Accounting for the Future

As we close out 2025 at Accounting for the Future, this final episode brings together the standout insights around how Canadian businesses are navigating uncertainty. Host Anne-Marie Henson highlights the key conversations that stood out and insights that will continue to shape business strategy well into the year ahead. Some of the topics we revisit include: How uncertainty in public markets is r...

How can audit teams turn data into a strategic asset? This episode of Accounting for the Future explores the real-world impact of data analytics on the audit profession. Host Anne-Marie Henson welcomes Dominic Chow, Head of Operations, Technology Risk Assurance at BDO Canada, for a candid discussion on how analytics is reshaping audits. They explore how technology is enabling auditors to move beyo...

In this milestone 50 th episode of Accounting for the Future, host Anne-Marie Henson and Rob Philpotts, a Partner in BDO's Cybersecurity practice, explore how cyber threats have evolved into a strategic business priority for organizations of all sizes and offer actionable advice for CFOs and finance leaders.  They also cover the impact of geopolitical activities on cybersecurity, real-world exampl...

As climate volatility and new regulatory pressures escalate, business leaders are increasingly framing complex strategic decisions through the lens of sustainability and resilience.   In this episode of Accounting for the Future, host Anne-Marie Henson, Partner, National Industry Leader, sits down with Simon Hutton, National Sustainability Leader, to discuss how organizations are integrating susta...

Learning and development (L&D)—is it just a cost centre, or is it a performance lever, retention strategy, and competitive advantage for your organization? Join host Anne-Marie Henson on Accounting for the Future as she explores the value of L&D with Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning and Development Officer at BDO Canada. They unpack the evolving dynamics between CFOs and learning, why innovation...

What do interprovincial trade barriers mean for Canadian businesses and what's changing? In this episode of Accounting for the Future, host Anne-Marie Henson sits down with Jonathan (Jono) Kalles, Vice President of McMillan Vantage and former advisor to the Prime Minister, to unpack the implications of Bill C-5 and how the interprovincial trade landscape is evolving in Canada.   From the removal o...

How can you communicate effectively with your board and turn them into one of your most valuable strategic assets? In this episode of Accounting for the Future, host Anne-Marie Henson is joined by Anthony Marinelli, Board Chair and Partner, Assurance-East Leader at BDO Canada, and Janet Boyle, Independent Board Member at BDO Canada and Senior Vice President at RBC.   Together, they unpack how CEOs...

In this episode of Accounting for the Future, host Anne-Marie Henson is joined by Sunil Sharma, National Leader of Transaction Services and Private Equity at BDO Canada , to unpack what's fueling the rise in companies going private. They discuss how current market conditions, including interest rates, geopolitical uncertainty, and undervalued assets, are influencing M&A activity in 2025. The conve...

In today's evolving market, finance leaders are moving beyond traditional back-office functions to become strategic leaders and value creators. Anne-Marie sits down with Jesus Ballesteros and Charlotte Zhen of BDO's value creation team, to explore how the modern CFO is transforming into a chief value creation officer—aligning finance, operations, and strategy while leading digital transformation t...

Host Anne-Marie Henson sits down with Paul Dostaler, BDO's Partner and National Manufacturing and Distribution Leader, to unpack how manufacturers can move beyond pilots and start scaling AI effectively. They explore the current pace of AI adoption in Canada, the roadblocks many businesses face, and what's needed to realize long-term ROI. The episode features data from Momentum: BDO's Manufacturin...

Host Anne-Marie Henson welcomes two of WXN's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada: Shilpa Mishra, Managing Director and National Leader of Capital Advisory at BDO, and Alyssa Barry, co-founder of irlabs and President at Alliance Advisors. They discuss navigating male-dominated industries, the power of authenticity and allyship, and how economic uncertainty impacts their roles. The conversation ex...

In this episode of Accounting for the Future, host Anne-Marie Henson, Eastern Canada Markets Leader, sits down with Daniel Ma, Partner, Valuations & Modeling, to discuss the challenges of navigating political uncertainty following recent tariff announcements by the Trump administration. They explore the potential impact on Canadian businesses and share proactive strategies for managing risk throug...

In part two of this two-part mini-series, host Anne-Marie Henson welcomes back Armand Capisciolto, Chair of Canada's Accounting Standards Board, BDO alumnus, and former host of the Accounting for the Future podcast. In this episode, they delve into the significant changes that have occurred among different standards, the importance of optionality in standard setting, as well as the impacts of cryp...

Host Anne-Marie Henson is joined by Armand Capisciolto, chair of Canada's Accounting Standards Board, BDO alumni, and former host of the Accounting for the Future podcast. They discuss the importance of accounting standards, the process of setting them, and Canada's influence on international standards. The episode also highlights how standards improve financial information and the role of stakeho...

In this episode, host Anne-Marie Henson explores the growing realm of cybersecurity threats with guest Sacha Blasiak-Priestley, BDO's National Leader of Cloud Security. They discuss some of the biggest cybersecurity breaches this year, including Christies, London Drugs, and AT&T. The conversation uncovers the lasting operational and reputational impacts of cyber attacks, AI's intricate role in cyb...

Learn how technology, particularly AI and data-driven solutions, is revolutionizing the audit profession, leading to enhanced productivity. Host Anne-Marie Henson is joined by Paul Vetrone, Innovation and Change Director at BDO Canada, and Youssef Hounat, VP of Product at DataSnipper. Together they discuss the integration of innovative technologies in auditing, emphasizing the shift towards more e...

Auditors can provide value beyond the numbers through practical solutions and advice on governance and regulatory changes. In a special live episode, guest host Mary Mathews is joined by Anthony Marinelli, Assurance-East Leader and Chair of BDO Canada's Board, in a discussion on how the role and expectations of auditors have evolved and how business leaders should select auditors. They also discus...

AI holds immense transformative potential for revenue optimization. Yet, governance, ethical considerations, and continuous monitoring cannot be undermined for responsible and effective AI implementation. Guest Achille Ettorre,   Advisory Board Member at Queen's University, TedX presenter, and Faculty Member and Executive Consultant at the International Institute for Analytics , joins our conversa...

Having robust internal controls is necessary for accurate financial reporting. In this episode, host Anne-Marie Henson is joined by Michael Crolla, Partner and National Capital Markets & Public Company Services Leader, and John Asher, Partner and Risk Advisory Services Leader in Western Canada. Drawing from their experience, they discuss the current Canadian regulatory landscape for public compani...

Navigating the complexities of fraud prevention and detection in your organization is critical. In this episode, host Anne-Marie Henson is joined by Alan Mak, Partner and National Leader of BDO's Forensic Disputes & Investigations, and Mary Mathews, Partner in BDO's Accounting Advisory Group. Drawing from their expertise, they delve into the pervasive issue of fraud in today's financial landscape,...

How can Canadian companies prepare to comply to Bill S-211? In this episode, host Anne-Marie Henson is joined by Pierre Taillefer, Partner and National Sustainability and ESG Leader at BDO Canada, in a discussion on the evolving landscape of ESG reporting and compliance. He sheds light on regulatory requirements in Canada, specifically, Bill S-211, highlighting the importance of understanding and...

From enhancing audits to streamlining processes and predicting financial outcomes, AI is here to empower the finance function. In this episode, host Anne-Marie Henson is joined by David McKellar , a Partner and key leader in BDO's Innovation & Change team and Senior Leadership Team, to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the accounting and finance function. Together, they explore...

Despite the effects of the great resignation, there is still appears to be a scarcity of financial talent. In our latest episode, host Anne-Marie Henson , Partner, Eastern Canada & SMB Leader for Markets & Industry Canada, and Barbara Palmegiani , National Leader for CFO Services at BDO Canada, explore the challenges of hiring and retaining financial talent and the evolving role of CFOs, emphasizi...

Audit quality is a key issue for the interest and governance process of both auditors and companies. In today's episode, host Anne-Marie Henson, Partner, Eastern Canada & SMB Leader at BDO, welcomes BDO 's Head of Global Audit Quality , Nazi a Lakhani for a look at the importance of quality assurance, the challenging power of CSQM1, recent changes in assurance and quality standards and what the fu...

The speed of movement surrounding ESG changes is continually increasing and can't be ignored any longer. In today's episode, host Anne-Marie Henson, Partner, Eastern Canada & SMB Leader at BDO, is joined by Mary Mathews, Partner in BDO's Accounting Advisory Grou p , to discuss the rapid pace at which ESG standards are being implemented and the impact that it can have on companies. They then turn t...