FEI Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Cfo”

Building Resilience and Relevance: Brenda Zamzow on Leadership and Relationships

Financial Executives International — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:00:00 -0400

In this special Icons edition of the FEI Podcast, Brenda Zamzow, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, discusses how financial leaders can stay relevant in a rapidly changing world.

Drawing on decades of experience across public accounting, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership, Zamzow shares how to transform finance from a gatekeeping function into a strategic partner, the importance of building meaningful professional relationships, and how resilience is developed through real-world challenges.

This episode is part of FEI’s special Icons podcast series highlighting past speakers from the ICONS: Leaders in Finance virtual event. Join us on April 22, 2026 to hear from distinguished financial leaders shaping the future of finance.

Learn more about the ICONS: Leaders in Finance event virtual replay here:
https://www.financialexecutives.org/icons2026-virtual

Special Guest: Brenda Zamzow.

Dana Bober on Strategy, AI, and Leading Finance Transformation

Financial Executives International — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:00:00 -0400

In this FEI Podcast Icons episode, Dana Bober, retired EY partner and C-suite advisor, discusses how financial leaders can bridge the gap between strategy and execution, lead through influence, and adapt to the rapid rise of AI. Drawing on decades of global experience, she explores the importance of listening, stakeholder alignment, and building future-ready finance teams.

This episode is part of FEI’s Icons series and supports the virtual replay of the ICONS: Leaders in Finance event on April 22, 2026. Learn more and register here:
https://www.financialexecutives.org/icons2026-virtual

Special Guest: Dana Bober.

From Center Stage to the Front Lines: CFO Leadership on a Life-Saving Mission

Financial Executives International — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0500

Nobody becomes an icon by staying comfortable.

In this special ICONS: Leaders in Finance edition of the FEI Podcast, Heather Cole – Executive Coach and Business Analytics Advisor at Lodestar Solutions – interviews Amber Kinney, Chief Financial Officer of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Amber’s career path is anything but traditional. From a background in the performing arts to executive leadership in nonprofit organizations with life-saving missions — including Mothers Against Drunk Driving — Amber shares how conscious career choices, grit, and faith shaped her leadership journey.

In this conversation, Amber and Heather dive into:

Taking bold career leaps even when you feel “in over your head”
Reframing imposter syndrome as a growth signal
The power of networking, mentoring, and asking for help
Leading with purpose in nonprofit and healthcare organizations
Silencing negative voices and protecting your confidence
The importance of balance, self-care, and resilience in high-impact roles

This episode kicks off a series spotlighting past speakers from Financial Executives International’s ICONS: Leaders in Finance event, designed to inspire finance leaders and build momentum toward ICONS 2026, taking place on March 25, 2026 at the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel, CA and virtually on April 22, 2026.

Learn more at www.financialexecutives.org/icons2026.

Special Guest: Amber Kinney.

Turn the CSRD delay into a strategic business win. Learn what steps you need to take

Financial Executives International — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we’re diving into the fast-changing world of global ESG reporting and regulation. FERF’s Managing Director of research, Dillon Papenfuss, sits down with Kevin O’Connell, PwC Sustainability Assurance Services Leader, to break down the latest EU sustainability proposals—including the two-year delay to CSRD reporting—and what it all means for U.S. companies with overseas operations. From long-term strategic planning and technological transformation to data-driven insights and AI integration, this discussion provides finance leaders with practical steps to navigate the complexities of global ESG requirements and achieve business success.

Additional PwC resources:

Sustainability News Brief

The CFO’s sustainability playbook for driving growth

Don’t wait for the Omnibus proposals approval to start preparing for CSDDD

European Commission publishes ‘Omnibus’ proposals

⁠PwC's Sustainability reporting guide (Register for free access)

Special Guest: Kevin O'Connell.

Sponsored By:

CPAs, licensing, and the cost-benefit of the 150-Hour Rule with Dr. Edward Timmons of West Virginia University

Financial Executives International — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Over the past several years, the debate around the 150-hour requirement for CPA licensure has centered on the need to streamline the accounting talent pipeline. But behind that discussion lies a broader, more ideological narrative—one that has been building over the past two decades—about the role of occupational licensing in general, and the CPA license in particular.

In this episode of the FEI Weekly Podcast, we speak with Dr. Edward Timmons, Associate Professor of Economics and Founding Director of the Knee Regulatory Research Center at West Virginia University. As you’ll hear, Dr. Timmons offers a unique perspective on the CPA licensure debate and breaks down the costs, consequences, and possible alternatives to the 150-hour rule—along with what reforms could mean for the future of accounting talent.

Special Guest: Dr. Edward Timmons.

Sponsored By:

Trullion

Trade, trust and battling fraud with Allianz Trade America’s James Daly

Financial Executives International — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

With trade and tariffs top of mind for many corporations, we thought it was the perfect time to get insight from a professional who’s spent more than two decades in the field.

