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The Finance Leader Podcast
Stephen McLain
246 episodes
3 days ago
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 meetings that actually remove blockers, we break down the simple habits that keep momentum high without slipping into micromanagement. Walks through a practical framework: define success beyond complianc...
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Management
Education,
Business,
Self-Improvement
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All content for The Finance Leader Podcast is the property of Stephen McLain and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
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 meetings that actually remove blockers, we break down the simple habits that keep momentum high without slipping into micromanagement. Walks through a practical framework: define success beyond complianc...
Show more...
Management
Education,
Business,
Self-Improvement
Episodes (20/246)
The Finance Leader Podcast
From Comfort To Excellence: 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 meetings that actually remove blockers, we break down the simple habits that keep momentum high without slipping into micromanagement. Walks through a practical framework: define success beyond complianc...
Show more...
6 days ago
13 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
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 McLean walks through a practical approach for FP&A and accounting leaders who want to shield their teams from noise, prioritize what matters, and partner with IT to unlock automation without a costly tech overhaul. The ...
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2 weeks ago
11 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
Strategic Accounting, Not Just Reporting
Send us a text Episode 146: What if your accounting team did more than close the books—what if they helped shape outcomes before the month even ends? We explore how to evolve accounting from a reporting function into a true strategic partner that translates numbers into decisions. From building business acumen and storytelling skills to inserting accountants into high‑stakes projects, we lay out a practical path to unlock the insight already sitting inside your ledgers. We start by reframing...
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1 month ago
15 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
FP&A and Operations: Creating Powerful Partnerships for Strategic Growth
Send us a text Episode 145: What happens when your FP&A team operates in isolation from the people actually running your business? Nothing good. The gap between finance and operations isn't just an organizational issue—it's a strategic vulnerability that could be costing your company significant competitive advantage. Bridging this divide creates transformative opportunities. When finance professionals develop deep partnerships with operations teams, forecasting becomes dramatically more...
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1 month ago
16 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
Manipulative Leadership: When Positivity Becomes a Weapon
Send us a text Bonus Episode #97: Ever wonder if your relentless optimism is actually harming your team? Drawing from Mita Mallik's Harvard Business Review article "Does your Boss Practice Toxic Positivity," this eye-opening episode explores how excessive positivity can become a manipulative weapon in the workplace. Find the article here: "Does Your Boss Practice Toxic Positivity?" The line between motivation and manipulation is thinner than we think. When leaders push unrealistic goals with...
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1 month ago
14 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
Finance Leader Learning Priorities Now
Send us a text Bonus episode #96: This episode delivers a concise, actionable guide to the three most crucial learning priorities for finance leaders in the coming year: 1) using artificial intelligence to elevate your analysis, 2) performing a sensitivity analysis to make better strategic decision, and 3) applying financial risk management. Please connect with me on: 1. Instagram: stephen.mclain 2. Twitter: smclainiii 3. Facebook: stephenmclainconsultant 4. LinkedIn: stephenjmclainiii Fo...
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1 month ago
3 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
Revisiting Coaching Effort: How Did the Las Vegas Aces Perform?
Send us a text Bonus episode #95: What happens when a leader stops coaching effort and starts demanding it? The transformative power of high expectations takes center stage in this eye-opening exploration of leadership principles that transcend industries. Drawing inspiration from WNBA coach Becky Hammond's bold approach with the Las Vegas Aces, we examine how her refusal to "coach effort" led to an impressive turnaround - from a mediocre record to eleven consecutive victories and a secured ...
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2 months ago
9 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
Change Is Not Just Inevitable—It's Your Competitive Edge
Send us a text Bonus Episode #94: Change isn't just knocking at your door—it's already in your house, rearranging the furniture. As finance leaders, our ability to navigate and drive transformation determines whether our organizations thrive or merely survive in today's dynamic business landscape. The most dangerous position for any finance professional is complacency. That comfortable position you've worked so hard to reach? It could disappear tomorrow if you're not constantly evolving your...
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2 months ago
15 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
Forensic Accounting: The World of Financial Detectives
Send us a text Episode 144: Dive into the fascinating world of financial detective work as we explore the specialized field of forensic accounting. Ever wondered who tracks down financial criminals or how complex fraud schemes are uncovered? This episode pulls back the curtain on a career path that combines investigative prowess with accounting expertise. We examine how forensic accountants serve as financial sleuths, tracing illicit transactions and identifying misappropriated assets for go...
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2 months ago
13 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
Developing an Effective Audit Strategy to Support Business Objectives
Send us a text Episode 143: Financial integrity isn't optional—it's essential. That's why developing a structured, effective audit plan stands as one of the most critical responsibilities for finance leaders today. This episode unveils a nine-step framework for creating audit plans that deliver genuine value. From understanding your business environment and conducting thorough risk assessments to defining clear audit scopes and establishing communication protocols, each element works t...
