#SITN Strength in the Numbers Show

Andrew Codd

The #SITN Show (www.sitnshow.com) is a popular accounting & finance podcast listened to in over 150+ countries around the world. Getting an accounting qualification or finance certification is one of the best things to do to make a difference in our society. It potentially gives us a position from which we can help businesses make better decisions for the good of their customers, suppliers, communities, colleagues and yes owners and other financiers too. We can help increase the opportunity for all. So #SITN was established to leverage the value of mentoring: 1. To elevate the influence, impact, value, and difference we make for our organisations; and 2. To have more fun, rewarding, and meaningful careers in accounting & finance. In this way we make it more accessible to everyone in our profession, regardless or geography, professional affiliations, status, gender, etc… The fundamental premise of #SITN is that despite for all the challenges our profession is facing into, the seemingly accelerating rate of change, the new digital technologies and business models, we still have the ability to share with each other practical advice & experiences on what works well and what doesn’t, so that we can all plot better paths forward. Every Thursday we release a professionally produced podcast with a 30- to 40-minute interview that has been recorded with a guest mentor relevant to the finance & accounting profession. These guest mentors share their real success stories and hard-won lessons which are not found in any textbooks or on LinkedIn profiles. Together with the interviewer they deconstruct their experiences into the key strengths, qualities and practical ‘baby’ steps that others can also follow. On Mondays there is the popular #SITN Monday Memo which is a 5-minute debrief on a topical issue or useful piece of practical advice in accounting & finance. The show is accessible via: iTunes; Stitcher; Spotify; YouTube; and Soundcloud, with detailed time-stamped show notes, key quotes, resources & ways to connect with guest mentors at www.sitnshow.com. read less

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#388: The Importance of Burningness for Finance Transformation with Michael Mills

#388: The Importance of Burningness for Finance Transformation with Michael Mills

“You have this burning sensation to change and it needs to build and build before you tip over and are ready to change.” An interesting thought from Michael Mills, this week’s guest mentor, on the key focus of our roles in Finance. We also discuss: - The importance of putting the customer at the heart of every decision - Tips to get up to ahead when starting on transformation programs - Why finance professionals sometimes have to play the “agony aunt” role - What is burningness and why is it important? Check out sitnshow.com/ for detailed time stamped show notes, transcripts, links to resources and more guest mentor episodes and Monday Memos. #financementor #sitn

Episodes

#388: The Importance of Burningness for Finance Transformation with Michael Mills

#388: The Importance of Burningness for Finance Transformation with Michael Mills

“You have this burning sensation to change and it needs to build and build before you tip over and are ready to change.” An interesting thought from Michael Mills, this week’s guest mentor, on the key focus of our roles in Finance. We also discuss: - The importance of putting the customer at the heart of every decision - Tips to get up to ahead when starting on transformation programs - Why finance professionals sometimes have to play the “agony aunt” role - What is burningness and why is it important? Check out sitnshow.com/ for detailed time stamped show notes, transcripts, links to resources and more guest mentor episodes and Monday Memos. #financementor #sitn

#387: MM: Is ESG a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

#387: MM: Is ESG a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

ESG has been growing in popularity in recent years, however it also introduces an entirely new set of incentives for finance professionals to have to consider as part of our organizations’ decision making processes. In this bite-sized episode we examine what ESG might mean for fellow finance professionals. #FinanceMentor #SITN

#386: Moving from Corporate Analyst to Start-up CFO with Aidana Zhakupbekova

#386: Moving from Corporate Analyst to Start-up CFO with Aidana Zhakupbekova

“It's an opportunity that you can't manufacture that online.” An interesting comment from Aidana Zhakupbekova, this week’s guest mentor, on the key focus of our roles in Finance. We also discuss: - Making the most out of roles you’re not enjoying particularly earlier in our careers - A surprising early decision she made as start-up CFO - What is a summer office and why you can’t manufacture the experience online? - The importance of asking the question of how can I help? Check out sitnshow.com/ for detailed time stamped show notes, transcripts, links to resources and more guest mentor episodes and Monday Memos. #financementor #sitn

#385: MM: Key Trends Q3 2022

#385: MM: Key Trends Q3 2022

As we approach the end of the summer in the Northern Hemisphere what key trends and patterns are we seeing emerging that might impact our outlooks as finance professionals for the remainder of the year? In this bite-sized episode we share what some CEOs are currently saying from a recent Fortune Magazine survey. #FinanceMentor #SITN

#384: How to become an award winning CFO with Leona Mondsee

#384: How to become an award winning CFO with Leona Mondsee

“When we share those skills with others, it's what really unlocks a lot of power within those” An interesting take from Leona Mondsee, this week’s guest mentor, on the key focus of our roles in Finance. We also discuss: - How to get better recognition for your efforts. - The importance of engaging and sharing your skills - What business partnering means to Leona. - Why CFOs need to be closer to growth. Check out sitnshow.com/ for detailed time stamped show notes, transcripts, links to resources and more guest mentor episodes and Monday Memos. #financementor #sitn

#383: MM: Overcoming the Challenges with Big Data

#383: MM: Overcoming the Challenges with Big Data

Most finance professionals know that leveraging big data can result in amazing benefits to their organization with regards to cost and time reductions, improving decision-making, and product and service development. However they also know there are many challenges with it too In this bite-sized episode we share what some of these challenges are and thoughts on how to overcome them. #FinanceMentor #SITN

#382: MM: Is Finance stuck at sea?

#382: MM: Is Finance stuck at sea?

Given all the progress in digital technologies, work practices, finance knowledge, appreciation of the importance of good mental wellbeing and physical health why do I hear from our audience that often times finance teams are not progressing & developing as fast as they should and so risk being made irrelevant. In this bite-sized episode we share with you why some Finance teams are stuck at sea and what can be done about it. #FinanceMentor #SITN

#381: MM: Why is it so hard for finance leaders to admit their mistakes

#381: MM: Why is it so hard for finance leaders to admit their mistakes

A modern mantra we hear often to today is to fail fast and fail often, to show up with some vulnerability to our mistakes, but when it comes to our finance leaders some of us are perhaps a bit slower when it comes to admitting our failures and mistakes. In this bite-sized episode we share with you why this is and some tips on what we can do about it. #FinanceMentor #SITN

#380: MM: The Two Curves To Finance Career Happiness

#380: MM: The Two Curves To Finance Career Happiness

When you started your career in Finance what were your expectations? Was it for a fast, upward, linear, successful careers in return for working hard? Or were your expectations for a different curve? Actually it turns out there or two general curves to Finance Career Happiness. In this bite-sized episode we share with you what these are and how you can surf them. #FinanceMentor #SITN

#379 MM Finance’s Role In Getting The Data Right

#379 MM Finance’s Role In Getting The Data Right

What’s actually in these numbers? Or Does that forecast include the challenge assumption we made? Where is it? Have you ever spent the first few minutes of a meeting debating what the numbers really represented, the assumptions, latest up to date version, and so … ending up with everyone more confused than when it started? In this bite-sized episode we share with you how this can happen from time to time as well as some ways finance can sort this out? #FinanceMentor #SITN

#378 MM The Power Of Kindness At Work In Finance

#378 MM The Power Of Kindness At Work In Finance

Since more of us started working from home in finance a lot of the advice to leaders and budget holders is about how can they sustain the productivity of their people & teams working remotely in a hybrid environment, which is sort of more sort of hard stuff, as opposed to some of the softer things actually maybe overlooking like the power & benefits of showing kindness. In this bite-sized episode we share with you one of the surprising benefits some researchers identified in a recent HBR article as well as some tips on how we can also leverage the power of kindness at work in Finance. #FinanceMentor #SITN

#377: MM: Why The Modern Finance Professionals Work is VITAL

#377: MM: Why The Modern Finance Professionals Work is VITAL

Good health, purpose, connection, love, learning, are vital to living our lives to the most we can. Organisations have similar vital requirements to generate the necessary cashflow to ensure it is a going concern, and even on a wider scale so does society too. In this bite-sized episode we share with you why the work of the modern finance professional is so vital. #FinanceMentor #SITN

#376: MM: The Power Of Powerless Communications

#376: MM: The Power Of Powerless Communications

Imagine feeling powerless in a situation and not knowing what to do next, we’ve probably all been there however Adam Grant, author of Give and Take and the Originals, had this interesting idea of the power of powerless communications. In this bite-sized episode we share with you the three key premises of his idea and when and when not to use them. #FinanceMentor #SITN