In this episode of the FEI Weekly Podcast, we speak with James Daly, the outgoing CEO of Allianz Trade Americas, a leader in trade credit insurance.

Daly, who is retiring after a 22-year tenure with the company, shares the key lessons he’s learned in the global trade arena—and how financial leaders can prepare for the uncertainty ahead.

Special Guest: James Daly.

Crypto payments and security basics for financial executives, part 2 with Dr. Suzanne Morsfield

Financial Executives International — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In part one of our conversation with Dr. Suzanne Morsfield, we explored the fast-changing crypto regulatory landscape. Now, in part two of this FEI Weekly Podcast series, we turn to crypto payments—a growing focus for businesses as customers demand alternatives to cash and ACH.
With stablecoins, CBDCs, and blockchain-based payments gaining traction, what should CFOs and finance teams consider? Dr. Morsfield breaks down key challenges, from accounting and tax implications to risk management and compliance.

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Special Guest: Suzanne Morsfield.

Crypto's pick your coin, pick your own accounting adeventure with Dr. Suzanne Morsfield

Financial Executives International — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Despite their volatility and recent price decline, it’s hard to ignore the role of cryptocurrencies in today’s financial landscape. More importantly, it’s almost impossible to overlook them given the current administration’s focus on establishing a more favorable regulatory, accounting, and market framework—allowing institutional players to enter the sector with confidence.
In this two-part series of the Financial Executive Podcast, we speak with Dr. Suzanne Morsfield, Global Head of Accounting Solutions at Lukka—a financial software and data services provider specializing in the cryptocurrency and digital asset ecosystem—as well as the Head of Policy at Crypto UK.
In this first part of the discussion, we explore the rapid regulatory changes shaping the crypto space and their implications for financial executives tasked with assessing its potential role on their companies’ balance sheets.

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Special Guest: Suzanne Morsfield.

AI and tech to drive 2025 agenda with Forvis Mazars

Financial Executives International — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0500

After a four-year hiatus, this report returns to offer a comprehensive overview of the evolving priorities, challenges, and strategies shaping the global and U.S. finance and accounting landscape for 2025.. This year’s survey data offers a rare opportunity for comparative analysis, linking the last pandemic-era survey conducted at the beginning of 2021 with the realities of today’s post-inflationary and geopolitically complex environment. This comparison sheds light on the significant trends and challenges that financial leaders now face.

Get this year's survey

Special Guests: Anthony Reggiannini, Chris Brown, and Julie Girard.

Change is not a "nice to have" in ESG with ServiceNow's Mark Spinner

Financial Executives International — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0500

To learn more, download the "FEI Engage Career Pathway: ESG Controller" report at https://www.financialexecutives.org/Research/Publications/2024/FEI-Engage-Career-Pathway-ESG-Controller.aspx.

Special Guest: Mark Spinner.

Episode 155: Understanding the risk and building for the future with CBRE’s Scott Song and S&P’s Theshan Goble

Financial Executives International — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Sustainability professionals Scott Song of CBRE and Theshan Goble of S&P Global join the FEI Weekly podcast to discuss the evolving ESG controller role, collaborative challenges within the enterprise and the journey toward value-driven sustainability reporting amid regulatory and political shifts.

Get the FEI Engage report on the ESG Controllership role.

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Special Guests: Scott Song and Theshan Goble.

What directors and management are planning for in 2025 with BDO’s Amy Rojik

Financial Executives International — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500

What directors want and management needs to offer in 2025 with BDO’s Amy Rojik

Always at the top of mind of all financial executives is to understand what the board of directors are thinking and how to put those thoughts and priorities into action.

A new survey of directors conducted by BDO reveals that those priorities run the gamut from governance around AI to filling the management bench with the best and the brightest.

In this episode of the podcast we speak with Amy Rojik of BDO about their new Board Survey and how one the the most important stakeholder groups in corporate America is planning for 2025.

BDO Board Survey

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Special Guest: Amy Rojik.

Supply chains, port strikes and the new near shoring with KPMG’s Mary Rollman

Financial Executives International — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

The port strike that was successfully avoided, for now, has reminded US companies just how fragile the global supply chain can be. And years after the global pandemic and growing geopolitical tensions, the ways companies source and ship critical goods and material has been changed forever.

In this episode of the podcast we speak with Mary Rollman, US Supply Chain Leader at KPMG LLP, about how the threatened US port strike was just one of many risks that has everyone rethinking the future of the global supply chain.

Read the new KPMG report The Proximity Premium

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Special Guest: Mary Rollman.

Private credit and jumping into a dark debt market with Harvard’s Jared Ellias

Financial Executives International — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Over the past year the private credit market has gained a strong foothold in borrowing, muscling banks out of the syndicated and traditional C&I loan market and even spiriting corporates out of issuing bonds.

Borrower benefits for these fund-driven debt deals are numerous, including faster execution and tailored terms. But while private debt deals aren’t new, their rapid takeover of corporate borrowing brings up a host of risk and long-tail issues for debtors and regulators.

In this episode of the FEI Weekly podcast we speak with Jared Ellias, of Harvard Law school, who discusses his research into private credit and what it means for corporate debt issues now and in the future.

Learn about becoming and FEI member.

Special Guest: Jared Ellias.

Earth Day 24 and the future of ESG and carbon reporting with Persefoni’s Mike Wallace

Financial Executives International — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400

As an annual celebration of environmental protection, Earth Day means a lot of things to a lot of people. But in the world of finance and accounting, it’s an opportunity to take stock on the progress the industry has made in building sustainability metrics over the past year as well as the implementation and policy challenges facing companies in the next twelve months.

In this episode of the podcast we speak with Mike Wallace, Chief Decarbonization Officer at Persefoni about the opportunities and risks the ESG movement faces and how financial executives should navigate those issues until Earth Day 2025.

Episode links:
Persefoni
FERF, Persefoni Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Climate Reporting

Special Guest: Mike Wallace.

Evan Goldberg On 25 Years of NetSuite And Where ERP Heads In The Future

Financial Executives International — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Over the past quarter century NetSuite has become ubiquitous in enterprise software, especially for small and medium sized businesses building their finance operations on its cloud-based platform.
But software never stops evolving, and new technologies like artificial intelligence are creating more questions than answers when it comes to the next 25 years.
In this week’s episode we sat down with NetSuite Founder and Executive Vice President Evan Goldberg about the lessons he’s learned about managing change and how embracing the small business mindset has kept his company competitive.

Special Guest: Evan Goldberg.

The old IPO playbook will not work in the new market with Oracle NetSuite’s Ranga Bodla and Sam Levy

Financial Executives International — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Anyone that has worked on an IPO knows the amount of preparation, diligence and detail needed for a successful move into the public markets. But a combination of economic headwinds and a spac induced hangover have meant the pipeline cut to a slow drip.

2024 is looking more promising, and that means financial executives tasked with preparing for the transition have already begun planning the work do be done.

In this episode of the FEI Weekly podcast we speak with Oracle NetSuite’s Ranga Bodla and Sam Levy to discuss the outlook for IPOs in 2024 and the tools financial executives will need to be prepared.

Special Guests: Ranga Bodla and Sam Levy.

Why finance and procurement need to collaborate for success with Fine Tune’s Matthew Smith

Financial Executives International — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

For financial executives, that means getting into the weeds of how money is going out and if procurement operations is getting the most value and efficiency out of their work.
In this sponsored episode of the FEI Weekly podcast we speak with Matthew Smith, CFO and cofounder of Fine Tune, an expense management firm focused on getting the most value out of a company’s procurement operations and indirect services.

Special Guest: Matthew Smith.

Sponsored By:

Fine Tune

Will hot strike summer heat up the human capital debate? with Harvard’s Ethan Rouen

Financial Executives International — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Over the past several months tens of thousands of workers– from Hollywood writers and actors, hotel workers, drivers and now auto workers – have organized job actions in an effort to demand higher pay and improved benefits and working conditions. According to reports, more than 300,000 workers walked off their jobs, earning the movement the name “hot strike summer.”

Dr. Rouen is an associate professor of business administration at Harvard Business School. We discuss how the summer of strikes may help further define the current debate around human capital disclosure.

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Special Guest: Ethan Rouen.

Sustainability means new skills for a new generation of professionals with Jeff Hales

Financial Executives International — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:45:00 -0400

FEI Engage – Financial Executives Internatinonal’s platform for the community of students and early career people in accounting finance – held three discussions during the summer for subscribers that were focused on the skills needed for newly minted professionals.

Today’s podcast is a recording of the first seminar held by FEI Engage’s Olivia Berkman with Jeffrey Hales – Executive Director of the Global Sustainability Leadership Institute at University of Texas at Austin – regarding how finance and accounting skills need to adapt to a world that demands new financial reporting skills.

Special Guest: Jeffrey Hales, PhD.

Tractor Supply’s Kris Bybee on middle-American finance, the explosion in rural lifestyle brands and the happiness of “Chick Days”

Financial Executives International — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400

The post pandemic economy has reset the playbook for many financial executives and industries, but one company that seemed to have thrived in the crisis is Nashville-based Tractor Supply Company. With stores throughout the US and a focus on rural America, Tractor Supply has grown by double digits in terms of sales and new customers.

As part of Financial Executive Weekly’s continuing series on finance in middle America, we speak with Kris Bybee, Vice President of Finance at Tractor Supply Company, how they have managed their explosive growth, the challenges of recruiting finance talent outside of coastal cities and what you can learn from America's love of chickens.

Special Guest: Kris Bybee.

Commercial real estate: warning signs and opportunities with EisnerAmper’s Lisa Knee

Financial Executives International — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0400

To get some clarity around the issue, I speak with Lisa Knee of EisnerAmper, Tax Partner and National leader of the firm's Real Estate practice and the National Real Estate Private Equity Group her perspective on changes in the commercial real estate market over the next fiscal year and what both CRE investors and users are thinking.

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Special Guest: Lisa Knee.

Bedrock AI’s Kris Bennatti on adapting language models to filings, disclosure “inflation” and replacing critical audit matters with 💩

Financial Executives International — Wed, 31 May 2023 07:00:00 -0400

There is no shortage of hot takes when it comes to the possibility of generative artificial intelligence in finance, especially when it comes to consultants or vendors talking about the ways it can be leveraged by large enterprises in accounting and financial reporting. But like in many instances, first mover advantage usually belongs to investors leveraging new technologies as a window into the balance sheet.
For example, Bedrock AI is a startup that uses artificial intelligence to read financial disclosures and apply a machine-learned risk assessment tool.
Bedrock AI’s CEO Kris Bennatti has a unique perspective on the rise of AI in accounting and disclosure, having a background in data science, corporate governance as well as being a CPA.
In this episode we speak with Ms. Benatti about how AI can navigate a world of "over disclosure" along with ideas regarding how the current financial reporting industry will need to adapt.

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Special Guest: Kris Bennatti.

Diversify But Verify: Commercial Banking After SVB

Financial Executives International — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 08:45:00 -0400

Financial executives across the US were given a taste of the unthinkable last week when Silicon Valley Bank was closed by regulators and thousands of businesses - mostly venture or privately backed – had their deposits threatened.
Although regulators stepped in and ended the panic, what was unthinkable suddenly became possible. Would my business lose its deposits? How will I make payments? What if I can’t make payroll?
In this episode of the podcast we speak with Jay Jung, founder and managing partner at Embarc Advisors. With over 20 years of experience in corporate finance, Jay works with many small and medium sized businesses in Silicon Valley and throughout the country and he discusses the fallout of the latest banking crisis and how financial executives need to reset their approach to commercial banking.

Special Guest: Jay Jung.

Can Renewable Energy Save Us?

Financial Executives International — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 11:00:00 -0500

The War in Ukraine created a new global energy crisis, while at the same time the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act is making a historic investment in solar and renewable energy. The question remains whether the transition away from fossil fuels can keep pace with renewable sector’s capacity as a reliable source of energy for the US economy.

Special Guest: William (Tres) Petmecky.

Sponsored By:

Allianz Trade

Getting Finance In Sync

Financial Executives International — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 08:00:00 -0400

Financial professionals are currenlty dealing with a lot of unknowns in this economic environment, whether that is revenue, budgeting or even staffing. This can lead to a lot of static in your numbers and a lot of confusion for anyone trying to rely on those numbers.
In this sponsored episode of the Financial Executive Podcast we speak with Christopher Geers, Director at Huron Consulting Group, about the role that digitization in finance can play in getting you work in synchrony.

Special Guest: Christopher Geers.

Sponsored By:

Huron Consulting Group: Huron is a global professional services firm that collaborates with clients to put possible into practice by creating sound strategies, optimizing operations, accelerating digital transformation, and empowering businesses and their people to own their future. By embracing diverse perspectives, encouraging new ideas, and challenging the status quo, we create sustainable results for the organizations we serve.

Adapting and Creating Value Through FP&A

Financial Executives International — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 07:00:00 -0400

There is a great deal of uncertainty rolling through the business community and markets, and strategies, customers and products that seemed a sure thing six months ago are being called into question. Financial executives with critical financial planning and analysis, or FP&A skills, will be needed more than ever to help management prepare for all economic possibilities.

Special Guest: James Hsieh.

Sponsored By:

Workday

A New World Needs a New Way to Close

Financial Executives International — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -0400

A key responsibility for anyone in the finance function is closing the company books on a monthly, quarterly and yearly basis. And although to a layperson that may seem like a straightforward process, anyone with an accounting or finance background knows it’s anything but.

Filled with multiple stakeholders and dependencies, the financial close can be a complicated process for even a small organization. But that complexity can increase algorithmically with the size of the organization.

In this sponsored episode of the Financial Executive Podcast I speak with Nancy Wu, head of sales and support at SkyStem. SkyStem provides month-end close automation for enterprise-level accounting teams.

Nancy speaks about the increased use of automation in the financial close and how recent events, like the move to remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic, may have accelerated an already rapidly changing financial close process.

For more information on SkyStem please visit www.skystem.com.

Special Guest: Nancy Wu.

Episode 78: Auditing a Company's Civil Rights Record

Financial Executives International — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 15:00:00 -0400

Civil rights audits, also known as racial equity audits, have become a new way for organizations to review their internal and external operations for systemic racism and discrinination. Although they do not necessarily involve the finance function, they do have a significant impact on company disclosures and strategy.
In this episode of the podcast we speak with Valecia McDowell and Elena Mitchell, both of the law firm of Moore & Van Allen, about the increasingly important role of civil rights audits and how they fit into an organization's push for transparency.

Special Guests: Elena Mitchell and Valecia McDowell.

Sponsored By:

Workday

Proxy Season is ESG Season

Financial Executives International — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 15:00:00 -0400

Shareholders have filed more ESG resolutions in 2022 than in all previous years, according to Morngingstar..

In this podcast we speak with Andrew Behar, CEO of the non-profit As You Sow, a shareholder advocacy non-profit that focuses on corporate social responsibility. We discuss the current proxy season and how accounting, auditing and financial disclosure practices fit into their approach to engaging with public companies.

Special Guest: Andrew Behar.

Why Media Finance Matters More Than Ever

Financial Executives International — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 19:00:00 -0500

For finance leaders in the media, news and entertainment industries, digital transformation has altered traditional business models. Disruptions in politics, public policy, and consumer habits along with ever-changing digital platforms, have forced many to pivot. Media financial executives are tasked with trying to survive in an industry beset with risks, and also making their organizations financially viable for years to come.

Special Guests: Paul McDonald and Paul Sachs.

Episode 66: The Next Battleground In The Trade Revolution

Financial Executives International — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 14:00:00 -0500

Over the past several months there has been no shortage of discussion regarding global trade and the knock on-effects of the pandemic. But while debates over supply chain and cargo disruptions are at the top of everyone’s minds when it comes to physical trade, there is an even more important discussion building about the future of the global trade in services.

In this episode of the Financial Executive Podcast we speak with Nawaz Ali, head of market insights at Western Union Business Solutions, regarding Western Union’s new research report -- The Global Services Trade Revolution -- which looks at how the trade of services and digital products is going through its own upheaval and revolution.

Special Guest: Nawaz Ali.

Sponsored By:

Western Union Business Solutions

Empty Spaces Full of Risk

Financial Executives International — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 08:00:00 -0500

The new year may start with a bang for lenders, but not in a good way.

On the heels of the federal eviction moratorium expiration for most states that takes place in January, lenders may see a rise in commercial foreclosures—both on properties that had been in default before COVID-19 took hold and properties that were vacated over 2021.

In this episode the podcast we speak with Brendan Arnott, Senior Vice President at Chubb insurance about what risks lenders and other financial institutions need to keep in mind when taking ownership of a growing vacant property portfolio.

Thanks to SAP for sponsoring this episode. To learn more about SAP use the link below

https://www.sap.com/products/erp-financial-management.html

Special Guest: Brendan Arnott.

How Finance Can Keep Live Entertainment Alive

Financial Executives International — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 11:00:00 -0500

At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, government-mandated shutdowns placed live, cultural activity companies in jeopardy. Dance crews and entertainment studios known for being creative in their mediums turned to financial teams for their creative, sustainable solutions. Brian Parisi, Chief Financial Officer at Break the Floor, the nation’s prominent live entertainment company will share how live entertainment companies landed during the pandemic, and where they go from here.

Special Guest: Brian Parisi.

Balancing And Changing While Growing Fast In Finance

Financial Executives International — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 13:00:00 -0500

Patricio is an industry veteran with 25 years of public company finance experience. He would be able to provide insight on a Latin American company successfully going public in the U.S. and also the company’s record third quarter 2021 financial results.
In this episode of the podcast we speak about how he was able to navigate through a SPAC transition and keeping his team focused in the middle of a pandemic.

Thanks to episode sponsor SAP. To learn more about SAP's work with financial executives click on the link below.

www.SAP.com/finance

Special Guest: Patricio Vargas.

Inflation Accounting and Accounting for Inflation

Financial Executives International — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 13:00:00 -0500

Real inflation-- where prices jump and spending is pummeled -- and is not something that businesses in the United States have had to deal with in decades. In this episode we speak with Dr. Elizabeth Gordon, Professor and Chair of the Department of Accounting at the Fox School of Business at Temple University in Philadelphia about how inflation will need to change financial disclosures.

Become a member of FEI.

Special Guest: Elizabeth Gordon.

Your Cash Flows Don't Make Any Sense

Financial Executives International — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 08:00:00 -0500

When it comes to public company disclosures, the statement of cash flows does not receive a great amount of attention. Seemingly a straightforward accounting of a company’s cash position, many preparers and investors spend more time debating the makeup of the balance sheet or income statement.

But for Counterpoint Global’s Michael Mauboussin, anyone that treats the cash flow statement as an “afterthought” is making a mistake. In his new research piece titled “Categorizing for Clarity”, he argues that the cash flow statement needs to be completely overhauled to keep pace with the ways that companies absorb and pay out their cash positions.

In this episode we speak to Mr. Mauboubissin about his proposals (which can be found in the episode’s show notes) and the issues that a confused cash flow statement brings up for both prepares and investors.

Categorizing for Clarity
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Special Guest: Michael J. Mauboussin.

Banks and CECL's Future

Financial Executives International — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0400

CECL continues to remain at the top of mind for Financial Executives in the banking industry and in this episode of the podcast we speak to two professionals from the American Bankers Association that are at the forefront of those adoption efforts: Michael L. Gullette, Senior Vice President of Tax & Accounting and Joshua Stein, Vice President, Accounting and Financial Management

Special Guests: Joshua Stein and Michael L. Gullette.

Episode 61: Digitization and How to Finance the News

Financial Executives International — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 16:00:00 -0400

Like many news and publishing houses, Guardian News & Media faced unsustainable annual losses as a result of the pandemic. Join the conversation with Regina Buckley, Chief Operating Officer, President and Former Chief Financial Officer, to learn about how amongst many challenges faced by the publishing industry (primarily digitization), she pivoted and adapted to keep their business models afloat.

Special Guest: Regina Buckley.

Episode 60: Sustainability Disclosure "Must Be Done" With Existing Rules

Financial Executives International — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 08:00:00 -0400

Financial executives in the US are waiting for a new set of rules focused on sustainability reporting that’s expected to come from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission before the end of the year. That could mean a great deal of resources and time for the preparer community to adapt to any new standards.

But sustainability reporting doesn’t necessarily need to be laden with new rules and a lot can be accomplished within the existing frameworks. That’s the argument of David Pitt Watson, one of the leaders of the Climate Accounting Project: an informal group of finance and investment executives attempting to advance the ESG accounting and reporting dialogue out of the UK.

In this episode of the podcast we speak with Mr. Pitt Watson about his hopes for ESG reporting in the US, the usefulness of existing rules and the challenges of accounting and reporting carbon emissions.

Learn more about becoming an FEI member.

Special Guest: David Pitt-Watson.

Episode 52: Tax Proposal Targeting Silicon Valley

Financial Executives International — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 08:00:00 -0400

Special Guest: Christopher Karachale.

Episode 51: Fraud in the Time of COVID

Financial Executives International — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 16:00:00 -0400

Financial executives have been at the center of fighting financial and accounting fraud, adapting as both the players and the schemes have changed with circumstances. But the COVID-19 pandemic unleashed a combination of forces that will take combating fraud to a new level, whether its remote workforces, changes in global supply chain security or hundreds of billions in government assistance pouring into corporate coffers.

Special Guests: Margo Cella and Pam Verick.

Episode 48: Crypto On the Balance Sheet

Financial Executives International — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Over the past year as the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has risen institutions have started to take a serious look at digital currencies not only for customer transactions, but also as an asset class to hold on the balance sheet within treasury accounts.

It should no surprise that an ecosystem of providers is cropping up to assist companies in the transition into digital currencies..

Special Guest: Luke Sully.

Episode 45: Speed, Agility and the CFO

Financial Executives International — Fri, 14 May 2021 00:00:00 -0400

In the episode of the Financial Executive Podcast we partnered with Accenture to bring you the top lessons learned from their most recent global CFO research “CFO Now: Breakthrough speed for breakout value” survey with an interview with Annie Peabody, Managing Director of Accenture Strategy & Consulting, and co-author of the research.

Special Guest: Annie Peabody.

Sponsored By:

Accenture

Episode 44: Big Data and Sustainability Reporting

Financial Executives International — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 17:00:00 -0400

One of the big challenges for companies, as well as investors, when it comes to ESG is wrangling the data points that are important to every stakeholder and a relevant to the issue of sustainability.

In this episode of the podcast we speak with Rebeca Minguela, Founder and CEO of Clarity AI. Clarity AI uses big data and machine learning to tracks a broad universe of companies to measure sustainability metrics. In January BlackRock purchased a minority stake in the company and plans to integrate Clarity AI into its investment analytics platform.

We discuss the importance of disclosures, the challenges to standardized ESG data and why there is no turning back when it comes to sustainability reporting.

Thanks to the episode's sponsor, Deloitte.

Special Guest: Rebeca Minguela.

Episode 40: What Financial Executives Really Think About Internal Controls

Financial Executives International — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 19:00:00 -0500

Given all that internal controls encompass, it’s not surprising that they are labor and time intensive and that financial executives continually seek ways to make sure they work in the most efficient way.

Where Are We Now? The Story of ICFR at Large Public Companies as Told by Financial Executives

Special Guests: Devin William, Jeff Wilks, Jeffrey Pickerd, and Mark Kissman.

Episode 38: CECL, Loss Models and the Unintended Consequences of COVID-19

Financial Executives International — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 12:00:00 -0500

The current expected credit losses standard, or CECL, had been hotly debated in banking and accounting circles long before COVID-19 surfaced earlier this year. While the resulting market and economic disruptions caused by the pandemic delayed a full rollout of CECL, many financial institutions that had begun the hard work of incorporating the standard into their models are living through a real-life stress test of CECL’s approach to accounting for credit losses.

In this episode of the Financial Executive Podcast we speak with Amnon Levy, managing director and head of Moody’s Analytics Portfolio and Balance Sheet Research group regarding what the current financial crisis reveals about financial credit models and the unintended consequences of CECL.

Links:

Incorporating Emerging Risks within Credit Models: Lessons from Sociological Reactions to COVID-19

Nonbank players are ready for CECL — are banks?

Earnings Volatility, Share Price Performance, and Credit Portfolio Management Under CECL and IFRS 9

Special Guest: Amnon Levy.

Episode 36: Racial Justice Is a Movement, Not a Moment

Financial Executives International — Sun, 06 Sep 2020 19:00:00 -0400

As part of our FEI Forward Thinking series, we're speaking with 4 different senior-level financial executives about navigating such challenging times.
We discuss how remote work has helped Calvin gain the trust of his team and how we can turn this time of increased attention to racial injustice into a movement, not just a moment.

Special Guest: Calvin Harris.

Sponsored By:

Robert Half International/Protiviti

Episode 35: At the Center of the Storm

Financial Executives International — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 11:00:00 -0400

The Financial Education and Research Foundation (FERF), in cooperation with Robert Half | Protiviti, will hold live, in-depth Q&A discussions with four FEI members that have seen their industries and world upended overnight, and they’ll share how they plan to navigate the unclear road ahead.

Special Guest: Dennis Dahlen.

Sponsored By:

Robert Half International/Protiviti

Episode 34: Going on Offense

Financial Executives International — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 10:00:00 -0400

Special Guest: Dan Crumb.

Sponsored By:

Robert Half International/Protiviti

Episode 32: Cybersecurity As a Competitive Advantage: Crowe Quarterly Insight

Financial Executives International — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 00:00:00 -0400

The COVID-19 public health crisis has forced businesses across all industries to rapidly adapt their thinking and adoption of new digital technologies and working models in order to sustain business processes. This rapid shift has introduced new security risks and challenges.

Special Guest: Troy La Huis.

Four Challenges, Four Leaders

Financial Executives International — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 13:00:00 -0400

In this series we spoke with

Teri Reinseth, Corporate Controller & CAO, 3M Company
Calvin Harris Jr., SVP, Finance and CFO, National Urban League
Dennis Dahlen, CFO, Mayo Clinic
Daniel Crumb, CFO, Kansas City Chiefs Football Club

In this episode of the Financial Executive Podcast we speak with Paul McDonald, senior executive director of Robert Half and Christopher Wright, managing director of Protiviti, in order to break down and understand some of the challenges these leaders discussed.

Special Guests: Christopher Wright and Paul McDonald.

Episode 30: Staying Liquid Means Staying Open: Crowe Quarterly Insight

Financial Executives International — Thu, 14 May 2020 09:00:00 -0400

The Financial Executive Podcast speaks with John A. Grivetti III, partner with Crowe’s advisory services group about how senior-level financial executives can keep cash on the books even as little is coming through the door.

The information in this podcast is not – and is not intended to be – audit, tax, accounting, advisory, risk, performance, consulting, business, financial, investment, legal, or other professional advice. The information is general in nature, based on existing authorities, and is subject to change. The information is not a substitute for professional advice or services, and you should consult a qualified professional adviser before taking any action based on the information. Crowe is not responsible for any loss incurred by any person who relies on the information discussed in this document.

Special Guest: John A. Grivetti III.

Episode 29: Accounting, Tax and Financial Reporting Impacts of COVID-19: Crowe Quarterly Insight

Financial Executives International — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 16:00:00 -0400

There are a myriad of tax and financial reporting changes, in addition to liquidity options, for companies that are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The chainges are complex, and will add to an already heavy burden for senior-level financial executives navigating the crisis.

The Financial Executive podcast spoke with two professionals from Crowe LLP about those changes -- Matthew Schell, a partner in Crowe's assurance professonal practice and Howard Wagner, a partner with Crowe’s national tax office, to review some of the most developments and the issues that financial leaders need to consider during implementation.

Disclaimer:
The information in this podcast is not – and is not intended to be – audit, tax, accounting, advisory, risk, performance, consulting, business, financial, investment, legal, or other professional advice. The information is general in nature, based on existing authorities, and is subject to change. The information is not a substitute for professional advice or services, and you should consult a qualified professional adviser before taking any action based on the information. Crowe is not responsible for any loss incurred by any person who relies on the information discussed in this document.

Special Guests: Howard Wagner and Matthew Schell.

Sponsored By:

Crowe: A series of discussions surrounding the most import issues facing senior-level financial executives.

Episode 28: Measuring The True Value of ESG Reporting: Crowe Quarterly Insight

Financial Executives International — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 05:00:00 -0500

There is a push for more holistic measures of value than what sits on a company's bottom line. These efforts -- combined with increased concerns stemming from corporate scandals, climate change and social justice movements -- have increased the demand for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting. FEI Daily sat down with two professionals focused on ESG reporting, Jeffrey Hales, chair of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and professor of accounting at the University of Texas at Austin, and Gregg Anderson, managing director at Crowe and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' Sustainability Task Force.

