FEI Podcast

Consecutive market shocks of a global pandemic, rising inflation, and a threatened recession continue to chip away at market confidence. Despite these traumas, the US financial services industry has never been more stable.Special Guests: Giannine Cohoon and Tonya Hummers.

Rapid changes in the US economy are forcing consumer credit providers to shore up their balance sheets and operations for some rough waters. Amex’s David Fabricant sits down with FEI to detail how one of the largest credit provider is bracing for any change.Special Guest: David Fabricant.

There is a great deal of uncertainty rolling through the business community and markets, and strategies, customers and products that seemed a sure thing six months ago are being called into question. Financial executives with critical financial planning and analysis, or FP&A skills, will be needed more than ever to help management prepare for all economic possibilities.Special Guest: James Hsieh.

Payments are the lifeline of any business, as the main artery for cashflow and financial sustainability. Kristy Carstensen lead’s the finance efforts of Minneapolis-based US Bank’s payment services and will offer her perspective on how payments practices will evolve over the next decade.Special Guest: Kristy Carstensen.

Consecutive market shocks of a global pandemic, rising inflation, and a threatened recession continue to chip away at market confidence. Despite these traumas, the US financial services industry has never been more stable. The Financial Education & Research Foundation (FERF), in cooperation with Robert Half | Protiviti, will hold live, in-depth Q&A discussions with three leaders that will offer insight on how American banks are navigating these unprecedented and challenging times, and what their customers can expect as financial services reacts to an increasingly volatile world. Whether it is paying for a parking spot with your phone or transferring cash across the globe, all aspects of banking and finance are being digitized. Citi’s Johnbull Okpra will discuss how these changes are impacting the industry from the unique position as one of globes largest banking institutions.Special Guest: Johnbull Okpara.

A key responsibility for anyone in the finance function is closing the company books on a monthly, quarterly and yearly basis. And although to a layperson that may seem like a straightforward process, anyone with an accounting or finance background knows it’s anything but. Filled with multiple stakeholders and dependencies, the financial close can be a complicated process for even a small organization. But that complexity can increase algorithmically with the size of the organization. In this sponsored episode of the Financial Executive Podcast I speak with Nancy Wu, head of sales and support at SkyStem. SkyStem provides month-end close automation for enterprise-level accounting teams. Nancy speaks about the increased use of automation in the financial close and how recent events, like the move to remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic, may have accelerated an already rapidly changing financial close process. For more information on SkyStem please visit www.skystem.com.Special Guest: Nancy Wu.

Civil rights audits, also known as racial equity audits, have become a new way for organizations to review their internal and external operations for systemic racism and discrinination. Although they do not necessarily involve the finance function, they do have a significant impact on company disclosures and strategy. In this episode of the podcast we speak with Valecia McDowell and Elena Mitchell, both of the law firm of Moore & Van Allen, about the increasingly important role of civil rights audits and how they fit into an organization's push for transparency.Special Guests: Elena Mitchell and Valecia McDowell.

Shareholders have filed more ESG resolutions in 2022 than in all previous years, according to Morngingstar.. In this podcast we speak with Andrew Behar, CEO of the non-profit As You Sow, a shareholder advocacy non-profit that focuses on corporate social responsibility. We discuss the current proxy season and how accounting, auditing and financial disclosure practices fit into their approach to engaging with public companies.Special Guest: Andrew Behar.

Crypto and blockchain are finding quick adoption in the corporate world, and that means financial executives are looking for ways to overlay some of the time tested assurance practices. Given the emphasis on the technology underpinning crypto it should be no surprise that service organization control reports, often referred to as SOC reports, are being embraced by companies looking to develop an operational risk structure around blockchain services. Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is not – and is not intended to be – audit, tax, accounting, advisory, risk, performance, consulting, business, financial, investment, legal, or other professional advice. The information is general in nature, based on existing authorities, and is subject to change. The information is not a substitute for professional advice or services, and you should consult a qualified professional adviser before taking any action based on the information. Crowe is not responsible for any loss incurred by any person who relies on the information discussed in this document.Special Guest: Rich Perilloux.

This podcast is the first in a series of discussions we are conducting for our FEI Engage subscribers, with the goal of offering access to senior auditing and accounting professionals and academics to get their thoughts on the biggest issues facing students and early career professionals entering the industry. In this inaugural Engage 101 podcast, we look at China. Over the past 20 years the rise of China in the global economic order has astounded economists. That has translated into an influx of Chinese companies looking to tap the U.S. capital markets. As a result, there has been a debate between global regulators about the audit standards that China-based companies should be held to when they access the US equity markets. We speak with Professor Paul Gillis of Peking University in China. Professor Gillis started out at Price Waterhouse and led their entrance into China before retiring in 2004 and entering academics.Special Guest: Paul Gillis.

