Tackling Today's Toughest Economic Challenges with Ali Firoozi

While businesses are constantly looking for ways to optimize their spending and maximize their ROI, they often overlook legal spending, which plays a key role in safeguarding the organization's interests. That's where a strong relationship between CFOs and legal teams becomes critical to ensure cost-effective legal services. To help us dive deeper into this topic today, we have Eric Bouchard. Eric is the Chief Financial Officer at Axiom. He has diverse work experience, starting in 1998 as a Senior at KPMG Audit. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions at companies such as Bombardier Transportation, Alcan, Bauxite and Alumina, Atrium Innovations, and Nestlé Health Science. Today, he serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Axiom. In this episode, we discuss: - The CFO-legal partnership - Maintaining quality in legal support - How to avoid regulatory issues - Integrating AI while managing risks

Historically, CFOs were mainly responsible for financial management, reporting, budgeting, and forecasting, ensuring the company's financial health and profitability. However, with the CFO's increasing involvement in strategic decision-making and their crucial role in shaping the future direction of their company, the role is now taking on a new title - the Chief Future Officer. To understand the various aspects of this evolving role and discuss how CFOs are adapting to meet the challenges of the future, we discuss with Joy Mbanugo. As ServiceRocket's CFO, Joy oversees the Finance, Accounting, Procurement, and Workforce Planning teams. With more than 20 years of experience in audit, tax, business operations, financial services, and financial planning and analysis across different industries, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Before ServiceRocket, Joy spent five years at Google, where she assessed Google Cloud Partnerships and Solutions, managed Alphabet's financial data, and optimized the cash management for assets exceeding $100 billion. In this episode, we discuss: - The evolving role of the CFO - Upskilling employees for growth - From Chief Financial to Future Officer - Collaboration and team building for CFOs - Empowering women in the workplace

The financial industry is experiencing a significant change with the rise of digitization and cryptocurrencies. As technology advances, traditional assets are becoming more digital, allowing for smoother transactions and greater accessibility. At the same time, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are gaining traction as alternatives to traditional financial systems. The main question is, “What implications do these changes have for traditional financial institutions?” Emmanuel Daniel has some curious insights to share. Emmanuel is an entrepreneur and corporate strategist, acknowledged among the top 10 global influencers in the FinTech Power 50 list for both 2021 and 2022. He is the founder of TAB Global and author of "The Great Transition." Drawing on his travels to over 110 countries, Emmanuel actively shares his insights through his blog and is currently working on his second book, "The Winning Civilization," set for release in 2024. In this episode, we discuss: - Challenges and opportunities in modern finance - Blockchain and the evolution of financial institutions - Balance sheets and digital assets - The impact of decentralized finance on traditional banks - Security and stability of financial digital assets

Small business owners encounter multiple difficulties when it comes to making wise financial decisions. Limited resources, lack of expertise, and time constraints can often restrict their ability to make informed choices that can enhance the financial well-being and success of their businesses. But Danielle Hendon of 4 Corners CFO is on a mission to change that. Danielle helps business owners earn their deserved income and increase their profits annually by helping them understand their finances and the reasons behind their fluctuations. With over ten years of experience in corporate finance and accounting from her time at LINN Energy/Riviera Resources, UHY Advisors, and Devon Energy, she offers small businesses tailored financial guidance that aligns with their budget and requirements. In this episode, we discuss: - Strategies for improving operational profit - The role of CFOs in small business success - How small businesses can benefit from thinking like the big ones - The value of non-revenue-generating roles for scaling your business

Businesses are always searching for methods to improve their operations and gain an advantage over their competitors. One area often neglected is making finance part of the business' operating fabric. However, by bringing finance into decision-making processes and aligning it with other functions, companies can achieve better financial outcomes, mitigate risk, and drive growth. And that's what Luigi Testa talks about in today's episode. Luigi is an accomplished finance and strategy professional with a vast background in venture capital and SaaS industries. He is the Chief Financial Officer at LinkSquares and a Founding Member of The F Suite, an exclusive, invitation-only community for CFOs. Previously, Luigi worked at Building Engines. His performance and leadership were recognized when he was named among the Boston Business Journal's 2023 CFO of the Year. In this episode, we discuss: - How integrating finance elevates business operations - The AI impact on finance - Leadership and relationship building in finance - How to strike a balance between growth and efficiency - Storytelling in finance communication

The global pandemic, armed conflicts, political instability, and rapidly evolving technology are just some of the key challenges faced by financial leaders in today's economic climate. Nevertheless, they can also present opportunities for organizations to succeed. Today, Ali Firoozi provides practical insights to help navigate challenges like recent rate increases from the Fed and the recurring threat of a US government shutdown. With over two decades of expertise in finance, Ali serves as the CFO of The PAC Group, where he oversees the financial integrity and system accuracy for the company's $65 million global consulting and engineering management operations. Throughout his career, Ali has worked for companies like Logix Federal Credit, JPMorgan Chase, and Washington Mutual Bank. In this episode, we discuss: - The impact of Federal Reserve rate increases - Potential ramifications of a US government shutdown - Challenges and opportunities for financial leaders in today's economy - CFO strategies for turbulent times - The future of the US dollar as the reserve currency

No profits, no growth. It's a business reality applicable to all companies. Without profits, there is no way to invest in innovation and operations expansion, or attract top talent. In this episode of CFO Weekly, Manny Skevofilax joins Megan Weis to share how to maximize profitability while growing your business. Manny is the Principal at PORTAL CFO Consulting. His role is to serve business owners as their navigators to business growth and making more money. Along the journey, Manny helps clients gain a better understanding of their business's financial health so they can make more informed business decisions. In this episode, we discuss: - Strategies for maximizing profitability - Overcoming the challenges of business growth - Building efficiency in business operations - The role of financial discipline

An IPO is not just a financial milestone in the business growth, but a transformative journey demanding a complete, data-driven, and strategic reorientation of the entire business. A CFO plays a key role in the IPO process. To learn more about it, we discussed it with Jayson Noland. Jayson Noland is CFO at HackerOne, a company empowering the world to build a safer internet. He is also an Advisory Council Member at Forgepoint Capital. Previously, Jayson worked at Cloudflare as VP of Strategic Finance, Treasury, and Investor Relations. In this episode, we discuss: - IPO readiness strategies - Data-driven decision-making in IPO planning - Steps to transform your business for the stock market - How to effectively manage capital market engagement

Amidst a constantly shifting landscape defined by economic flux, geopolitical unrest, fleeting product cycles, and fierce talent competition, businesses strive to stay ahead. At the helm, CFOs wield crucial influence, not merely overseeing financial outcomes but actively driving strategic transformations. As guardians of a company's fiscal health, they proactively shape and steer organizations through these dynamic challenges, ensuring resilience and adaptability in the face of change. Aaron Sallade is the Chief Financial Officer at BiggerPockets. He is a seasoned leader with over 15 years of expertise in finance strategy and operations, dedicated to driving value creation. Before joining BiggerPockets, Aaron spearheaded numerous strategic initiatives and pioneered category expansion efforts at Home Advisor. His extensive background includes diverse roles in corporate finance, private equity, and investment banking. Moreover, Aaron is an Army veteran, having served in Bosnia Herzegovina and Afghanistan. Beyond his professional endeavors, he manages a small portfolio of investment properties and cherishes moments with his wife and four kids. In this episode, we discuss: - Understanding operations as a CFO - Prioritizing revenue over cost-cutting for tangible impacts - Identifying, analyzing, and aligning resources for future strategies - Risk mitigation and financial strategies

Winning at the finance game requires a specific set of skills. It's not just about financial literacy or accounting; soft skills are equally important. You might wonder what these skills are and how to learn them, but don't worry. Stephen Newland, Director of FP&A at GrowthLab Finance-as-a-Service, got you covered. Stephen has worked in a finance role at various organizations, including startups, early-stage companies, nonprofits, and Fortune 500s. He earned the Certified Management Accountant designation in July 2022 and has an Honors Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of Cincinnati. Before GrowthLab, Stephen held finance roles in organizations like Gravy, Qoins, North Point Community Church, Buckhead Church, Delta Air Lines, and GE. In this episode, we discuss: -How does GrowthLab help businesses optimize their finances for growth? -The importance of learning from mistakes -What skills are essential in helping finance professionals stand out and advance more quickly within their organizations? -How can finance professionals develop soft skills early on? -How can you build relationships and win over the trust of leadership? -Creating a plan for personal growth Presented by Personiv https://insights.personiv.com/cfo-weekly