Strength In The Numbers Show

"Everyone is in the state of flux and confusion, so we are the ones that will guide them in forecasting and scenario planning by being calm and confident professional,” just one of the many reasons why our guest mentor Andi Lonnen believes we’re now in the Age of the Accountant. We also deconstruct on today’s episode: - Why now is the Age of the Accountant - Her 9Cs framework to help figure out what is required to be a modern Finance Professional - Why it’s important to enjoy the journey If you enjoyed this episode, check out our time-stamped show notes, key quotes, resources and ways to connect with our guest mentor and more at sitnshow.com/podcast/228. #FinancialMentor #SITN #BusinessPartnering

I made a huge mistake when I set out to become an accountant & finance professional, it limited my impact, made me frustrated and made me question if it was the right career for me. I had confused the difference between knowledge and wisdom. In this bite-sized episode I outline this difference and some of the actions you can take so both have a bigger impact on your career. #FinancialMentor #SITN #Mentors

"We can only be successful as our team can be successful” as suggested by our guest mentor Katharine Halpin, and together on todays’ episode we also deconstruct: • Staying passionate to the finance and accounting profession by having personal core values. • For those aspiring for the CFO position, then start with the basics and harness those skills. • 9 habits to become more strategic and successful in your finance & accounting career • Investing time in building relationship as simple as sending greeting cards. If you enjoyed this episode, check out our time-stamped show notes, key quotes, resources and ways to connect with our guest mentor and more at sitnshow.com/podcast/226. #FinancialMentor #SITN #Habits

What are some ways finance professionals can manage their digital presence? During the week I did an interview for a well-known accounting & finance magazine where I was asked some questions about how I managed by digital presence. In this bite-sized episode I outline some of the actions I take on a regular basis. #FinancialMentor #SITN #ValueCreation #Digital Presence

"In changing the culture of organization have a revolutionary mindset but take evolutionary approach" A key point from our guest mentor Rikard Olsson and on today's episode we deconstruct: - The reason why he took Management Accounting over Auditing; - Development in Finance and Accounting roles the last 15 years; - 3 things you must know before you engage in rolling forecast; and - Why now is the tipping point for Beyond Budgeting practices If you enjoyed this episode, check out our time-stamped show notes, key quotes, resources and ways to connect with our guest mentor and more at sitnshow.com/podcast/224. #FinancialMentor #SITN #Value #BeyondBudgeting

Why is it important for Finance to be a better partner to the HR Department and HR professionals? Finance and HR departments are often considered to be back office functions supporting others like Sales & Operations who are out there on the front lines delivering for customers. Just look at the value chain diagram if you don’t believe me. Intuitively then both HR and Finance are there with a common purpose, to support the business, but are we really doing our best to support each other achieve the best results? In this bite-sized episode I outline some suggested ideas on why we need to support each other better. #FinancialMentor #SITN #ValueCreation #AccountingAndAccountants #HR

"One of the problems with traditional budgeting is that that we lock down our budgets once a year, so it’s a bit like tying the rudder of a boat to the deck, it removes your ability to steer.” And on today’s episode our guest mentor Steve Morlidge goes on to help us deconstruct how we can do this better by examining: - The meaning of dynamic resource allocation and its importance - Using graphical presentation instead of data tables figure to deliver the message - How the finance professional must have the idea on the concept of noise and those we can safely ignore as finance professionals by using the 10:4 rule. - How agile companies have a mechanism to measure the risk attached to the business and then the process to learn from it. If you enjoyed this episode, check out our time-stamped show notes, key quotes, resources and ways to connect with our guest mentor and more at sitnshow.com/podcast/222. #FinancialMentor #SITN #Value #ResourceAllocation

How Finance can be a better partner to the IT Department and IT professionals? Finance and IT departments are often considered to be back office functions supporting others like Sales & Operations who are out there on the front lines delivering for customers. Just look at the value chain diagram if you don’t believe me. Intuitively then both IT and Finance are there with a common purpose, to support the business, but are we really doing our best to support each other achieve the best results? In this bite-sized episode I outline some suggested ideas on how we can support each other better. #FinancialMentor #SITN #ValueCreation #AccountingAndAccountants #IT

"The finance professional can influence the way people in the organization think without actually telling them to change the way they think” and on today’s episode our guest mentor Steve Morlidge goes on to help us deconstruct how we can do this better by examining: - The pitfalls of traditional budgeting practices and how we can develop a better toolkit - Forecasting with zero bias to make better decisions in steering the business; and - Practical steps to filter data and make sense to it by providing a clearer picture to the business. If you enjoyed this episode, check out our time-stamped show notes, key quotes, resources and ways to connect with our guest mentor and more at sitnshow.com/podcast/220. #FinancialMentor #SITN #Value #Forecasting

What’s the best qualification, certification or training for finance & accounting professionals? I recently just paid my chartered accounting certification for another year, but how relevant is it today? Only last week I was advising a team leader to pursue an MBA in Finance as opposed to an accounting qualification. Was this the right thing to do? In this bite-sized episode I outline some thoughts behind why I recommended this course of action. #FinancialMentor #SITN #ValueCreation #AccountingAndAccountants #Training

Have you ever heard of the 12 Kern rules of Christmas for Accounting & Finance? Well listen in to find out and see which one resonates most with you as today’s guest mentor & I deconstruct in detail the meaning behind them in this Part 2 as we cover some key points such as: - Why Problems do not work 9-5 Monday to Friday. - On how using the Pre-mortem strategy by will help you deliver more value to the business. - Do not show people how smart you are but show them how helpful you are for you to be understood and help the organization progress. If you enjoyed this episode, check out our time-stamped show notes, key quotes, resources and ways to connect with our guest mentor and more at sitnshow.com/podcast/218. #FinancialMentor #SITN #Value #Potential #Priorities

What book would you recommend finance professionals read in the year ahead? We’ve had another year of great year of book recommendations from the guest mentors we’ve had on #SITN. So where does an aspiring finance professionals begin their search for knowledge for the year ahead? In this bite-sized episode I outline the 5 books I consider the most useful for the year ahead. #FinancialMentor #SITN #ValueCreation #AccountingAndAccountants

Have you ever heard of the 12 Kern rules of Christmas for Accounting & Finance? Well listen in to find out and see which one resonates most with you as today’s guest mentor & I deconstruct in detail the meaning behind them in this Part 1 as we cover some key points such as: Key Points From the Episode: - Changes to Finance and Accounting priorities overtime - Maximize the positive and minimize the negative - Determining what’s essential to your company and align those to move finance and accounting forward - Do not look too far because you cannot see what’s close. If you enjoyed this episode, check out our time-stamped show notes, key quotes, resources and ways to connect with our guest mentor and more at sitnshow.com/podcast/216. #FinancialMentor #SITN #ValueCreation

Have you ever been in a meeting or at a presentation with non-native English speakers and heard something that did not make any sense to those in the room? Most people consider English to be the universal language of business, however as modern communications technologies connect more and more native and non-native English speakers together in meetings, webinars, forums, etc…, some messages as getting lost between those taking part, even though they’re meant to be using the same language English. And usually it’s the native English speakers who are causing the most confusion. In this bite-sized episode I summarise some steps native English speakers in Finance can take to improve their understandability with their non-native English speaking colleagues. #sitn #finance #communication #modernfinance

"There will always be pressure for change. We have to accept it and live with it” and today’s guest mentor Eleanor Hampson shows us ways we can deal with this by helping us deconstruct on today’s episode: - Working at the British Council as a hybrid type of organization - Creating a more balanced transformation program in the organization - Benefits of using HERO (Hope, Efficacy, Resilience and Optimism) program at the workplace through: o Increase employee awareness through trainings o Strength finder modules o Set-up mentoring groups especially the management teams being role models o Doing check-in programs - Systems thinking vs. single point of dependency (If your irreplaceable then you are not promotable) If you enjoyed this episode, check out our time-stamped show notes, key quotes, resources and ways to connect with our guest mentor and more at sitnshow.com/podcast/214. #FinancialMentor #SITN #Mentalwellness #Psychology #Employeecheckinprograms

Do you think the modern day finance professional needs to be concerned with Marketing? By Marketing I mean, or themselves, some might call it a personal brand? Others might call it an ability to influence or make a valued impact. In this bite sized episode I summarise some ideas on why an awareness of the importance of Marketing is essentially and some things you can do about it. #sitn #finance #marketing #modernfinance

“For us to grow faster, we need to do something different” a challenge presented to us by our guest mentor Jesper Hybholt Sorensen, and on today's episode we also deconstruct together: - 3 things to move from being scorekeeper to strategic partner; - The difference between insight and foresight and their value to the business; and - The 4 Pillars Approach based on the book Implementing an Analytics Culture for Data Driven Decisions. If you enjoyed this episode, check out our time-stamped show notes, key quotes, resources and ways to connect with our guest mentor and more at sitnshow.com/podcast/212. #FinancialMentor #SITN #businesspartnering #analytics #modernfinance

How do you give yourself an energy boost when you need it? Finance & Accounting can sometimes be like different seasons, whether having to submit returns in practice or in the corporate world with the budgetary cycles or quarterly sales hockey sticks. So are our energy can easily get sapped so what are some natural ways of boosting it when we need to. In this bite sized episode I summarise three that I use to help boost my energy levels when they are low. #sitn #finance #energy #modernfinance

“Staying relevant in the future of finance and accounting by moving further up the value chain.” This will be the future the profession according to our guest mentor Andrew Parris, who also helps us deconstruct on today's episode how to: - Deliver outcomes on time and focusing on being business partner to the business. - Doing external and internal benchmarking will help the organization be effective and efficient. - How to stay relevant in the future of Finance and Accounting; - being curious and to prepare to inquire, discuss and challenge - do 3-3’s whenever you go out- meet 3 new people, 3 new conversation and hear 3 new ideas If you enjoyed this episode, check out our time-stamped show notes, key quotes, resources and ways to connect with our guest mentor and more at sitnshow.com/podcast/210. #FinancialMentor #SITN #ValueCreation #modernfinance

Do You Know the Important Difference Between Insight and Foresight? I read a book this week called Implementing an Analytics Culture for Data Driven Decisions where it was the first time I saw the difference between insight and foresight spelled out. I shall get one of the authors on a future podcast however in this bite sized episode I summarise what this difference is and how it might help you. #sitn #finance #foresight #modernfinance