Explore every episode of the podcast The Finance Leader Podcast
Dive into the complete episode list for The Finance Leader Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
Episode # 150: Leadership in finance isn’t a title—it’s a practice. We dive into what turns any role in accounting, FP&A, or audit into a force for strategic impact, starting with the four pillars that anchor meaningful change: influence, grow your people, deliver results, and see the future. Along the way, we unpack how to turn data into decisions, build trust with senior leaders, and convert operational friction—like a chaotic month end—into a reliable, learning-driven process.
We start by reframing influence as earned alignment. You’ll hear how to show up with validated numbers, a sharp point of view, and a concise ask that respects executive time. Then we get practical about developing talent: mentoring for strategic thinking, cross-training on the business model, and running blameless reviews that raise the team’s ceiling. Execution takes center stage with tactics to speed the close, improve forecast accuracy, and translate variances into action. Finally, we step into forward-looking leadership—tracking external signals that matter, setting crisp scenarios, and aligning decisions to both profitability and purpose.
If you’re ready to elevate your impact, this conversation will help you become the partner your organization needs: people-centered, data-driven, and ethically grounded.
Episode #149: Month-end doesn’t have to feel like a rolling emergency. We walk through a proven, blame-free framework—the U.S. Army’s After Action Review—to turn your close into a reliable, data-driven process that gets faster and more accurate every cycle. If your calendar is packed and bottlenecks keep returning, this is the practical reset your team needs.
We start by reframing performance reviews as a leadership habit that compounds. Then we break down the AAR into three simple stages: plan, prepare, execute. You’ll learn how to define clear success metrics for close, set roles and handoffs, and create a safe environment where facts matter more than opinions. We show how to gather evidence during the cycle—timelines, task logs, error heat maps—so the review pinpoints root causes and turns observations into action.
From there, we dive into the backbone of a modern close: standardized processes, integrated systems, and tools that truly enable collaboration. Expect concrete ideas for automating data flow, reducing manual entries, and mapping end-to-end dependencies. We share ways to align accounting and FP&A early, cut late reclasses, and measure progress with a focused KPI set: close duration, on-time tasks, aged reconciliations, and post-close entries.
Episode outline:
The U.S. Army’s After-Action Review process,
Let’s always focus on processes, systems, and tools, and
Using the After-Action Review system to evaluate our month-end close procedures.
Episode 144: Dive into the fascinating world of financial detective work as we explore the specialized field of forensic accounting. Ever wondered who tracks down financial criminals or how complex fraud schemes are uncovered? This episode pulls back the curtain on a career path that combines investigative prowess with accounting expertise.
We examine how forensic accountants serve as financial sleuths, tracing illicit transactions and identifying misappropriated assets for government agencies, insurance companies, and legal firms. Unlike traditional auditors who verify financial health, these specialists specifically search for irregularities with the presumption that misconduct may be present. Their work requires not just accounting knowledge, but also investigative techniques, legal understanding, and meticulous documentation skills.
Could this be your next career move? If you enjoy analyzing data, identifying patterns, and solving complex financial puzzles, don't overlook this rewarding specialization.
Episode # 99: Are you willing to take more risk to ensure you achieve what you want in your career? Or…are you playing it too safe? Taking risk is often a mindset issue where you can limit yourself and fear stepping out from your comfort zone. Get vulnerable, develop a plan and find the courage to go after what you want to move toward your long-term goal. No one is going to hand it to you so you have to decide to take action to develop your career with the skills and experience you need to move forward. Decide today to go after it and achieve something amazing.
Episode #98: Why did you choose to work in Finance and Accounting? Did you want to work with numbers? Did you think you would work mostly alone? Were you attracted to the leadership opportunities available? Was it something else or a combination of these? Whatever got you interested, I am urging you to ask yourself if you still maintain that passion you once had? Do you embrace and look forward to leading with the numbers every day? The Finance and accounting fields offer a great opportunity to career track to CEO of an organization.
Episode # 97: How productive are you during the day? Is your day filled with distractions? Do you have set templates and use your available tools to make your workday easier especially for routine tasks? Having a productive day begins with our mindset. Use the tools you have available to make your work day more productive. Develop systems for routine work. Protect your time and your team and focus on adding value where you can to make a positive impact across the organization. Let’s all have more productive days where we focus our energy and attention on more essential and the most urgent of our tasks.