Special Guests: Gregg Anderson and Jeffrey Hales, PhD.

Sponsored By:

Crowe: A series of discussions surrounding the most import issues facing senior-level financial executives.

Episode 27: What's Driving Audit Fees

Financial Executives International — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 08:00:00 -0400

How and when audit fees rise and fall is something that has been of intense interest to senior-level financial executives and academics. In anticipation of the annual audit fee survey from the Financial Education and Research Foundation (FERF) and Workiva coming out this November, FERF's Dillon Papenfuss speaks with Professor W. Robert Knechel, Ph.D. -- the Frederick E. Fisher Eminent Scholar and Director of the International Accounting and Auditing Center at the University of Florida -- discuss the long and short-term drivers of audit fees.

Special Guest: Robert Knechel.

Episode 26: Project Management For Financial Executives

Financial Executives International — Sat, 27 Jul 2019 10:15:00 -0400

Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez details the competencies required to transform and thrive in the new digital and project-driven economy.

Special Guest: Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez.

Episode 22: Where Is Technology Taking Auditing and Accounting?

Financial Executives International — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 15:15:00 -0400

Rapid advances in technology are quickly disrupting the auditing, accounting and financial reporting industry at a pace not seen in decades. As soon as one leap forward is adopted, such as cloud technology, another waits in the wings, such as blockchain.
The Financial Executives Research and Education Foundation is working on a report looking to help senior-level financial executives better understand how to consider and prioritize changes in financial technology.
As part of that effort we speak with Dr. Ryan Teeter, clinical assistant professor of accounting information systems at the University of Pittsburgh regarding his work on the area of technology changes in the financial reporting industry.

Special Guest: Ryan Teeter, Ph.D..

Episode 21: Career Check: A Discussion with CFO Recruiter Samuel Dergel

Financial Executives International — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 05:00:00 -0400

FEI Daily Managing Editor Olivia Berkman speaks with Samuel Dergel, a search consultant assisting companies with their C-suite and executive talent needs across the United States and Canada

Dergel will discuss trends he sees as companies search for CFOs, controllers, and CAOs in addition to how members looking to transition into board seats can best position their resumes.

Special Guest: Samuel Dergel .

Episode 19: Tariffs, Trade Wars and Planning For Uncertainty

Financial Executives International — Sun, 22 Jul 2018 07:00:00 -0400

Increasing tariffs and the threat of a global trade war is something that all senior-level financial executives need to consider when planning for their organization’s financial future. But how can you do that when policies seem to change daily.

We speak with Philip Sutter -- Director of U.S. Regulatory Affairs of global trade broker Livingston International – regarding his advice to clients when it comes to the global disruption in tariffs and trade.

Special Guest: Philip Sutter.

Episode 15: RPA Is Becoming Finance’s New Norm

Financial Executives International — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 18:00:00 -0400

How and where to leverage those technologies – and the knock on effect it has on finance staff and productivity – is the subject of a white paper that the Financial Executives Research Foundation is currently working towards publishing.

In this episode of the Financial Executive Podcast, FEI Daily Managing Editor Olivia Berkman speaks with Dave Sackett, Senior Director of Finance & Administration at ULVAC Technologies and member of Financial Executive International’s Committee on Finance and Information Technology about his use if RPA and where he thinks it’s taking his company and the industry.

Special Guest: Dave Sackett .

Episode 10: The Critical Difference Between Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience

Financial Executives International — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 09:30:00 -0400

Financial Executives International Managing Editor Olivia Berkman discusses cyber resilience with Paul Nicholas, Senior Director, Global Security Strategy and Diplomacy at Microsoft.

Special Guest: Paul Nicholas.

Episode 9: Where Will the Next Generation of Financial Executives Come From?

Financial Executives International — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 14:00:00 -0400

Companies are struggling to attract experienced hires from public accounting firms. This is particularly concerning as companies adjust to all of the accounting-rule changes in the U.S.

In this podcast, we speak with Ajit Kambil, Global Research Director of the Deloitte CFO Program, and Charles Holley, Retired CFO of Walmart and CFO-in-Residence of the Deloitte CFO Program on hiring strategies, the effects of automation, and developing accounting talent.

Special Guests: Ajit Kambil and Charles Holley.

Episode 6: Capital Planning in the Age of Uncertainty

Financial Executives International — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 13:00:00 -0400

Uncertainty is not the friend of the financial executive, especially when it comes to long-term capital planning. What taxes will you pay, what businesses will be in demand and what regulations you will face are all subject to similar uncertainty as policies and programs are hammered out in Washington?

In this episode of the Financial Executives Podcast we talk with Robert Fry, Chief Economist of Robert Fry Economics LLC. Mr Fry, who recently retired as Senior Economist at DuPont and currently teaches economics at the University of Delaware, will discuss what financial executives how financial executives can deal with the uncertainty dominant the current economic climate.

Special Guest: Robert Fry.