FEI Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Finance”

From Grit to Leadership: Muneera Carr on Range, Results, and the Future of Finance

Financial Executives International — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In this special edition of the FEI Podcast, Heather Cole interviews Muneera Carr, Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, and Controller of Wells Fargo & Co. Carr shares her journey from minimum wage jobs to senior-level financial leadership, emphasizing performance, advocacy, and building career “range.” She also offers insights into the future of finance, the integration of accounting and finance disciplines, and how AI should be treated as an enabler supported by strong operating models.

This episode is part of a special FEI Podcast ICONS series featuring past speakers from FEI’s ICONS: Leaders in Finance event, designed to spotlight the leadership lessons and real-world strategies shaping today’s finance profession.

Learn more about FEI's 2026 ICONS: Leaders in Finance at: https://www.financialexecutives.org/icons2026

Special Guest: Muneera Carr.

The State of B2B Payments: How Finance Leaders Are Driving Digital Transformation

Financial Executives International — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0400

Nearly half of all companies say their B2B payment processes need major improvement. Over 70% still rely on manual AP workflows, and nearly 60% of suppliers cite high acceptance costs as a top concern.

In this episode, based on a recent webinar hosted by Boost Payment Solutions and Financial Executives International (FEI), we explore the current state of B2B payments and the strategic shift toward automation and digitization. Hear directly from Boost executives as they share data-backed insights, lessons learned, and proven strategies to help finance leaders modernize their payment processes.

Topics Covered:

Common inefficiencies in AP and AR workflows
Using automation to enhance operations and relationships
Leveraging commercial cards for strategic advantage
Advancing payment maturity in a digital-first economy

Speakers

Seth Goodman, Chief Revenue Officer, Boost Payment Solutions
Zach Held, Chief Product Officer, Boost Payment Solutions

Special Guests: Seth Goodman and Zach Held.

Never let your network go stale with Moody's Caroline Sullivan

Financial Executives International — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 14:00:00 -0500

As FEI prepares for its annual ICONS: Women of Note conference next month, the podcast revisits one of its most popular episodes featuring Moody's Caroline Sullivan, who discusses how networking took her career to the next level.

Join ICONS: Women of Note 2025 (Hybrid Event).

Special Guest: Caroline Sullivan.

Sponsored By:

Trullion

"Standards must be proportionate to the problem we're trying to solve," with PCAOB's Christina Ho

Financial Executives International — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the new year, we have Christina Ho, a board member of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Board member Ho brings a wealth of experience from her journey across public and private sectors, academia, and even technology consulting.

She shares her insights on the challenges and opportunities in auditing as we head into 2025. From navigating new regulations and technological innovations to addressing talent shortages in the accounting profession, Board member Ho offers a fresh perspective on balancing regulation with practicality and fostering trust in our markets.

Special Guest: Christina Ho.

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.

Join FEI

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.

A new EU disclosure rule that will have a global impact with Latham & Watkins’ Toon Dictus

Financial Executives International — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Just as US-based multinationals are moving on from the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision around carbon disclosures with at least some measure of certainty, they will now need to turn to Europe and its Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.

The CSDDD is a proposed European Union (EU) regulation aimed at environmental and human rights issues. The directive obligates large EU companies, as well as non-EU companies operating in the EU, to identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for adverse environmental and human rights impacts throughout their supply chains.

In this episode of the podcast week speak with Toon Dictus and associate with the law firm Latham & Watkins in London about the directive and how it could impact U.S companies operating in the EU.

Become a FEI Member.

Special Guest: Toon Dictus.

Forecasting the future of AI in financial planning and analysis with QueBit’s Justin Croft

Financial Executives International — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

The role of artificial intelligence in finance is just starting to be understood and, more importantly, how it mixes with other tools like predictive analytics and robotic process automation to build a solid forecast.

In this sponsored episode of FEI Weekly we talk with Justin Croft VP, Cross Solutions Architecture at QueBit, about the promise and practicality of AI in financial planning and analysis.

Special Guest: Justin Croft.

