guests in Order of Appearance: [00:00], [01:53] Dan Crumb, Chief Financial Officer, Kansas City Chiefs[00:48],  [11:40]  Harjot Ghai, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Delbridge Solutions, Inc.[03:05] Jesse Funes, Senior Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis, New Horizons[03:53], [09:05] Eugene Fedorinov, MBA, CFA, Sr. Manager, Finance Database & Budget Analysis, Arizona Cardinals[04:13] Pat Jones, SVP, Corporate Controller, PetIQ[04:51] Sultan Akif, Unicorn Account Executive,  Microsoft[06:34] Carrie Self, Senior Director of Business Intelligence, Tacala Companies[07:26] Brian Krause, Chief Financial Officer, Community First Solutions Discussed In This Episode: The state of business operations at various organizations, including recent process improvements and investments, as well as ongoing challengesHow CFOs plan to adapt their financial strategies in the second half of the year to navigate potential economic shifts or market volatilityStrategies CFOs and other finance leaders are implementing to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of financial reporting processes and prepare their organizations for growthWhere CFOs feel they need to make continued investments in the year ahead, including AI and other technologies

    14 min

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

With today's increasingly challenging business conditions, finance leaders are taking on more responsibilities and facing more change than ever.    Join Vena’s CFO Melissa Howatson for The CFO Show, a weekly podcast featuring interviews with forward-thinking finance and business leaders.  Get timely commentary on today’s biggest issues in business, hear from finance leaders on how their work is transforming their organizations and get practical advice for ushering your finance team into the future.    The CFO Show isn’t just a podcast; it’s your forecast for the future of finance. 

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada