Episodes

Bonus episode # 68: Are you ready to end the year on a high note and kick off the next one with renewed vigor and clarity? Join me in this bonus episode of The Finance Leader Podcast as we delve into key activities to focus on as the year draws to a close: from prepping for year-end close and getting the 2024 budget approved, to planning for your Continuing Professional Education (CPE) and setting goals for the upcoming year. But it's not all work, work, work. A crucial part of maintaining a he...

Bonus episode # 67: Imagine supercharging your team's performance and productivity, while simultaneously improving their daily work experience. This episode promises to hand you the keys to that transformation. In the episode, I will discuss five key actions that revolve around enhancing your communication skills, scheduling routine 1:1 meetings, eliminating roadblocks, developing Individual Development Plans, and sculpting unique pathways for success. Please connect with me on: 1. Instagr...

Bonus episode # 66: We'll be revisiting one of our most impactful episodes from Season 13 where we unpack the significance of these professional credentials and guide you on where to lay your focus. The finance and accounting landscape is forever shifting and evolving - so how do you stay ahead of the curve? Professional credentials are more than badges of technical prowess; they serve as a testament to your unwavering dedication to learning, growth, and adaptability. This is your chanc...

Bonus episode # 65: Facing an unpredictable change at work can be daunting, can't it? Especially when it's a major shift like mass layoffs, new leadership, or a different company strategy. As finance and accounting professionals, we are not immune to these whirlwinds of change. So, how do we adapt? Fear not, for this bonus episode of the Finance Leader Podcast is here to guide you, offering a process to make wise and calculated decisions when faced with significant changes. Adapting to chan...

Episode # 112: What if you, as a finance professional, had the power to shape the future of your organization and influence more positive outcomes? Imagine being the driving force that transforms your team into better versions of themselves! We're going to explore these possibilities in today's episode. With our unique perspective in assessing and measuring key data, we discuss how our daily tasks are not just about crunching numbers but are pivotal in making strategic decisions. Our role is to ...

Bonus episode # 64: Ever puzzled over how your career skills need to evolve as you climb the ladder in your financial and accounting career? Join us as we delve into the transformation from mastering technical skills to becoming an effective communicator, strategist, and organizational leader. Also, as the year-end approaches, it's time to review your 2023 accomplishments and begin strategizing for 2024. Please connect with me on: 1. Instagram: stephen.mclain 2. Twitter: smclainiii 3. Facebook...

Have you ever stopped to consider the gravity of your role as a finance or accounting professional? We're the guardians of our organizations' critical resources, the moral compass guiding our teams, and the defenders of ethical conduct. In this thought-provoking episode of the Finance Leader Podcast, we explore the significance of character and integrity in our field. We delve into the crucial expectations of high ethics, the importance of trustworthiness, and the vital systems of internal contr...

We kick off by shedding light on how cultivating leadership qualities can propel your career ahead while catalyzing remarkable transformations in your team and the broader organization. We delve deep into the strategy of excellence, putting a spotlight on the power of clear communication, high expectations, and accountability. We also underscore the significance of trust, character, integrity, and equality in creating an environment that breeds excellence. Episode outline: What does achieving e...

Looking to level up from a finance professional to a Treasury Manager? We lay out the key tasks of a Treasury Manager, from cash management and forecasting to compliance, and explore the impact of banking relationships on business operations. Tune in as we dissect the importance of cash position and the growth opportunities within this role. Episode outline: Key responsibilities and tasks of the Treasury function, What this role means for the organization, and How this role can be an opportun...

Ever made a professional mistake that kept you up at night? Trust me, we've all been there. Each day brings new challenges and mindset battles, and sometimes, we falter. But, what defines us isn't the falter, but how we recover from it. Join me as I take you through the reality of professional mistakes in this bonus episode. Get ready to transform a bad situation into a positive one. I'll be sharing some effective steps to address and overcome professional mistakes, emphasizing on the import...

Ever feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of numbers and metrics in finance? Imagine how your audience feels! Join me as I briefly explain the art of providing high-value, simple yet powerful financial analysis. Guaranteeing clarity, I will guide you to focus on the fundamentals, stripping back unnecessary complexity and enhancing the impact of your communication. We all know how counterproductive overloading information can be. It's high time we learned to deliver top-notch analysis in fewer w...

Are you ready to skyrocket your finance and accounting career? We've got the tips and insights you need to gain a competitive edge in the workplace. This bonus episode is packed with valuable advice on adopting a growth mindset, dressing to impress, and participating in high visibility projects. You'll also learn the importance of having a written plan, taking risks, developing soft skills, earning professional credentials, and being part of the community at work. Please connect with me on: ...