How to think about China, conflict and “fears of the future” with The University of Virginia’s Dale Copeland

Financial Executives International — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 10:00:00 -0400

If there’s been a consistent theme of disruption in an era of disruption over the past decade it’s the US relationship in China. Shutdowns, trade battles and now real threats of force are being ratcheted up on both sides.

For financial executives tasked with managing supply chains and forecasting overseas markets, the threat of global conflict puts everything on the balance sheet in doubt.

But there is a broader historical context for today’s China worries that can help put the current conflicts in context and lay out a path to forecasting the future.

In this episode of the FEI Weekly podcast we speak with Dale Copeland, Professor of international relations at the University of Virginia and author of “A World Safe for Commerce”, a new book that reveals how trade and commerce has defined America's foreign policy – and often its military actions – and how contemporary challenges with Russia and China can be thought about in that lens.

Join FEI
Copeland's "A World Safe for Commerce"

Special Guest: Dale Copeland.

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.

What’s the future of the ESG finance and accounting career with Acre’s Catherine Harris

Financial Executives International — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 14:00:00 -0400

With the announcement of the US Securities and Exchange Commission's final rule on carbon disclosure, financial executives and markets have finally gotten something the continuity craves: certainty.

But with a lot of the post rule discourse built around the SEC’s limiting of ESG disclosure, especially around Scope 3, there is some anticipation that the ESG talent bubble in finance and accounting will begin to burst.

In this episode of the podcast we speak with Catherine Harris, director of US sustainable business at executive recruiter Acre Resources, about the prospects for ESG finance and accounting specialists post the SEC rule and how the line between sustainability and traditional financial reporting may be merging.

Special Guest: Catherine Harris.

ESG and the bigger natural capital accounting movement with Carnegie Mellon’s Nicholas Muller

Financial Executives International — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 13:00:00 -0400

With the recent decision by the US Securities and Exchange Commission around carbon disclosure, it’s important to look at the larger narrative of applying traditional financial valuation methods to natural systems.

That’s where natural capital accounting comes in. At its heart, natural capital accounting is a series of practices – including carbon disclosure– where environmental resources are measured against economic activity. It’s not anything new, per se, but natural capital accounting is becoming part of the larger dialogue about government and private market policy.

In this episode of the podcast we speak with Professor Nicholas Z. Muller, Lester and Judith Lave Professor of Economics, Engineering, and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University.

Dr. Muller’s work focuses on the interaction of environment and economic policy including the use of natural capital accounting.

Special Guest: Nicholas Z. Muller.

Finance and accounting needs tech acceptance and change champions with Gartner’s Mallory Barg Bulman

Financial Executives International — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0500

With new technologies coming online, it seems almost daily, finance and accounting leaders have been perpetually frustrated by tech’s return on investment and their impact on seemingly intractable issues of financial errors.
But a new report issued by research and consulting firm Gartner says there may be a path for financial leaders to successfully adopt and implement new technologie by focusing internally on the concept of technology acceptance.
In this episode of the podcast we speak with Gartner’s Mallory Barg Bulman about increasing technology acceptance and creating peer-driven “change champions.”

Special Guest: Mallory Barg Bulman.

The longer the accounting shortage continues the worse things will get with the University of Maryland’s Dr. Rebecca Hann

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

Whatever the industry thinks of as a possible solution to the declining number of accounting students and professionals, there is near unanimous agreement on the dire consequences of the problem.

Declining financial reporting quality and increased stress on the existing workforce are just two aspects of the fallout.

In this episode of the podcast we speak with Dr. Rebecca Hann, Dean’s Professor of Accounting and the KPMG Term Professor at the University of Maryland’s Robert Smith School of Business about her new research on the crisis in the accounting pipeline and how problems, like poor internal controls and accounting accuracy may worsen over time.

Special Guest: Rebecca Hann.

The encouraging, but not surprising, spread of AI in financial audits with KPMG’s Thomas Mackenzie

Financial Executives International — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 13:00:00 -0500

We all know that AI will forever change the finance and accounting landscape, but how quickly is it happening and what are the actual benefits? In this episode, we speak with Thomas McKenzie, KPMG audit, US and global CTO about the speed of AI adoption and the critical areas where preparers need to catch up.