Episode #96: Are you facing a leadership challenge right now, or soon? Do you even know? Have you been complacent, or are you watching for the signs that change or a business challenge is imminent? When things are going well, it’s easier to lead, but when the business environment changes, it requires a more leadership emphasis from you. Be watchful for business and senior leadership changes and be ready to adapt and lead your team through the challenge, whatever it is.
We all need a reminder to believe in ourselves especially when it gets tough, that is, when you face a challenge and then doubt tries to settle in. We are all in a battle to overcome beliefs about our abilities in our mind. Limiting beliefs can take over our mind AND our spirit at any time, which then affects our ability to take risk and seize opportunities.
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Who you have in your inner circle matters. Who you have around you, and who you associate with regularly affects your mindset, how you approach life, your happiness, and the overall level of your mental, spiritual, and physical fitness. Who you let in your life matters, and it affects everything in your life.
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
If a crisis happened to you today, do you have a support system in place to help you through it? Who would you call? Who would help you? Having a support system in place is critical for surviving and overcoming an emergency.
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Are you facing a challenge? If so, what are you doing to overcome that challenge? Does it require working with someone on a solution, or is it a challenge that you personally have to solve? Is it a mindset issue? Are you having trouble with a goal?
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
This week, I am sharing an encore replay from Season 9 - Episode 77: Five Pillars of Career Advancement for Finance and Accounting Professionals
What does it take to advance your career? There are many decisions and pathways you can take. There are lots of choices, but how do you prepare yourself for the best chance of advancing to senior leader roles? In this episode, I will highlight the five pillars of career advancement which can help you move in the right direction, so you have the best chance for achieving your dream role. And what do you when you approach an obstacle in your career advancement? Do you accept it or do you keep going?
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
I wanted to briefly talk about a trending topic that I have been seeing all over Twitter. You probably heard about it: Quiet Quitting. What does that mean? Well, it’s something that has been happening for a very long time, which is doing your job without probably doing any of the extras. Not going above and beyond. Just ensuring you are doing enough to keep your job.
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Episode 143: Financial integrity isn't optional—it's essential. That's why developing a structured, effective audit plan stands as one of the most critical responsibilities for finance leaders today.
This episode unveils a nine-step framework for creating audit plans that deliver genuine value. From understanding your business environment and conducting thorough risk assessments to defining clear audit scopes and establishing communication protocols, each element works together to create a process that leadership can trust. We explore how to effectively present technical findings to leadership teams in ways that drive action, not confusion. Most importantly, we examine why leadership commitment fundamentally determines whether an audit becomes a transformative tool or merely a compliance exercise.
Episode # 95: A successful budget development cycle begins with clearly communicated expectations and coherently executed leadership. You must partner with other leaders to minimize conflict, meet senior leader guidance, and deliver a budget plan that is on target and makes sense. Ensure you apply the strategy to the budget development process to prioritize and maximize the committed resources.
Episode outline:
Link the budget requirements to the strategy,
Communicate expectations early, clearly, and often,
Ensure your budgeting tools meet your needs,
Have a conflict resolution process in place, and
Develop an effective partnership across the company.
Episode #94: As leaders in Finance and Accounting, we are asked to analyze problems constantly. Leaders solve the critical problems of the organization. We don’t let issues grow into bigger problems. The most difficult part of problem solving is to identify what the real problem is, followed by performing the analysis to develop viable options, and then deciding the solution which is best for the organization moving forward. It sounds easy, but it takes leadership to accept that a problem exists and to be able to commit resources to analyze it and correct it.
Episode outline:
Developing a problem-solving skill set,
Problem solving is a process,
Sound problem solving leads to better decision making, and
Be a leader in all problem solving and decision making.
Episode # 93: This week it’s all about embracing, adopting and using artificial intelligence in our finance and accounting processes. I expect the early adopters to gain a significant competitive advantage as they shift from waiting on data to guiding a system with real time data that solves problems and affects decisions earlier in the process. Earlier than we ever thought we could. It’s time to commit funds in our budgets for systems, hardware, training and even the right people on our teams as we transition to the future.
Episode outline:
Become open-minded so you learn how AI will help,
AI can create a competitive advantage,
Will lead to improved and more real-time processes, and
We work with data every day in finance and accounting. The data leads us to insights and relevant information. This is why it’s important that our data is clean AND validated. The way to useable information is to ensure we have good data, but do you know what that means, and can you spot bad data when it shows up in your analysis? Know the data you are working with to ensure it leads you to the correct conclusions in your financial analysis or accounting work. Also, if possible, always try to tell a story with the data.
Episode outline:
Ensure you have validated data,
Data leads to analysis which leads to useable insights,
Use leadership with your data analysis to make a difference, and
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Episode 91: Financial Planning and Analysis provides one of the most critical and powerful functions in the business. Are you resourcing and employing your FP&A Team properly? You need to be continually planning the team’s functions and capabilities as technology changes and the business grows. The FP&A function cannot remain static. It must be growing and changing as conditions change. Your pathway to understanding the key metrics of the business AND if you are achieving your strategy, lies in the commitment to investing in your Financial Planning and Analysis team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
How do you want your team to interact with each other? Do you want to be all business all the time, more relaxed, or something else? As the leader, you set the tone for the team’s culture. The team’s culture determines how well everyone respects each other and works together. Don’t overlook the relationship of team culture and its overall performance.
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Financial Analysts help grow the business by digging in to the how and the why to financial transactions to find patterns and insights. These patterns can help find a way to leverage your offers to increase sales. Additionally, costs can be saved by finding efficiencies within the expenses.
Episode outline:
Figure out the why and how regarding data around financial transactions,
Help to validate the strategy through the analysis of key metrics, and
Partner with senior leaders so they better understand their numbers.
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Leaders must be self-aware of their thoughts, actions, words and behaviors so they are constantly working to build trust and develop their teams. Self-aware leaders know what is appropriate and what isn’t appropriate. Emotionally intelligent leaders can read the room properly that leads to a positive outcome.
Episode outline: 1) The great leaders are emotionally intelligent, 2) Think before speaking or taking action, and 3) Read the room so you understand the tone and mood of any gathering.
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
A habit is a routine behavior that determines our productivity level and our work ethic. Our habits are closely aligned with our mindset and how we approach challenges. Do we embrace wanting to achieve excellence or do you become complacent? Our success is a combination of mindset and habits, plus leadership. I hope that you practice great leadership as the most important habit of all.
Episode outline:
Your habits determine your daily success,
What successful people do to build and reinforce good habits, and
The most important habit is practicing great leadership.
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Please enjoy this encore episode....You have assumed a new role at a new company. What are your first steps? What do you do first so you set yourself up for success? Those first few weeks can determine how well you know your role, and more importantly, who do you need to meet, what systems do you need to learn, and what are the details about the company’s culture. Your first actions in a new role will be critical to your success, so plan carefully and embrace learning and meeting new people.
Episode outline:
Embrace onboarding and ask questions,
Learn the culture and live it,
Know your manager’s priorities and their manager’s priorities,
Build your internal network, and
Build credibility immediately and add value.
==>> Link to Preview Course: Click here Or go to Finance Leader Academy, click Shop to find the course. Thank you!
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Episode 142: Financial risk assessment stands as the cornerstone of effective auditing—the crucial process that separates calculated risk-taking from reckless decision-making. This deep dive into organizational risk management provides finance leaders with a strategic framework for protecting company assets and ensuring financial integrity.
At its core, proper risk assessment requires a cross-functional approach. By bringing together expertise from legal, treasury, accounting, and financial planning departments, organizations can conduct robust SWOT analyses that reveal potential vulnerabilities. The process continues with identifying key metrics related to areas of concern, scoring and ranking these metrics, and evaluating the effectiveness of existing internal controls. This methodical approach ensures that audit resources focus first on the areas presenting the greatest risk to financial health and operational integrity.
The significance of this process cannot be overstated. By systematically identifying weaknesses in internal controls and operational policies, finance leaders can build audit plans that address real vulnerabilities rather than perceived threats. This validation process provides confidence to all stakeholders—from employees and suppliers to creditors and potential investors—that the organization maintains financial stability and follows a viable strategic course. Whether you're managing compliance risk, credit and liquidity challenges, market uncertainties, or operational vulnerabilities, a well-designed risk assessment protocol serves as your first line of defense against financial irregularities. Take time today to evaluate your risk management system and ensure it effectively engages internal experts to assess your organization's most pressing risks. Your company's long-term success may depend on it.
Episode outline:
Analyzing various risk metrics will help identify areas with the weakest internal controls,
Why financial risk is the foundation of the audit plan, and
Episode # 90: If you own a start-up or will be founding one soon, consider adding a finance leader to your team as soon as possible. You will have a teammate who can help you understand cash-flow and profitability from Day 1. They can help you instill financial discipline immediately and provide legitimacy for potential investors. A finance or accounting professional gives your team someone who can provide key advice on tax implications, cash burn rates, corporate structure, and adding value as you navigate a challenging marketplace and economy.