The past two years of pandemic-induced uncertainty have opened the door for risks that financial executives have not had to manage at scale in decades: rapidly rising inflation and the knock-on effect of currency volatility. Join the Financial Education and Research Foundation (FERF) for the first ForwardThinking session of the New Year to learn about how these new risks should be reported, measured and hedged when possible. It has been generations since these risks have been seen at any scale and new strategies may be needed to meet old challenges.Special Guests: Amol Dhargalkar and Elizabeth Gordon.

For finance leaders in the media, news and entertainment industries, digital transformation has altered traditional business models. Disruptions in politics, public policy, and consumer habits along with ever-changing digital platforms, have forced many to pivot. Media financial executives are tasked with trying to survive in an industry beset with risks, and also making their organizations financially viable for years to come.Special Guests: Paul McDonald and Paul Sachs.

Over the past several months there has been no shortage of discussion regarding global trade and the knock on-effects of the pandemic. But while debates over supply chain and cargo disruptions are at the top of everyone’s minds when it comes to physical trade, there is an even more important discussion building about the future of the global trade in services. In this episode of the Financial Executive Podcast we speak with Nawaz Ali, head of market insights at Western Union Business Solutions, regarding Western Union’s new research report -- The Global Services Trade Revolution -- which looks at how the trade of services and digital products is going through its own upheaval and revolution.Special Guest: Nawaz Ali.

The new year may start with a bang for lenders, but not in a good way. On the heels of the federal eviction moratorium expiration for most states that takes place in January, lenders may see a rise in commercial foreclosures—both on properties that had been in default before COVID-19 took hold and properties that were vacated over 2021. In this episode the podcast we speak with Brendan Arnott, Senior Vice President at Chubb insurance about what risks lenders and other financial institutions need to keep in mind when taking ownership of a growing vacant property portfolio. Thanks to SAP for sponsoring this episode. To learn more about SAP use the link below https://www.sap.com/products/erp-financial-management.htmlSpecial Guest: Brendan Arnott.

At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, government-mandated shutdowns placed live, cultural activity companies in jeopardy. Dance crews and entertainment studios known for being creative in their mediums turned to financial teams for their creative, sustainable solutions. Brian Parisi, Chief Financial Officer at Break the Floor, the nation’s prominent live entertainment company will share how live entertainment companies landed during the pandemic, and where they go from here. Special Guest: Brian Parisi.

Government mandated stay-at-home orders significantly contributed to the growth of the streaming culture. The quarantine mandates also resulted in a mass shutdown of content productions. For media and entertainment companies that rely on production revenues, the impact was grave. Join us as we speak with Viacom EVP, Controller and CAO Katherine Gill-Charest about their transfer of non-core assets to support the growth of streaming, and how they deal with production halts.Special Guest: Katherine Gill-Charest.

Patricio is an industry veteran with 25 years of public company finance experience. He would be able to provide insight on a Latin American company successfully going public in the U.S. and also the company’s record third quarter 2021 financial results. In this episode of the podcast we speak about how he was able to navigate through a SPAC transition and keeping his team focused in the middle of a pandemic. Thanks to episode sponsor SAP. To learn more about SAP's work with financial executives click on the link below. www.SAP.com/financeSpecial Guest: Patricio Vargas.

Chris Mitchell has been with Crowe for six years, serving as a consulting principal within the technology, media, and telecommunications services group prior to this appointment at the firm’s first Chief Diversity Officer. As CDO, Mitchell is responsible for driving a programmatic agenda to support a culture of inclusion in line with the firm’s vision and strategy. In this conversation, we talk with Chris about his experiences moving up in the accounting/audit/consulting industry and his hopes for making sure diversity is represented in its ranks. **_The information in this podcast is not – and is not intended to be – audit, tax, accounting, advisory, risk, performance, consulting, business, financial, investment, legal, or other professional advice. The information is general in nature, based on existing authorities, and is subject to change. The information is not a substitute for professional advice or services, and you should consult a qualified professional adviser before taking any action based on the information. Crowe is not responsible for any loss incurred by any person who relies on the information discussed in this document. _Special Guest: Chris Mitchell .

Real inflation-- where prices jump and spending is pummeled -- and is not something that businesses in the United States have had to deal with in decades. In this episode we speak with Dr. Elizabeth Gordon, Professor and Chair of the Department of Accounting at the Fox School of Business at Temple University in Philadelphia about how inflation will need to change financial disclosures. Become a member of FEI.Special Guest: Elizabeth Gordon.