Special Guest: Thomas Mackenzie.

Auditing your holiday meal and accounting for a global food crisis with Dr. Lisa Jack

Financial Executives International — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0500

As the US settles into its traditional Thanksgiving holiday meal, it should be remembered that a majority of the globe remains in a constant state of food insecurity. According to the USDA, a combination of the lingering effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and risks associated with the ongoing Russian military invasion of Ukraine are fueling the problems.

But developed nations are not immune, with the UK experiencing its crisis as food prices are rising and trade agreements with overseas partners failing.

In this episode we speak with Dr. Lisa Jack, Professor of Accounting in the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of Portsmouth. Dr. Jack is one of the few accounting researchers to examine the agri-food industry and the effects of accounting and performance measurement practices on the industry, and on society more widely.

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Special Guest: Lisa Jack.

Leveraging automation in the close and taking the mystery out of tech in accounting with FinOptimal’s Jesse Rubenfeld and Tom Zehentner

Financial Executives International — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Translating new technology into the sometimes slow to change world of accounting and finance takes a fair amount of passion to overcome established practices and generation skepticism. Jesse Rubenfeld and Tom Zehentner of FinOptimal are an example of a new crop of entrepreneurs trying to move the industry in the right direction.
In this episode of the podcast Tom and Jesse discuss their passion for automation, their love hate relationship with Quickbooks and how to have a startup mindset in accounting.
As you will hear, we began the conversation after a few technology missteps of our own.

Special Guests: Jesse Rubenfeld and Tom Zehentner.

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.

What a new finance workforce lacks, leaders need to teach

Financial Executives International — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0400

How organizations recruit and retain their top talent has never been more of a hot button issue in the finance and accounting industry than it is at this time. Whether it’s the decline in qualified graduates or a no holds barred war for existing talent, how to incentivise and manage your workforce is going through a generational shift that requires pulling many different levers.
But its not just about retention. Today’s leaders also need to hand down the traditional communication and project management skills that today’s specialized education curriculums sometimes lack.
In this sponsored episode of the podcast week speak with Jill Silman Chapman, Director of Early Talent Programs at Insperity, about these issues and how to recruit and retain the next generation of talent.

Lean more

Special Guest: Jill Silman Chapman.

Sponsored By:

Insperity

Can Apprenticeships Fix An Accounting Pipeline That’s Drying Up?

Financial Executives International — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0400

It’s no surprise that the pandemic led companies to reevaluate and adjust their approach to hiring. It also led candidates to reassess their professional preferences and priorities. For Wichita, Kansas-based Koch Industries and its companies, this was an opportunity to disrupt the way they view and hire talent in the tax and accounting fields.

Koch developed an apprenticeship program that aimed to bridge the gap between aptitudes, potential, and opportunity. The goal, according to Koch, was to provide non-traditional candidates an opportunity to pursue a fulfilling career at Koch and its companies, regardless of backgrounds, degrees, or certifications.

On this episode of the Financial Executive Podcast, we sit down with Kristi Palmer, Controller for Koch Industries, as well as two current apprentices, Juliana Pruitt and Miguel Sarratud. During our conversation we learn more about Koch’s apprenticeship program and how company leaders say it enables the company to hire contribution-motivated candidates and address talent issues.

And in an era where accounting and finance is looking to broaden its appeal, Koch says that their apprenticeship path takes a unique approach, focusing on the individual and removing barriers for candidates of diverse backgrounds and experiences to pursue a new career path they are passionate about.

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Special Guests: Juliana Pruitt, Kristi Palmer, and Miguel Sarratud.

Episode 103: Generative AI and Finance: Opportunities and Challenges

Financial Executives International — Wed, 17 May 2023 07:30:00 -0400

At it's core, generative AI has the potential to bring transformative impact to business and society, comparable to the paradigm shift brought about by cloud technology. Yet despite interest from executives to want to implement Generative AI, a recent survey showed that many CFOs still face significant barriers when introducing AI within their workflow.

