CFO Weekly Personiv

Business and digital transformation are two of the hottest topics today, critical for surviving and thriving in today's competitive environment. From streamlining processes to improving accuracy and efficiency, technology has revolutionized the way financial operations are carried out. To explore the benefits of business and digital transformation and how they can be effectively implemented, we discuss with Steve Hankins.

Steve brings a wealth of experience from an outstanding career across the food and logistics industries, having sharpened his skills in various senior roles, including 21 years at Tyson Foods. Today, he is the CFO at Morgan Foods. Previously, Steve was also CEO of US Bentonite and Accio.US, as well as the Global CFO/CIO for Globe Express Services. His expertise spans business integration, transforming financial operations, financial reporting, and more.

In this episode, we discuss:
- Business and digital transformation
- The role of technological innovation in reshaping financial operations
- How to leverage technology for operational efficiency
- Automation and digital transformation for business success

It's not the first time we have explored the evolution of the CFO role. According to Alex Glueckler, today the CFO is expected to be a strategic advisor to the CEO and the board of directors. They must provide insights and analysis that drive decision-making and help shape the company's long-term growth strategy. What else is on the list? Alex breaks it down for us.

With more than 18 years of experience in accounting, finance, and product management, Alex is a dynamic and goal-driven leader. He skillfully merges strategic planning, analytical prowess, and process enhancement capabilities to boost business efficiency and expansion. Some of his previous roles include Chief Financial Officer for CLMBR and Pure Harvest Corporate Group, as well as Interim CEO of Alternate36.

In this episode, we discuss:
- The evolving role of the CFO
- Effective leadership and communication in finance
- The importance of work-life balance for CFOs
- Managing stress and avoiding burnout
- Harnessing the power of data analysis in finance

Do modern CFOs need to consider integrating AI, automation, or analytics into their financial operations? The answer is a resounding yes. These technologies are not only useful for streamlining accounting processes but also for making more informed strategic decisions that can give businesses a competitive edge. To shed light on this topic, we have invited Aneal Vallurupalli to share his expertise.

Aneal is the CFO at Airbase, a company focused on helping businesses with their spend management needs. He has vast experience in corporate finance, corporate development, operations, and technology mergers and acquisitions. Before joining Airbase, Aneal was the Vice President of Finance and Operations at Mattermost, where he played a key role in significantly increasing the company's enterprise value.

In this episode, we discuss:
- How financial technology drives value and efficiency
- The role of analytics and AI in finance
- Streamlining accounting processes
- What the role of the modern CFO entails

The emergence of new technologies like AI and the increasing influence of data-driven decision-making have brought new challenges to financial professionals. At the same time, CFOs can use them to provide the most value to a company’s financial performance. It's all about the strategy. And today, Tom Panther shares his wisdom on how CFOs can leverage all these modern tools.

Tom is an experienced finance professional with a 25-year track record in the industry, encompassing finance, accounting, and HR roles. Throughout his career, he held leadership titles such as Director of Corporate Finance, Corporate Controller, Chief Accounting Officer, and Head of Total Rewards at companies like FLEETCOR, SunTrust, and EVO Payments.

In this episode, we discuss:
- The impact of technology on the CFO role
- How authentic leadership drives financial success
- Talent acquisition strategies for CFOs
- The future of high-performing CFOs
- What role does AI play in finance?

CFOs play a key role in shaping financial strategies to ensure the growth and success of their organizations. However, when faced with a high-interest rate environment, the challenges become even more significant. CFOs need to adapt their financial planning approaches to navigate these circumstances effectively. Today, we'll explore the topic along with Guido Torrini, CFO of OneTrust.

Guido's thirty-year career has consistently been at the forefront of transformative enterprise technology. Starting at Cisco and Dell, he played a key role in developing the hardware and network infrastructure critical for the widespread adoption of computers and devices. As a leader of finance teams at companies such as Groupon and Gympass, he promoted direct online interactions and transactions between businesses and customers.

In this episode, we discuss:
- How to balance growth and profitability in 2024
- The power of networking for CFOs
- The impact of interest rates on financial planning
- Key traits for today's CFOs
- Customer experience and product innovation
- The CFO's role in a high-interest rate environment

Optimizing cash flows is key for an organization to stay financially healthy and achieve sustainable growth. Cash flow management involves monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing the inflow and outflow of cash within the company. Traditionally, this responsibility has fallen on the CFO. However, with the rise of AI, CFOs can now leverage new tools and algorithms to enhance their role in optimizing cash flows. Let's speak with Max Dame to learn how to do that.

Max is an experienced finance and accounting leader with a strong background in SaaS and marketing technology and expertise in financial planning and analysis, financial reporting, and accounting. Currently, he serves as the Vice President Of Finance And Operations at Tesorio. Before that, Max was the Vice President of Finance at Formation, Director of Finance and Accounting at Kenandy, as well as Director of Finance and Senior Consultant at Meritus.

In this episode, we discuss:
- The role of AI-driven CFOs in net cash flow optimization
- Why CFOs should embrace technology and AI
- The three pillars for successfully transforming financial health
- Cash flow optimization strategies in the current economic landscape
- AI's impact on the future of finance