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2 months ago
12 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
Protecting Financial Health Through Strategic Risk Analysis
Send us a text Find the downloadable skills guides here: Finance Leader Academy Episode 142: Financial risk assessment stands as the cornerstone of effective auditing—the crucial process that separates calculated risk-taking from reckless decision-making. This deep dive into organizational risk management provides finance leaders with a strategic framework for protecting company assets and ensuring financial integrity. At its core, proper risk assessment requires a cross-functional approac...
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3 months ago
10 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
The Audit Team Manager: How Audit Leadership Drives Organizational Success
Send us a text Episode 141: Curious about what makes audit teams tick? Dive into the crucial yet often misunderstood world of audit team management where leadership goes far beyond checking boxes and finding faults. Audit managers stand as guardians of financial integrity, straddling the strategic vision needed to align with business objectives while directing teams to investigate transactions that might reveal weaknesses in controls. These professionals aren't just looking to catch mistakes...
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3 months ago
15 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
The Audit Blueprint: CFO's Guide to Financial Integrity
Send us a text Episode 140: Financial integrity isn't just about compliance—it's the cornerstone of organizational trust and success. In this thought-provoking exploration of the audit function, we dive deep into how forward-thinking CFOs are transforming what's often viewed as a necessary evil into a strategic advantage. The most effective finance leaders understand that auditing isn't about hunting for mistakes or satisfying regulators; it's about building a foundation of accuracy that ena...
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3 months ago
16 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
Audit & Risk: Season 20 Preview
Send us a text Bonus episode #93: Leadership isn't about mastering spreadsheets—it's about transforming information into strategic action. In this preview of Season 20 of the Finance Leader Podcast, Stephen McLean unveils an exciting five-episode journey exploring audit, risk, and independence through the lens of leadership development. Drawing from his compelling experiences as an internal review officer in Iraq, McLean shares how he helped military commanders stretch their budgets through ...
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3 months ago
3 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
The Bridge Builder: Leadership as Your First Priority
Send us a text Bonus episode #92: Leadership is the bridge between resources and results, between data and decisions. While many finance professionals focus intensely on technical skills, the truly exceptional ones recognize that leadership development must come first. This episode makes a compelling case for prioritizing leadership skills as the foundation upon which all other finance competencies build. Through an examination of both effective and ineffective leadership examples, we explor...
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3 months ago
16 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
Focus Over Distraction: A Check-in on Our 2025 Goals
Send us a text Bonus Episode #91: Ever feel like time is slipping away while your biggest goals remain unfulfilled? You're not alone. The difference between dreaming and achieving often comes down to one critical factor: your ability to stay focused in a world designed to distract you. We explore three powerful approaches to maintaining laser-like focus. First, you'll learn how to identify and change the habits that consistently pull you off course. Those morning and evening routines? They'r...
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4 months ago
16 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
Lessons on Coaching Effort: a Las Vegas Aces Leadership Case Study
Send us a text Episode 139: Are you responsible for coaching your team's effort level? The question struck me after hearing WNBA Coach Becky Hammon's bold post-game declaration following a tough loss: "I will not coach effort." Her philosophy is clear—professional athletes must bring 100% effort or risk being benched. But how does this translate to finance leadership? Unlike professional sports, we lead teams with varying experience, motivation, and career aspirations. The approach that work...
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4 months ago
7 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
Breaking Free from the Performance Rut: How Leaders Can Overcome Complacency
Send us a text Episode 138: Are you giving your absolute best, or just enough to get by? That comfortable routine might actually be your biggest career threat. The silent killer of professional excellence is complacency – that subtle shift from passionate engagement to simply going through the motions. As we explore in this episode, complacency doesn't arrive with fanfare, but rather creeps in through routine tasks and diminishing challenges, eventually leading to laziness, sloppiness, and m...
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5 months ago
12 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
Transforming Business without Sacrificing Employee Satisfaction: Interview with Service Physics Co-Founders, Brian Reece and Steve Crowley
Send us a text Episode 137: What if the key to transforming your business lies not in adding more resources, but in simply understanding how your employees move through their workspace? In this eye-opening conversation with Service Physics co-founders Brian Reece and Steve Crowley, we uncover the hidden costs of inefficient processes that might be quietly draining your profits and customer satisfaction. Website: www.servicephysics.com Service Physics app download: Apple Store Service Physics ...
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6 months ago
45 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
Building the Future of Contract Management - Interview with the CEO of Concord Worldwide, Matt Lhoumeau
Send us a text Episode #136: Matt Lhoumeau, CEO of Concord Worldwide, takes us on his extraordinary journey from founding his first company at 17 to revolutionizing how businesses handle their contracts. Connect with Matt Lhoumeau and Concord: 1) Matt Lhoumeau: Matt's LinkedIn 2) Website: concord.app Matt's revelation will surprise you: contract management has fundamentally transformed. While traditionally the exclusive domain of legal departments, today's reality shows operations and financ...
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6 months ago
43 minutes

The Finance Leader Podcast
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 meetings that actually remove blockers, we break down the simple habits that keep momentum high without slipping into micromanagement. Walks through a practical framework: define success beyond complianc...