On this episode of the Financial Executives Podcast, we sit down with Sanjay Sehgal Head of Markets for KPMG Advisory Services to get an understanding of what finance executives need to consider when implementing generative AI.

Special Guest: Sanjay Sehgal.

Governments vs. The League Of Extraordinary Accounting Measures

Financial Executives International — Wed, 10 May 2023 07:00:00 -0400

As the US slips closer – again – to the threat of default, one of the ways policymakers talk about delaying the crisis is the use of “extraordinary accounting measures.”.
Now, that is not a term you hear in the private market and, I would think, if it were used there would be more than a few red flags brought up by investors and regulators.
So in today’s podcast we speak with Justin Marlowe, Research Professor in the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Dr. Marlowe studies government finance, has written or edited several textbooks on public financial management and served on technical advisory bodies for the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.
As you will hear, we quickly jump into why extraordinary accounting measures is not really a thing, how the federal and looming economic crisis will affect state and local government and also get into the weeds of how governments are adopting XBRL for financial reporting.

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Special Guest: Justin Marlowe.

Using "Water Accounting" to Understand California's Balance Sheet

Financial Executives International — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0400

For the State of California, oversight over the water supply is of utmost concern. Especially on the back of recent climate related events.

On this episode of the Financial Executives Podcast we sit down with PPIC Water Policy Center Research Fellow, Andrew Ayres to learn about water accounting: what it is and how the accounting model can be applied outside climate related risks.

Special Guest: Andrew Ayres.

Sponsored By:

Board

How Can Organizations Drive Operational Resilience?

Financial Executives International — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0400

The past three years have been marked by turbulent change. The unanticipated global pandemic fundamentally altered the ways in which organizations operate. From accelerating digital transformations to enabling a highly-functioning virtual work environment, the past three years have forced organizations to be resilient in the wake of adversity.

On the three year anniversary of the COVID-19 informed lockdowns, this episode of the Financial Executives Podcast we sit down with John Epperson, Managing Principal, Financial Services to take a closer look at operational resilience.

Special Guest: John Epperson.

Sponsored By:

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

Revisiting The Fair Value Debate

Financial Executives International — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0400

It didn’t take long following the most recent banking crisis for the conversation to turn to a debate around accounting and disclosure. Particularly, the fair value and hold to maturity treatment that financial institutions employ around the securities on their balance sheets.
In this episode of the podcast we speak with Rober Pozen, currently a senior lecturer at the MIT School of Management. Before entering academics, Bob was steeped in the world of investing and financial reporting as vice chairman of Fidelity Management and Chairman of MFS Investment management.
Besides teaching, he is also a trustee of the IFRS Foundation, which oversees international financial reporting standard setting.

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Special Guest: Robert Pozen.

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.

Stopping Finance and Accounting Exodus

Financial Executives International — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Towards the end of last year in December 2022, the Wall Street Journal reported that more than 300,000 US accountants and auditors had left their jobs in the past two years.
On the academic front, they reported that college enrollment for finance and accounting degrees fell by 17%. Now, this mass exodus of finance and accounting professionals is not entirely a new phenomenon. We've heard a lot over the last couple of years about the COVID 19 induced great resignation and of quiet quitting. But where these conversations fall short is addressing what happens next?
What happens now when employers can't fill the gap that's been created by the number of people who have left their finance and accounting jobs? And what does this trend or these generational shifts really mean for the industry at large?

Special Guests: Dr. Wayne Williams, Elizabeth Brown, and Richard Deosingh.

Why Are Students Leaving Accounting?

Financial Executives International — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500

COVID-19 induced workplace shifts had an affect on almost every indusry. But for the finance and accounting profession at large, these shifts have contributed to a mass exodus of accountants. It was reported by the Wall Street Journal that more than 300,000 U.S. accountants and auditors have left their jobs in the past two years and colleges across the United States have seen a 17% decline in the number of students coming into the field can’t fill the gap.

In this episode of the Financial Executives Podcast, we sit down with a former accounting major from Temple University: Nathan Wakefield to learn more about his experience and decision to pivot away from accouning and the factors that influenced his decision.