When it comes to public company disclosures, the statement of cash flows does not receive a great amount of attention. Seemingly a straightforward accounting of a company’s cash position, many preparers and investors spend more time debating the makeup of the balance sheet or income statement. But for Counterpoint Global’s Michael Mauboussin, anyone that treats the cash flow statement as an “afterthought” is making a mistake. In his new research piece titled “Categorizing for Clarity”, he argues that the cash flow statement needs to be completely overhauled to keep pace with the ways that companies absorb and pay out their cash positions. In this episode we speak to Mr. Mauboubissin about his proposals (which can be found in the episode’s show notes) and the issues that a confused cash flow statement brings up for both prepares and investors. Categorizing for Clarity Join FEISpecial Guest: Michael J. Mauboussin.

CECL continues to remain at the top of mind for Financial Executives in the banking industry and in this episode of the podcast we speak to two professionals from the American Bankers Association that are at the forefront of those adoption efforts: Michael L. Gullette, Senior Vice President of Tax & Accounting and Joshua Stein, Vice President, Accounting and Financial Management Special Guests: Joshua Stein and Michael L. Gullette.

Like many news and publishing houses, Guardian News & Media faced unsustainable annual losses as a result of the pandemic. Join the conversation with Regina Buckley, Chief Operating Officer, President and Former Chief Financial Officer, to learn about how amongst many challenges faced by the publishing industry (primarily digitization), she pivoted and adapted to keep their business models afloat.Special Guest: Regina Buckley.

Financial executives in the US are waiting for a new set of rules focused on sustainability reporting that’s expected to come from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission before the end of the year. That could mean a great deal of resources and time for the preparer community to adapt to any new standards. But sustainability reporting doesn’t necessarily need to be laden with new rules and a lot can be accomplished within the existing frameworks. That’s the argument of David Pitt Watson, one of the leaders of the Climate Accounting Project: an informal group of finance and investment executives attempting to advance the ESG accounting and reporting dialogue out of the UK. In this episode of the podcast we speak with Mr. Pitt Watson about his hopes for ESG reporting in the US, the usefulness of existing rules and the challenges of accounting and reporting carbon emissions. Learn more about becoming an FEI member.Special Guest: David Pitt-Watson.

Special Guest: Christopher Karachale.

Financial executives have been at the center of fighting financial and accounting fraud, adapting as both the players and the schemes have changed with circumstances. But the COVID-19 pandemic unleashed a combination of forces that will take combating fraud to a new level, whether its remote workforces, changes in global supply chain security or hundreds of billions in government assistance pouring into corporate coffers. Special Guests: Margo Cella and Pam Verick.

With trillions of dollars at stake, government comptrollers are at the tip of the spear in making sure taxpayers’ money is spent wisely and the right private sector partners are working within the system. The Financial Education and Research Foundation (FERF), in cooperation with Robert Half | Protiviti, held a series of interviews featuring live, in-depth Q&A discussions with government controllers on the ways they are leading the state and federal government out of the pandemic.Special Guests: Carol Beaumier and David Araldi.

As part of our ongoing ForwardThinking series, FEI’s Shivani Somaiya speaks with Phialelphia’s controller Rebecca Rhynhart about how the city of brotherly love is fighinto to come back from the crisis.Special Guest: Rebecca Rhynhart.

Over the past year as the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has risen institutions have started to take a serious look at digital currencies not only for customer transactions, but also as an asset class to hold on the balance sheet within treasury accounts. It should no surprise that an ecosystem of providers is cropping up to assist companies in the transition into digital currencies..Special Guest: Luke Sully.

With the passage of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package the US federal government will have a monumental task of accounting for how and where the money is spent. As head of the Government Accountability Office, Comptroller General Gene Dodaro will be responsible for overseeing how taxpayer dollars are spent and provide objective, non-partisan, fact-based analysis.Special Guest: Gene Dodaro .

Special-purpose acquisition companies,or SPACs, have become the latest rage in corporate finance, allowing private companies to go public by first being acquired by a blank check company. According to the latest figures, there are over 400 SPACs now in the market that are seeking private firms to acquire and take public. In this episode of Financial Executive Podcast we speak with Mandi Simpson, a partner with Crowe accounting advisory, and Bill Watts, a principal also with Crowe accounting advisory, about how financial executives involved with a SPAC transaction should plan and think about these unique transactions. _The information in this podcast is not – and is not intended to be – audit, tax, accounting, advisory, risk, performance, consulting, business, financial, investment, legal, or other professional advice. The information is general in nature, based on existing authorities, and is subject to change. The information is not a substitute for professional advice or services, and you should consult a qualified professional adviser before taking any action based on the information. Crowe is not responsible for any loss incurred by any person who relies on the information discussed in this document. _Special Guests: Mandi Simpson and William Watts.