Ready to level up your goal-setting game and achieve more than ever before? Discover the power of the SMART Goal-Setting Technique in our latest episode, where we break down how to set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound goals that will lead to greater success. But why stop there? In the second half of this episode, we dive into strategies for personal and professional improvement, guiding you through mindset shifts, leadership development, and goal clarification. We shar...

As we approach the halfway mark of the year, it's time to take stock of our progress and challenges in becoming better finance leaders. Join me in this bonus episode of the Finance Leader Podcast, where we'll discuss goal achievement, prioritization, and making the best decisions to maximize our time, energy, and resources. Send me an email about your progress and challenges, and let's work together to make 2023 a year of incredible growth and accomplishment for all of us in the finance commu...

Episode 108: Do you ever find yourself obsessing over your work, doubting your competency, or struggling to stay productive? What if you could harness your obsessive-compulsive tendencies to supercharge your career in finance and accounting? In this eye-opening episode, we explore the traits of the obsessive-compulsive accounting and finance professional and discuss how sometimes, our OCD can be our superpower! Listen in as we share our experiences with obsessing over perfection, worrying about ...

Episode #107: Team engagement is such an important daily exercise that it can affect how well your team members succeed or not. Team members who are positively engaged are more productive, more efficient, and more motivated to do a great job. And team member engagement begins with us as leaders. We must be leaders of great character and integrity. Positive team member engagement leads to growth and high-quality output. Invest in yourself to be a better leader so you can further invest in your te...

What drives you to achieve excellence? To achieve your BEST every day? Learning is a big part of our journey in achieving excellence, so what helps you to stay motivated to learn and grow? I believe we must stay curious and be curious to continue to develop and improve each day. Our learning approach helps to expand our capacity AND our potential. Stay and be curious in our profession so you learn new skills and new ways to lead your team and organization to more positive outcomes. Train yoursel...

The predictions are out for 2023 for Finance and Accounting, and it looks interesting. Our fields continue to be in high demand. What are the types of roles that are in demand right now, and what type of work are people looking for? And what are the technology and professional trends for the upcoming year? We continue to face change and turbulence in the economy so it’s imperative that we stay in the know about what is happening. This is our profession. And I want you to embrace moving between F...

Strategy is a decision around what market you will pursue and with what product and service mix and more importantly - how you will employ your resources to serve that market properly, so your company becomes profitable. Companies don’t have unlimited resources, so they must make very deliberate, data-driven, and leader-guided decisions to make those difficult choices. This is where you, a finance leader, comes in. Please connect with me on: 1. Instagram: stephen.mclain 2. Twitter: smclainiii ...

What can you do better to make a positive difference? Team engagement is a necessity. If your team is quiet, it doesn’t mean things are necessary going well. You have to engage with them and continually be assessing where you can affect positive change and ensure the work continues to a high level. So, how should you engage with your team to make them better, to create a better work environment, and to foster a greater work experience? Tools for better team engagement: 1) Resourcing, 2) Trainin...

Be careful not to take back the "task monkey" who is wanting and waiting to jump on someone else. You may even have a team member who does this often to you so be watching and careful so you stop taking on their tasks. Be a leader and a coach and watch your own discretionary time. Source: Harvard Business Review (1999), "Management Time: Who's Got The Monkey" Please connect with me on: 1. Instagram: stephen.mclain 2. Twitter: smclainiii 3. Facebook: stephenmclainconsultant 4. LinkedIn: st...

What does it mean to be a leader? How do you know if you are leading correctly? Leadership is hard sometimes. It takes practice and sometimes failure to get it right. With leadership, always begin with yourself. Are you setting the right example for others to follow? Will others willingly follow you, especially in a crisis or a tough situation? When something goes wrong, what are your first actions? Please connect with me on: 1. Instagram: stephen.mclain 2. Twitter: smclainiii 3. Facebook: ste...

This week, I am sharing Episode 88, Earning a Promotion to Manager. 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. These qualities really apply to every promotion no matter the level of responsibility. Please connect with me on: 1. Instagram: stephe...

Episode 104: Our professional credentials show our commitment level in becoming an expert in the finance and accounting fields. These are badges of knowledge and expertise that show our level of technical knowledge, strategy, and in leadership. Earning professional credentials demonstrates our dedication to learning and growing so that we can provide the best level of service and advice in often tough situations. The Finance and accounting fields are constantly evolving as business and the econo...