Special Guest: Nathan Wakefield.

Sponsored By:

Workday

Digital Transformation In a Time of Uncertainty

Financial Executives International — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0500

Whatever the future holds for the finance function – recession, supply chain disruptions, or management pivots – having the correct and latest financial information will be the key to success. A large part of the battle to optimize financial information falls within an organization's digital transformation efforts.
In this sponsored episode of the financial executive podcast we speak with Gina Ferguson,Senior Director of Customer Experience for Finance at Workday about how she works to leverage financial information.

Special Guest: Gina Ferguson.

Sponsored By:

Workday

Beyoncé Has an Accountant

Financial Executives International — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0500

Mentorship in finance and accounting is more important than ever as the economy and job market changes. That’s one of the reasons Financial Executives International is launching a new mentorship platform as part of FEI Engage.
In this episode of the podcast we listen to some of the most relevant discussions that FEI’s Olivia Berman had last year as part of FEI Engage’s How I Got Here series.
In order of appearance, you will hear highlights from Oliva’s conversations with Edua Dickerson and Kevin McBride of ServiceNow, followed by Wes Bricker of PwC and Talia Smith of Deloitte.

Special Guests: Edua Dickerson, Kevin McBride, Thalia Smith, and Wes Bricker.

Sponsored By:

Board

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.

Mental Health In Finance and Accounting

Financial Executives International — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the podcast we speak with Mark Cowan, a professor of accountantcy at Boise State University. A CPA and a lawyer, Prof Cowan has spent his career in both public and industry accounting and has written about the role of mental health in the profession and the need for some things to change.

Depression and the CPA
How CPAs and employers can support mental health

Special Guest: Mark Cowan.

Sponsored By:

Workday

Episode 82: The Changing Face of Consumer Credit

Financial Executives International — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 16:00:00 -0400

Rapid changes in the US economy are forcing consumer credit providers to shore up their balance sheets and operations for some rough waters. Amex’s David Fabricant sits down with FEI to detail how one of the largest credit provider is bracing for any change.

Special Guest: David Fabricant.

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

Episode 80: How to Modernize and Digitize Finance

Financial Executives International — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 08:00:00 -0400

Consecutive market shocks of a global pandemic, rising inflation, and a threatened recession continue to chip away at market confidence. Despite these traumas, the US financial services industry has never been more stable.

The Financial Education & Research Foundation (FERF), in cooperation with Robert Half | Protiviti, will hold live, in-depth Q&A discussions with three leaders that will offer insight on how American banks are navigating these unprecedented and challenging times, and what their customers can expect as financial services reacts to an increasingly volatile world.

Whether it is paying for a parking spot with your phone or transferring cash across the globe, all aspects of banking and finance are being digitized. Citi’s Johnbull Okpra will discuss how these changes are impacting the industry from the unique position as one of globes largest banking institutions.

Special Guest: Johnbull Okpara.

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.

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.

Episode 69: Rise of the Streaming Culture and Art of the COVID Pivot

Financial Executives International — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Government mandated stay-at-home orders significantly contributed to the growth of the streaming culture. The quarantine mandates also resulted in a mass shutdown of content productions. For media and entertainment companies that rely on production revenues, the impact was grave. Join us as we speak with Viacom EVP, Controller and CAO Katherine Gill-Charest about their transfer of non-core assets to support the growth of streaming, and how they deal with production halts.

Special Guest: Katherine Gill-Charest.

Gaining Inclusivity, Battling Isolation: Crowe Quarterly Insight

Financial Executives International — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Chris Mitchell has been with Crowe for six years, serving as a consulting principal within the technology, media, and telecommunications services group prior to this appointment at the firm’s first Chief Diversity Officer. As CDO, Mitchell is responsible for driving a programmatic agenda to support a culture of inclusion in line with the firm’s vision and strategy.
In this conversation, we talk with Chris about his experiences moving up in the accounting/audit/consulting industry and his hopes for making sure diversity is represented in its ranks.

**_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: Chris Mitchell .

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.

