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The Finance Leader Podcast
The Finance Leader Podcast
Organizations have a greater chance of success when Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), Accounting, Operations, and the Executive Senior Leadership are more strategically aligned. Developing Finance Leaders capable of growing partnerships across the organization and leading positive change are the goals for this podcast. The host is Stephen McLain, a U.S. Army-Retired Finance Officer. After retirement, Stephen transitioned to working as a Business Consultant in Corporate FP&A and Accounting. Topics will be dedicated to finance leadership development, "The CFO Mindset", improving processes like month-end close, and strengthening strategic alignment. Please listen to the trailer so you can check it out. Thank you!
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The Finance Leader Podcast

The Finance Leader Podcast

Organizations have a greater chance of success when Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), Accounting, Operations, and the Executive Senior Leadership are more strategically aligned. Developing Finance Leaders capable of growing partnerships across the organization and leading positive change are the goals for this podcast.

The host is Stephen McLain, a U.S. Army-Retired Finance Officer. After retirement, Stephen transitioned to working as a Business Consultant in Corporate FP&A and Accounting.

Topics will be dedicated to finance leadership development, "The CFO Mindset", improving processes like month-end close, and strengthening strategic alignment.

Please listen to the trailer so you can check it out. Thank you!

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Feb. 2, 2026

When FP&A Translates Drivers, Strategy Finally Moves

Send us a text Episode # 152: We show how finance becomes a real partner to operations by translating numbers into drivers, embedding FP&A in decisions before they are made, and aligning metrics and incentives to strategy. The result is faster execution, fewer surprises, and teams that own outcomes. • translating financials into operational drivers • replacing data dumps with clear operational stories • partnering early to frame trade‑offs and scenarios • aligning metrics, goals, and…

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Jan. 12, 2026

How Clear Priorities, Trust, And Timely Decisions Transform Performance

Send us a text Episode # 151: Start the year with leadership that actually moves the needle. We walk through the strategic actions that make teams faster, clearer, and more resilient—without adding noise. We begin with the culture you model when pressure hits, because people copy what you do, not w…
Nov. 12, 2025

Finance Leadership, Beyond The Numbers

Send us a text 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 se…
Nov. 4, 2025

Month-End Close Procedures Improvement by Using the Army's After-Action Review Process

Send us a text 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…
Oct. 27, 2025

Aligning Finance Teams For Real Impact

Send us a text Episode #148: Comfort feels safe, but it quietly taxes our careers and our teams. We take on complacency head-on and show how alignment, clear standards, and better conversations can turn routine finance work into strategic results. From setting the pace as a leader to running meetin…
Oct. 13, 2025

From Reporting to Relevance: Building Capacity through Alignment, Automation, and Development

Send us a text Episode #147: Too many finance teams are stuck formatting data while the decisions fly by. We tackle a smarter way to work: build capacity by aligning effort to strategy, automating the grind, and developing the skills that turn reports into results. Stephen walks us through a practi…

Reviews

Educational

"This podcast gives great value for up-and-coming finance leaders. Highly recommend for those interested in that field."

Yeebin_8 | July 9, 2020

Stellardoor

"Great content"

stellardoor_ | Dec. 1, 2020

Leadership development for finance pros!

"This podcast is an incredible resource for finance and accounting executives who want to expand to the next level. His strategies and advice are practical and supportive at the same time."

livandluna | June 18, 2024

Great content!

"Love smart goals! He breaks it down in such simple and actionable ways."

forsario | June 13, 2024