#375: MM: Back to the Future to Make Better Decisions

#375: MM: Back to the Future to Make Better Decisions

Whether it is having to make a call on a particular business case; set a budget for a business unit or even resolve whether to take that promotion in another organization finance professionals have to advise on and make a lot of decisions in a very uncertain and complex environment. (It probably only gets more pressurized the more-experienced you are) In this bite-sized episode we share with you some of the pointers from the Back to the Future movie franchise and the book “Thinking in Bets” by Annie Duke that make help you improve your chances of better decision outcomes. #FinanceMentor #SITN

#374: MM: The Expanding Mandate of the CFO

#374: MM: The Expanding Mandate of the CFO

Given finance professionals operate in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world a lot of organizations are currently doing fundamental reviews of their business models to understand how they can accelerate the pace of change even further in such an environment. In this bite-sized episode we share with you some of the pointers from McKinsey’s recent CFO survey and what it means for our finance teams and careers. #FinanceMentor #SITN

#373 MM Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order

#373 MM Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order

There’s a lot going on at the moment, between wars, pandemics, technological changes, climate factors, but what if we’ve already been here before, what if we could look to the past to guide us so we know how best to respond? In this bite-sized episode we share with you a brief review of the book, principles for dealing with the changing world order by Ray Dalio and what it means for our finance teams and careers. #FinanceMentor #SITN Link to charts and data: https://www.economicprinciples.org/DalioChangingWorldOrderCharts.pdf Links upcoming events: Why the Best Finance and Procurement Leaders Work Together: https://www.p2pnetwork.org/events/p2p-transformation-summit.html Is finance business partnering still the route to success in a digital world?: https://summit.generationcfo.com/talks/is-business-partnering-the-next-step-for-finance/ Crafting Value: How Data/Digital is Reshaping FP&A: https://dynamic.afponline.org/fpaseries/p/1

372 Becoming Part of the Business Solution with Gary Cox

372 Becoming Part of the Business Solution with Gary Cox

“Finance is a door to everything, it's a foundation to everything.” According to today’s guest mentor Gary Cox, who also helps us deconstruct on the #sitn podcast: • The three things that FP&A practitioners are talking about • We discuss the role of the CFO and the sea change that is happening with it so that it has grown • How incentives and risk profiles play a bit role in how finance professionals should think about supporting business decisions • Why data is the foundation of all the things we want to do; and • Why accounting & finance professionals inherent scepticism is both terrible and wonderful Check out https://sitnshow.com/ for detailed time stamped show notes, transcripts, links to resources and more guest mentor episodes and Monday Memos. #financementor #career

#371: MM: Achieving High Performance within Hybrid Teams

#371: MM: Achieving High Performance within Hybrid Teams

According to a recent Microsoft Trends Index hybrid work is here to stay, and even though talent is now everywhere and productivity is higher, there is more exhaustion so how can finance professionals ensure that teams they’re part of continue to be higher performing? In this bite-sized episode we share with you four areas to consider to build high performing teams in this hybrid world to ensure you do more of the right things more often. #FinanceMentor #SITN

#370: The Growing Elevation of FP&A in Business with Bryan Lapidus

#370: The Growing Elevation of FP&A in Business with Bryan Lapidus

“When the rate of change on the outside is greater than the rate of change on the inside, then the end is near, right? You're in trouble.” According to today’s guest mentor Bryan Lapidus, who also helps us deconstruct on the #sitn podcast: • The three things that FP&A practitioners are talking about • We discuss the role of the CFO and the sea change that is happening with it so that it has grown • How incentives and risk profiles play a bit role in how finance professionals should think about supporting business decisions • Why data is the foundation of all the things we want to do • Why accounting & finance professionals’ inherent scepticism is both terrible and wonderful Check out https://sitnshow.com/ for detailed time stamped show notes, transcripts, links to resources and more guest mentor episodes and Monday Memos. #financementor #FP&A

#369 MM What Does the Great Resignation Mean For Finance Leaders & Professionals

#369 MM What Does the Great Resignation Mean For Finance Leaders & Professionals

Across the world, hundreds of thousands of finance professionals are leaving their jobs, their organizations and in some cases the profession entirely with 60% of HR leaders significantly concerned about employee turnover, causing urgent problems for finance leaders who rely on talent to achieve critical business outcomes, a problem also called the Great Resignation In this bite-sized episode we share with you how to categorize this attrition crisis for finance leaders & professionals as well as two key questions you can ask to ensure you do more of the right things more often. #FinanceMentor #SITN Link to short Gartner video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvC8UfRA13o