In our recent webinar co-hosted with the CFO Leadership Council, we explored the secrets to building a lean, mean, finance machine, along with some tips to take efficiency in your team to the next level. The discussion, moderated by Megan Weis, VP and GM of Account Services at Personiv, featured insights from Cory Anderson, Controller at Cloudflare, and Genevieve Hancock, CFO at Germfree. The panel explored the challenges and opportunities facing finance leaders today, from talent shortages to the rise of AI, and offered practical advice on how to build a more efficient and resilient finance function.
Key Takeaways
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A resilient and efficient finance team is built on a foundation of strong leadership and a positive culture.
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While technology is a powerful enabler of efficiency, it’s not a silver bullet. A strategic approach to technology adoption is crucial for success.
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The most successful finance teams are those that are constantly learning, adapting, and innovating to meet the challenges of a changing business landscape.
The Human Element: How Leadership and Culture Drive Team Efficiency
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the critical role that leadership and culture play in driving team performance. As Cory Anderson put it, “It starts at the top. The tone you set as a leader really dictates how the whole team is going to operate.” Both panelists emphasized the importance of transparency, open communication, and creating a safe space for team members to make mistakes and learn from them. Genevieve Hancock shared her philosophy on the matter, saying, “I always tell my team, we're not brain surgeons. It's okay to make a mistake as long as we learn from it and put controls in place to make sure it doesn't happen again.”
The Tech Advantage: Boosting Finance Efficiency in Your Team with Automation & AI
The conversation also delved into the transformative power of technology in the finance function. The panelists agreed that automation and AI are no longer just buzzwords, but essential tools for driving efficiency and freeing up team members to focus on more strategic, value-added work. Cory shared a compelling example of how his team at Cloudflare leveraged Alteryx to automate a previously manual, two-day process, reducing it to just two minutes. "It was a huge win for us," he said. "It not only saved us a ton of time, but it also allowed our team to focus on the things that really matter."
Webinar: Building a Future-Ready Finance Team
So, what does it take to build a lean, mean, finance machine? According to our panelists, it’s a combination of strong leadership, a positive and supportive culture, and a strategic approach to technology adoption. It’s about empowering your team to be agile, adaptable, and always looking for ways to improve. As Genevieve put it, “You have to be willing to change and adapt. If you’re not, you’re going to get left behind.”
You can watch the full webinar here.
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