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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
Join FEI

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 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 50: Government Controllers Speak

Financial Executives International — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 10:00:00 -0400

With trillions of dollars at stake, government comptrollers are at the tip of the spear in making sure taxpayers’ money is spent wisely and the right private sector partners are working within the system.

The Financial Education and Research Foundation (FERF), in cooperation with Robert Half | Protiviti, held a series of interviews featuring live, in-depth Q&A discussions with government controllers on the ways they are leading the state and federal government out of the pandemic.

Special Guests: Carol Beaumier and David Araldi.

Episode 49: Navigating One City’s Financial Future 2021

Financial Executives International — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 14:00:00 -0400

As part of our ongoing ForwardThinking series, FEI’s Shivani Somaiya speaks with Phialelphia’s controller Rebecca Rhynhart about how the city of brotherly love is fighinto to come back from the crisis.

Special Guest: Rebecca Rhynhart.

Episode 47: The Growing Role of the Federal Government

Financial Executives International — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 14:00:00 -0400

With the passage of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package the US federal government will have a monumental task of accounting for how and where the money is spent. As head of the Government Accountability Office, Comptroller General Gene Dodaro will be responsible for overseeing how taxpayer dollars are spent and provide objective, non-partisan, fact-based analysis.

Special Guest: Gene Dodaro .

Episode 42: Making SPACs Work: The Crowe Quarterly Podcast

Financial Executives International — Tue, 25 May 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Special-purpose acquisition companies,or SPACs, have become the latest rage in corporate finance, allowing private companies to go public by first being acquired by a blank check company. According to the latest figures, there are over 400 SPACs now in the market that are seeking private firms to acquire and take public.

In this episode of Financial Executive Podcast we speak with Mandi Simpson, a partner with Crowe accounting advisory, and Bill Watts, a principal also with Crowe accounting advisory, about how financial executives involved with a SPAC transaction should plan and think about these unique transactions.

_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: Mandi Simpson and William Watts.

Sponsored By:

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

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 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 33: Delivering When It Matters Most

Financial Executives International — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 07:00:00 -0400

The Financial Education and Research Foundation (FERF), in cooperation with Robert Half | Protiviti, held 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: Teri Reinseth.

Sponsored By:

Robert Half International/Protiviti

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 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 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 16: Technology Is Changing Everything In The Finance Suite: 2018 Benchmarking the Finance Function Preview

Financial Executives International — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 05:00:00 -0400

FEI Daily Managing Editor Oliva Berkman and Rober Half's Paul McDonald discuss how the latest survey of 1,700 financial executives reveals how digital transformation emergedas a critical business focus.

Episode 8: Harvey, Houston and Rebuilding as a Financial Executive

Financial Executives International — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 06:00:00 -0400

Hurricane Harvey, which struck Texas and parts of Louisiana last week, has dumped nearly 19 trillion gallons of water and damaged or destroyed over 100,000 homes.

The storm has impacted people from all walks of life, including several members of Financial Executives International’s Houston Chapter.

We spoke with Josh Tabin, a member of FEI Houston and Chair of its Young Leaders program to discuss the personal toll the storm has taken and how he will use his skills as a financial executive to rebuild for the future.

Special Guest: Josh Tabin.

Episode 7: Five Years Later: Learning the Lessons of the JOBS Act

Financial Executives International — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 13:00:00 -0400

The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act) was signed into law five years ago this week with hope that removing burdensome disclosure requirements and encouraging the use of crowdfunding tools would spur new business startups to eventually grow into large public companies.

The Financial Executive Research Foundation, in partnership with Donnelly Financial Solutions, is preparing to publish a white paper this month on the JOBS Act, whether is has changed the IPO market and how the law could change in the next five years.

In this second podcast on the subject, we speak with Professor Reena Aggarwal, Director of Georgetown University’s Center for Financial Markets and Policy. Dr. Aggarwal, specializes in capital raising, initial public offering and corporate governance, discusses what lessons financial executives should learn regarding the first five years of the JOBS Act.

Special Guest: Dr. Reena Aggarwal.

Sponsored By:

Donnelley Financial Solutions : Thanks to Donnelly Financial Solutions for sponsoring this research and this podcast.