Like many states, California had their economy turned upside down by the pandemic. Betty Yee - the second woman in California’s history to serve as the state’s elected controller and the daughter of Chinese immigrants – is now tasked with helping lead the state out of the crisis. Join the Financial Education and Research Foundation (FERF), in cooperation with Robert Half | Protiviti, for the Q2 sessions of a year-long series featuring live, in-depth Q&A discussions with government controllers on the ways they are leading the state and federal government out of the pandemic.Special Guest: Betty Yee.

In the episode of the Financial Executive Podcast we partnered with Accenture to bring you the top lessons learned from their most recent global CFO research “CFO Now: Breakthrough speed for breakout value” survey with an interview with Annie Peabody, Managing Director of Accenture Strategy & Consulting, and co-author of the research.Special Guest: Annie Peabody.

One of the big challenges for companies, as well as investors, when it comes to ESG is wrangling the data points that are important to every stakeholder and a relevant to the issue of sustainability. In this episode of the podcast we speak with Rebeca Minguela, Founder and CEO of Clarity AI. Clarity AI uses big data and machine learning to tracks a broad universe of companies to measure sustainability metrics. In January BlackRock purchased a minority stake in the company and plans to integrate Clarity AI into its investment analytics platform. We discuss the importance of disclosures, the challenges to standardized ESG data and why there is no turning back when it comes to sustainability reporting. Thanks to the episode's sponsor, Deloitte.Special Guest: Rebeca Minguela.

The Q1 sessions of FowardThinking talks with leaders on the ways in which organizations are charting a new course on how and where they work.Special Guests: Christopher Wright and Paul McDonald.

Sustainability reporting is something that both financial statement preparers and investors have been discussing for years, and it’s expected to become even more of a hot button issue in the US as a new administration focused on climate change takes charge of capital markets oversight. It’s fair to say that in Europe, the debate regarding ESG reporting practices is more evolved. There is already a movement to adopt a practice known as “extinction accounting” where companies report on the impact they have in biodiversity. Intertested in FEI membersip? Click here.Special Guest: Jill Atkins.

Given all that internal controls encompass, it’s not surprising that they are labor and time intensive and that financial executives continually seek ways to make sure they work in the most efficient way. Where Are We Now? The Story of ICFR at Large Public Companies as Told by Financial ExecutivesSpecial Guests: Devin William, Jeff Wilks, Jeffrey Pickerd, and Mark Kissman.

In this episode of the Financial Executive Podcast we speak with Eric Goldman, Professor of Law at Santa Clara University and co-director of the High Tech Law Institute. Special Guest: Eric Goldman.

The current expected credit losses standard, or CECL, had been hotly debated in banking and accounting circles long before COVID-19 surfaced earlier this year. While the resulting market and economic disruptions caused by the pandemic delayed a full rollout of CECL, many financial institutions that had begun the hard work of incorporating the standard into their models are living through a real-life stress test of CECL’s approach to accounting for credit losses. In this episode of the Financial Executive Podcast we speak with Amnon Levy, managing director and head of Moody’s Analytics Portfolio and Balance Sheet Research group regarding what the current financial crisis reveals about financial credit models and the unintended consequences of CECL. Links: Incorporating Emerging Risks within Credit Models: Lessons from Sociological Reactions to COVID-19 Nonbank players are ready for CECL — are banks? Earnings Volatility, Share Price Performance, and Credit Portfolio Management Under CECL and IFRS 9Special Guest: Amnon Levy.

The US government's Paycheck Protection Program was a lifeline for many public and private companies during the early dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic. But as financial executives begin a new year, and look to close their 2020 financials, several questions remain regarding the accounting and financial reporting of government assistance. In today’s podcast we speak with Sean Prince, a senior manager in Crowe’s Assurance Professional Practice, regarding how financial leaders can navigate both lingering and developing government assistance issues. The information in this podcast is not – and is not intended to be – audit, tax, accounting, advisory, risk, performance, consulting, business, financial, investment, legal, or other professional advice. The information is general in nature, based on existing authorities, and is subject to change. The information is not a substitute for professional advice or services, and you should consult a qualified professional adviser before taking any action based on the information. Crowe is not responsible for any loss incurred by any person who relies on the information discussed in this document.Special Guest: Sean Prince.

