Financial consolidation has long been treated as a “back-office necessity,” but in today’s complex, data-dense businesses, it’s becoming a strategic engine.

Craig Schiff, Founder and CEO of BPM Partners joins Melissa to unpack the evolution of consolidation, why it’s resurging in importance, and how AI is reshaping both FP&A and controllership.

Craig shares what companies are getting wrong, why consolidation and planning belong together and the trends he’s seeing as organizations move from legacy systems, Excel-heavy processes and fragmented tools toward unified performance management.

He also explains the critical connection between actuals, planning accuracy and strategic speed, and why more CFOs now lead with consolidation at the center of their data strategy.

Discussed in This Episode: 

• Critical features of modern financial close and consolidation software
• Building a unified finance tech stack
• AI in performance management: What CFOs need to know
• The future of close and consolidation

For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

Finance doesn’t need to chase a mythical “best-in-class” model, success comes from mastering the fundamentals.

In this episode of The CFO Show, Charlie X.W. Liu, Founder and Chief Happiness Officer of MCC, joins Melissa Howatson to unpack the FP&A Trifecta: finance, data and systems and how getting these right transforms finance teams from spreadsheet operators into strategic partners.

Charlie shares lessons from 15+ years advising startups and Fortune 500s on optimizing EPM systems, improving data quality and building finance functions that scale with the business. He also explores how AI is changing finance roles, helping professionals shift from cost controllers to storytellers who drive business growth.

Discussed in This Episode: 

• The three pillars of modern FP&A: finance, data and systems
• Why clean data isn’t the goal, useful data is
• How to avoid common EPM implementation pitfalls
• Why finance leaders must become “story sellers,” not just storytellers
• How AI is reshaping skills and structure in the finance team

For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

Career growth isn’t always a straight line, and sometimes the biggest leaps come from taking a step sideways. 

Troy Anderson, Chief Financial Officer at Kelly, shares the defining moments, pivotal decisions, and leadership lessons from his 35-year career spanning industries from telecom to education to talent solutions. 

He reflects on leading major turnarounds and public company transformations, navigating mergers and acquisitions, and building finance teams that act as trusted business partners. Troy also discusses how to communicate through change, the importance of listening before leading, and how AI is reshaping the role of today’s CFO. 

Discussed in This Episode: 

• The career pivots that shaped Troy’s path to CFO 
• How to lead transformation with conviction and clear communication 
• The power of listening and empathy in leadership 
• Balancing strategy with detail in a modern finance role 
• Preparing finance teams for AI and the next era of transformation

For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.