FLP, the Finance Leadership Podcast

"It's important to learn how to say 'no' if you want to thrive...You need to be able to focus on what's essential to YOU and block out all the noise". GBD63 In this Human Intelligence-focused episode, returning guest Regan Walsh shares more insights from her work as an executive and life coach. She talks to Jennifer Gardner (AICPA & CIMA, USA) about the professional benefits of one of the shortest...

"First figure out the 'why', not from a organisational perspective but 'why' for a particular business process, and THEN figure out what technology - if any - will be needed to transform and automate that." GBD62 .  Waqqas Mahmood leads Advanced Technology & Intelligent Automation at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP. He tells Kyle Hannan (AICPA & CIMA, UK) about the basic jargon of RPA and AI, why...

"It's about that human connection, and HOW they are offering their advice in a way that's relevant, topical and timely to their clients". GBD61.  Peter Brill is MD of Netmentor (a content marketing consultancy based in Bristol. He's also a former Director of NWN Blue Squared, specialist accountants to the music and creative industries. He talks to Kyle Hannan (AICPA & CIMA, London) about using con...

"People are going to look more to accountants from a SOFTWARE point of view, in how they communicate and in how their taxes are managed". GBD60. Kate Watson, CEO of CMLW Consulting, joins us from Northeastern England. She talks to Kymberley McAdam (AICPA & CIMA, London, UK) about tech perspectives on GDPR and wider data privacy, cloud accounting, and the importance of effective communication in an...

"Data Science can help companies optimise how they're carrying out their business... to give the company a much clearer picture of what's valuable and what's problematic". GBD59. Elaine McVey directs the decision science function at TransLoc, a rapidly growing mobility technology company based in the Eastern USA. She tells Jennifer Gardner (AICPA & CIMA, Durham, USA) how business and finance leade...

"It is very important to use that (strong) language. It's such a competitive arena out there. Why give anyone a reason to NOT buy what you are selling?" GBD58. Julie Holunga is a leadership trainer, speaker and coach who works with CPAs, attorneys and other professional women. She tells Jennifer Gardner of AICPA & CIMA(Durham, USA) about the way we're perceived by others. They unpick how communica...

"Are you looking for incremental improvement, or are you REALLY trying to become a future-oriented organisation?".  GBD57. Jennifer Gardner (AICPA & CIMA, Durham USA) talks digital disruption with CPA Technologist David Cieslak aka "Inspector Gadget". Frequently recognised as one of the top 100 most influential figures in the industry, David recently presented a session at the AICPA's CFO 2019 Con...

"For CPAs who know about the space already, you've already got the trusted advantage. Now all you need is the blockchain knowledge". GBD56. "TheBitCoinCPA" himself, Kirk Phillips, joins the AICPA & CIMAs's Kyle Hannan to share his passionate interest in how blockchain will transform accounting. Kirk has a niche consulting practice in the crypto blockchain space in addition to pioneering many other...

"We operate better when we engage. Look up, meet the people and understand the human being behind things". GBD55.   As the AICPA & CIMA CFO Conference begins in Chicago, we talk to the Group Chief CFO of Bowmans Law, Jo-Ann Pohl. A  qualified chartered accountant and professional banker (PBSA), in 2014 she was named by Euromoney as one of Africa's top 20 rising stars. Jo-Ann is part of the 2013 So...

"What is driving change in our profession? The fuel is TECHNOLOGY".   GBD54. We sat down recently at AICPA & CIMA's London Office with Jim Bourke, CPA, CITP, CFF, CGMA, and Managing Director of Advisory Services for US-based WithumSmith+Brown. Visiting the UK on a speaking tour, Jim's passion for the profession is clear as he discusses the technological changes that will offer profound opportuniti...

"To flourish and use AI, a company needs to be proficient in the strategic acquisition of data" GBD53. In a fast-evolving cyber tech landscape, our guest Pratish Sharma advises finance and other organisations on safe practices with their digital footprint. He is a corporate trainer and speaker, an expert in AI (Artificial Intelligence), cybersecurity and RPA (robotic process automation) through Ex...

"Companies need to identify the third parties they work with because if they lose data, YOUR company's going to be facing the problem even though you weren't the one that lost the data'. GBD52. Expert certified 'ethical hacker' and top-rated tech speaker Mike Foster of the Foster Institute took time off from planning conference keynotes to talk to us during a skiing break in Montana. He tells Kyle...

"What you realise is that people don't mind when people have clear boundaries. In fact, they APPRECIATE them". GBD51 Gretchen Pisano and Alexis Robin are co-founders of pLink Leadership, a US-based management consultancy that provides leadership-development, executive coaching, and curriculum-creation. AICPA & CIMA's Jennifer Gardner hears from our guests about an adaptive mindset. Why it matters?...

"We need individuals who are in those different positions of power in the blockchain space to really bring us in to discuss how we can change things before it gets too solidified. There's a LOT of room for change!". GBD50 Daisy Ozim is CEO and co-founder of Resilient Wellness, a California-based public health-technology company designed to empower community-building and empowerment for collective...

"As a society we've raised our children to make fear-based decisions unintentionally. Being able to change that mindset to an OPPORTUNITY-based decision really changes the way you think about what is possible for you". GBD49. Lindsay Stevenson, CPA, CGMA is the Vice President of Finance & Tax at 1st Financial Bank USA, and was  recognised as one of 2018's "Most Powerful Women in Accounting" by AIC...

 "Have those boundaries. Don't just push through...and sacrifice your lunch, sacrifice your sleep, sacrifice... because that has a bigger impact and risk than if you actually just ask for what you need". Lauren Baptiste is a CPA, former Senior Manager at Ernest and Young (New York) and now CEO of Acheloa Wellness. Her Manhattan-based boutique wellness consulting firm specialises in preventing and...

"When technology is put into place the RIGHT way, in ethical ways, we actually create MORE human connection than less" AICPA & CIMA's Jennifer Gardner talks to author, accounting powerhouse and CPA Amy Vetter about ethical ICT-implementation, the power of mentoring, tech-transformation...and yoga.   WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. This March we're featuring a bonus selection of interviews with women who've...

"It doesn't mean you have to be best friends with everybody...but just take a moment and recognise that there are people behind processes - and connect into that very simply." This International Women's History Month, we dedicate all of our March episodes to conversations with women driving the future of the accounting and finance professions. Jennifer Gardner (AICPA & CIMA, Durham USA) talks to C...

In this special IWD2019 episode, four experts share their thoughts on tech and the future of the accounting and finance professions. Hear from Oracle's Kimberly Ellison-Taylor and "Changemaker's Playbook" author Amy Radin. We also feature Jennifer Gardner and Clar Rosso of the AICPA & CIMA. There'll be more at our Women's Global Leadership Summit in late 2019 in California. In our first conversati...

  "Have grit and persevere, no matter WHAT happens, because you are so intrigued and attached to an idea." March's special Women's History Month content series continues. Mballa Mendouga (AICPA & CIMA, Durham, USA) talks to a Hong Kong-born tech disruptor who dropped out of University in her early 20s to launch a multi-million dollar startup called BitSpark. Based in Hong Kong, Bitspark is a remit...

  "What I like to tell people - part of my methodology - is that you have no more, no more, than TWO professional goals at a time." We begin our month-long special content series for Women's History Month by talking to author, academic and marketing and strategy consultant Dorie Clark.   A frequent contributor to the likes of the Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur and Forbes, she consults and s...

"Buzzwords are about the things that are coming, not the things we already have"  Joining us during a business visit to China, Areiel Wolanow is an experienced business leader and former CPA with over 25 years spent working with leading corporations, central banks and financial regulators around the world. He was one of IBM's key thought leaders in blockchain, machine learning, and financial inclu...

"The biggest mistake at CFO level is not focusing on the boring stuff, the stuff that their finance team's getting frustrated by, that's making things inefficient". Andy Carfax became a qualified CMA over two decades ago and previously headed up KPMG's technical EPM delivery team. He now specialises in Enterprise Performance Management as MD of LucaNet UK which provides software that enables Group...

"Make sure you engage any resisters in your change process as if they're there to help...but they just don't know how yet" A speaker at AICPA & CIMA's forthcoming "CFO 2019" Conference in Chicago, Dr. Jeremy Lurey is an internationally-respected organisational consultant who has worked at both PWC and Andersen Consulting. Now President & CEO of Los Angeles-based Plus Delta Consulting and Practice...

On 31 January 2019, the Association launched the 2019 CIMA Professional Qualification and the updated CGMA Competency Framework. These are designed to help Management Accountants and their employers understand the knowledge required and skills needed for current and desired roles. This was a core element of the very well-attended Future Of Finance Festival in London, which also featured several ke...