Episode outline:
Provide important finance leadership from Day 1,
Develop finance information systems that make sense,
Understand cash flow, measuring profitability, and publishing financial statements, and
Episode # 89: As a leader, you will make many decisions. You will have choices to make. But how do you guard yourself against bias? How do you ensure fairness in opportunity and in how your team is treated? We must be aware of any bias we have both, conscious and subconscious, to ensure all have the opportunity if they do the hard work to improve themselves and to be ready for the next level. Further, we need to check our bias in all problem-solving activities and projects.
Episode outline:
Building trust is the cornerstone of leadership,
Root causes of our bias,
Confirmation bias reinforces our own position, and
Episode # 88: Are you on track for a promotion? What does it take to be promoted from individual contributor to manager? You must show potential for greater responsibility. You need a combination of mature soft skills, good character and high emotional intelligence, deliver results every time, and be able to treat people fairly without bias. If you can prioritize your actions correctly, clearly communicate a vision, and follow through with incredible results, you will be in line for promotion to manager in no time.
Episode outline:
Be of good character, strong ethics, and have a never-quit attitude,
Episode # 87: Your long-term success and how you feel about yourself are directly affected by your self-worth and your confidence level. What you believe in yourself affects your ability to take risk and feel confident about what roles and challenges may be next for you. Your mindset is powerful, and this requires a daily exercise of self-care to strengthen yourself against the adversity you will face and to give you confidence to go after your long-term goal.
Episode outline: 1) Build a healthy approach in how we see ourselves, 2) Know your self-worth, 3) Practice great self-care, and 4) Taking risk is key to growth and opportunity.
Episode # 86: As a Finance or Accounting professional have you ever been assigned to a project team or worked on a business case? Have you provided financial analysis or accounting advice regarding a high visibility project? These are great opportunities to develop and show off your skills. Additionally, you may get visibility with the executive team and other senior leaders. This week, I am encouraging you to seek out high visibility projects to showcase your skills and abilities, which will also help you grow your professional portfolio.
Episode outline: 1) Project teams are great opportunities, 2) What skills you need to bring, 3) Grow your network, and 4) Strengthen your professional foundation.
We are a primary source of inspiration and motivation for our team members. How we act and speak and make decisions serves to encourage, or even discourage, our team members as they tackle tough assignments and tasks. How we approach the work and adversity does have ripple effects on team productivity and morale. How can we do better, as leaders, to encourage our team members to be inspired, which then can translate into higher productivity, without being abusive?
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Should you earn a graduate degree? As a Finance and Accounting professional, a graduate degree will strengthen and round out your professional foundation and help to give you credibility as an expert in the field, which will serve to gain you respect. Further, earning a graduate degree can open additional opportunities for you to advance your career and could increase your earnings potential. Let’s address if a graduate degree is the right career move for you.
Episode outline: 1) Graduate degree trends from the field, 2) Is earning a graduate degree for me, 3) Which degree should I pursue, and 4) How should I plan for it?
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Episode # 83: Did you know that business social skills are equally important as your technical and other soft skills? How you act socially can determine your next opportunity. How you conduct yourself in a public situation such as a meeting or at an after-work event or even on a project team can bring you closer or take you away from advancing in your career. How do you navigate these often-complicated situations? Be aware that your actions, facial expressions and even the very words you choose can make others pass judgment on your favorability.
Episode outline:
Be respectful of others,
Reading the room,
Let’s talk about a few key social skills: Authenticity, Approachability, Be present, Empathy, and Collaboration, and
Learning to be an effective leader will set you apart positively in the eyes of the senior leaders and executives you work with and will help you advance in your career. We are already expected to be technical experts in our field, so learn leadership to give you the edge you need to advance.
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Episode # 81: When Finance and Accounting professionals combine their technical knowledge and skills with leadership, we will see an amazing transformation in every organization. Successful Finance and Accounting Leaders skew to the strategic and learn how to positively influence and advise senior leaders, so they help deliver the strategy. An effective leader works to empower their team, to develop influence to bring positive change, and will work to find a solution when financial expectations have not been met. Leading during adversity is the real challenge.
Episode outline: 1) Leaders skew toward the strategic, 2) Combine Leadership with finance and accounting technical expertise, 3) Use leadership when financial expectations fall short, and 4) Leadership tools to use every day.
Episode 141: Curious about what makes audit teams tick? Dive into the crucial yet often misunderstood world of audit team management where leadership goes far beyond checking boxes and finding faults.
Audit managers stand as guardians of financial integrity, straddling the strategic vision needed to align with business objectives while directing teams to investigate transactions that might reveal weaknesses in controls. These professionals aren't just looking to catch mistakes; they're building the foundation of trust upon which all stakeholder relationships depend. As I explore in this episode, "a company's financial reputation is the relevant social currency for doing business in the marketplace today."
The most effective audit leaders combine analytical prowess with exceptional communication skills, positioning themselves not as adversaries but as partners in organizational success. They understand that identifying issues internally before external parties discover them is a service to the organization. The audit team must be uncompromisingly ethical, as I note, "people pleasers make horrible auditors." Their findings, coupled with practical recommendations, drive improved processes, better governance, and ultimately, strategic advantage.
For finance professionals considering career development, time in audit roles offers unique perspective on how business functions interconnect, builds valuable problem-solving capabilities, and establishes you as a trusted advisor. Many successful finance leaders cut their teeth in audit before advancing to roles like finance director or risk manager. Ready to elevate your organization's audit function? Ensure your team has adequate resources, appropriate technology, necessary access, and leadership that values their findings.
What's the state of your audit function? Are you leveraging this critical team to their full potential? Subscribe now for next week's episode where I'll tackle risk assessment in the audit planning process.
Episode outline:
Key competencies of the audit team,
How the audit team manager contributes to the strategy and audit plan, and
Please enjoy this encore episode from Season 7 - Episode 62 - What Leaders Do.
The most important responsibility leaders have is to grow other leaders. The first task a great leader will do is to build trust and that begins with our own actions, our attitude, and our behavior. We often get overwhelmed with the tasks, but I want you to shift from a task-focus to a people-focus leadership style. Lead and set a great example, build trust, and empower your team to create an incredible environment for your team to grow.
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Please enjoy this encore episode from Season 8 - Episode 64 - The CFO Mindset.
The Role of Chief Financial Officer requires a different mindset, a different world view, and a perspective that helps you see the organization differently. The CFO must be forward thinking and must never quit.
The following outline is used during the episode:
The qualities of the successful c suite executive,
You must pivot your skillset, mindset, and perspective,
Embrace change and embrace adversity,
You must set the right example every day to establish a high standard, and
You must own your career and your goal accomplishment process.
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Please enjoy this encore episode from Season 7 - Episode 57 - Own Your Career.
What happens during your career journey mostly rests upon decisions you make along with your risk comfort level. Are you planning out your career moves or are you waiting on someone else to give you an opportunity? No one is going to seek you out to hand you what you need to achieve your goals and advance your career.
Episode outline:
You are the only person who will care about your career,
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Please enjoy this encore episode. I am working on Season 10, which well debut on April 12.
We are in the new year, and I believe that 2022 will be your best year to date. This will be a time to develop a plan of action for what’s important to you that includes your career AND your personal life. It can be the blueprint for setting your personal priorities and ensuring you don’t forget the important events in your life AND that you live, grow, and thrive with no regrets.
Episode outline:
Setting the right priorities for your life,
Adopt winning habits including a self-care routine,
Embrace a growth mindset,
Prepare for challenges,
Write out and continually update your goals, and
Synchronize your plan with the people in your life.
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
You need to be advocating for yourself when it comes to career opportunities, for raises, for promotions, to be on high visibility projects, for time off, for the right boundaries, and the list goes on. I am particularly speaking to the group of Finance and Accounting professionals who are truly dedicated and don’t ask for much in return. It’s time that you get rewarded for your hard work and you need to take action for these to happen. Start advocating for yourself and for your advancement today. No more accepting the first no you hear when it comes to asking for something beneficial for you. Advocate for key opportunities and advocate for yourself.
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Can your team members thrive in their current work environment? As leaders, we have standards to uphold, tasks to get done, and a strategy to execute, but do our team members believe they are treated well, are their voices heard, and do they have opportunities for growth and development?
How much time do you invest in your team members? When you lead a team, you have more responsibility than only completing tasks on a list, you have people who are looking to you to help them accomplish their goals. The greatest responsibility we have is to grow other leaders, and we do that by creating an environment of support, learning, and development.
Episode outline:
Are your team members thriving?
What would your team say about you in an anonymous survey?
Are you helping your team members to grow and win? and
What can you do to create a more positive environment?
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
The greatest responsibility we have is to grow other leaders so I want to encourage you to share your leadership tips by publishing them to reach a greater audience. Never stop trying to positively influence the next generation of leaders.
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Episode 77: What does it take to advance your career? There are many decisions and pathways you can take. There are lots of choices, but how do you prepare yourself for the best chance of advancing to senior leader roles? In this episode, I will highlight the five pillars of career advancement which can help you move in the right direction, so you have the best chance for achieving your dream role. And what do you when you approach an obstacle in your career advancement? Do you accept it or do you keep going?
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Episode # 76: You may have a dream for what you want to accomplish, but that dream can only be realized if you have a written plan that makes sense. A written plan that accounts for more than what your organization is asking you to do. A well thought out written plan is the key to accomplishing your long-term goal and your dreams.
Episode outline:
Our Individual Development Plan is a commitment to ourselves,
Critical components of the IDP often overlooked,
An effective IDP goes beyond what your organization is asking you to do,
Your IDP must be assessed and updated often, and
Ensure you include learning leadership in your plan.
Episode #75: Our habits are closely aligned with our mindset, and how we approach challenges. Do we embrace wanting to achieve excellence or do you become complacent? Our success is a combination of mindset and habits, plus leadership. I hope that you practice great leadership as the most important habit of all.
Episode outline:
Your habits determine your daily success,
What successful people do to build and reinforce good habits, and
The most important habit is practicing great leadership.
Episode 140: Financial integrity isn't just about compliance—it's the cornerstone of organizational trust and success. In this thought-provoking exploration of the audit function, we dive deep into how forward-thinking CFOs are transforming what's often viewed as a necessary evil into a strategic advantage.
The most effective finance leaders understand that auditing isn't about hunting for mistakes or satisfying regulators; it's about building a foundation of accuracy that enables better decision-making at every level. We examine three essential pillars that should guide your audit strategy: fostering a team with unwavering professional ethics, ensuring meticulous financial accuracy in reporting, and implementing robust internal controls to safeguard company assets. These elements aren't just technical requirements—they're competitive advantages in a business landscape where trust is increasingly valuable currency.
Risk assessment emerges as a critical companion to effective auditing. By creating and continuously updating a comprehensive risk matrix, the CFO can ensure audit resources are deployed where they'll have the greatest impact. Whether you lead a small private company or a publicly traded enterprise, this strategic approach to audit planning transforms compliance activities into valuable insights that support long-term business goals. Remember, a truly effective audit function should regularly uncover areas for improvement—if your auditors never find issues, it's time to review your testing processes. The journey toward financial excellence begins with embracing auditing not as a basement-dwelling afterthought but as a spotlight illuminating your path to organizational integrity and sustainable success.
Episode outline:
Why is a solid audit plan essential for your organization,
Measuring and assessing organizational risk, and
How the CFO shapes the audit plan to support long term strategy.
Episode #74: You have assumed a new role at a new company. What are your first steps? What do you do first so you set yourself up for success? Those first few weeks can determine how well you know your role, and more importantly, who do you need to meet, what systems do you need to learn, and what are the details about the company’s culture. Your first actions in a new role will be critical to your success, so plan carefully and embrace learning and meeting new people.
Episode outline:
Embrace onboarding and ask questions,
Learn the culture and live it,
Know your manager’s priorities and their manager’s priorities,
You need to stay current with what is happening in the Finance and Accounting fields so that you can address your skills gap to remain competitive. I will continue to recommend that you learn leadership since that will remain critical to advancing your career. The nature of work is changing, and that means we have to change also.
Episode outline:
What the future is,
Identify and grow your skills gap,
Career trends for 2022, and
Learning leadership will set you apart.
Please email me at contact@stephenmclain.com if you have any best practices with accounting for blockchain or crypto. I will give credit in the podcast for all submissions. Thank you!
Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I present here on the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/financeleaderpodcast This is a good time to jump in and start sharing ideas and thoughts about leadership so we can help each other.
For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team.
You can now purchase a course to help you advance your career from financeleaderacademy.com. It's called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Episode # 72: As a leader, taking time to capture your thoughts and ideas is critical to developing a better work-flow for yourself and your team, and to explore your entire life. Keeping a journal is a great way to deep dive some ideas or other areas of your leadership and life to find areas that need to be improved. I recommend setting aside time to think and to write down those thoughts to help you gain clarity. Not only will you be able to capture your best ideas but keeping a journal can be a critical component to your overall self-care plan.
Episode outline:
Capture your best ideas at the ideal time,
Helps your long-term focus and goal accomplishment,