As part of our FEI Forward Thinking series, we're speaking with 4 different senior-level financial executives about navigating such challenging times. We discuss how remote work has helped Calvin gain the trust of his team and how we can turn this time of increased attention to racial injustice into a movement, not just a moment. Special Guest: Calvin Harris.

The Financial Education and Research Foundation (FERF), in cooperation with Robert Half | Protiviti, will hold live, in-depth Q&A discussions with four FEI members that have seen their industries and world upended overnight, and they’ll share how they plan to navigate the unclear road ahead.Special Guest: Dennis Dahlen.

The Financial Education and Research Foundation (FERF), in cooperation with Robert Half | Protiviti, will hold live, in-depth Q&A discussions with four FEI members that have seen their industries and world upended overnight, and they’ll share how they plan to navigate the unclear road ahead.Special Guest: Dan Crumb.

The Financial Education and Research Foundation (FERF), in cooperation with Robert Half | Protiviti, held live, in-depth Q&A discussions with four FEI members that have seen their industries and world upended overnight, and they’ll share how they plan to navigate the unclear road ahead.Special Guest: Teri Reinseth.

The COVID-19 public health crisis has forced businesses across all industries to rapidly adapt their thinking and adoption of new digital technologies and working models in order to sustain business processes. This rapid shift has introduced new security risks and challenges. Special Guest: Troy La Huis.

In this series we spoke with Teri Reinseth, Corporate Controller & CAO, 3M Company Calvin Harris Jr., SVP, Finance and CFO, National Urban League Dennis Dahlen, CFO, Mayo Clinic Daniel Crumb, CFO, Kansas City Chiefs Football Club In this episode of the Financial Executive Podcast we speak with Paul McDonald, senior executive director of Robert Half and Christopher Wright, managing director of Protiviti, in order to break down and understand some of the challenges these leaders discussed.Special Guests: Christopher Wright and Paul McDonald.

The Financial Executive Podcast speaks with John A. Grivetti III, partner with Crowe’s advisory services group about how senior-level financial executives can keep cash on the books even as little is coming through the door. The information in this podcast is not – and is not intended to be – audit, tax, accounting, advisory, risk, performance, consulting, business, financial, investment, legal, or other professional advice. The information is general in nature, based on existing authorities, and is subject to change. The information is not a substitute for professional advice or services, and you should consult a qualified professional adviser before taking any action based on the information. Crowe is not responsible for any loss incurred by any person who relies on the information discussed in this document. Special Guest: John A. Grivetti III.

There are a myriad of tax and financial reporting changes, in addition to liquidity options, for companies that are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The chainges are complex, and will add to an already heavy burden for senior-level financial executives navigating the crisis. The Financial Executive podcast spoke with two professionals from Crowe LLP about those changes -- Matthew Schell, a partner in Crowe's assurance professonal practice and Howard Wagner, a partner with Crowe’s national tax office, to review some of the most developments and the issues that financial leaders need to consider during implementation. Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is not – and is not intended to be – audit, tax, accounting, advisory, risk, performance, consulting, business, financial, investment, legal, or other professional advice. The information is general in nature, based on existing authorities, and is subject to change. The information is not a substitute for professional advice or services, and you should consult a qualified professional adviser before taking any action based on the information. Crowe is not responsible for any loss incurred by any person who relies on the information discussed in this document.Special Guests: Howard Wagner and Matthew Schell.

There is a push for more holistic measures of value than what sits on a company's bottom line. These efforts -- combined with increased concerns stemming from corporate scandals, climate change and social justice movements -- have increased the demand for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting. FEI Daily sat down with two professionals focused on ESG reporting, Jeffrey Hales, chair of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and professor of accounting at the University of Texas at Austin, and Gregg Anderson, managing director at Crowe and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' Sustainability Task Force. Special Guests: Gregg Anderson and Jeffrey Hales, PhD.

How and when audit fees rise and fall is something that has been of intense interest to senior-level financial executives and academics. In anticipation of the annual audit fee survey from the Financial Education and Research Foundation (FERF) and Workiva coming out this November, FERF's Dillon Papenfuss speaks with Professor W. Robert Knechel, Ph.D. -- the Frederick E. Fisher Eminent Scholar and Director of the International Accounting and Auditing Center at the University of Florida -- discuss the long and short-term drivers of audit fees.Special Guest: Robert Knechel.

Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez details the competencies required to transform and thrive in the new digital and project-driven economy.Special Guest: Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez.