Finance in 15

Reimagining the finance team of the future

In this episode, host Adam Boutros sits down with Jean McClellan, PwC Canada’s People and Transformation Leader. During their discussion, Jean offers insights into the evolving skills required by finance, including upskilling tips to retain and attract top finance talent. Jean also shares her perspectives on the future of hybrid work, as well as tangible recommendations for prioritizing well-being in a virtual work environment.   00:00- Adam’s introduction to Finance in 15 and guest Jean Mc...

How finance teams can drive an organization’s ESG agenda

In this episode, host Adam Boutros sits down with Sarah Marsh, partner at PwC Canada, ESG & reporting and Arlind Sulaj, a director with PwC Canada’s finance transformation practice. They discuss why ESG reporting has become imperative for finance teams and CFOs, how companies can modernize their finance functions and get 'data ready' for ESG reporting with the insights needed to execute on their strategy, and much more. 00:00- Adam’s introduction to Finance in 15 and guests Sarah Marsh and ...

How Canadian CFOs are navigating a ‘perfect storm of change’ in 2022

In the last episode of 2021, host Adam Boutros sits down with the CFO of PwC Canada, Alaina Tennison, on the Finance in 15 podcast. During the episode, Alaina provides listeners with an overview of her CFO role at PwC, her playbook for leadership, and the future of the finance function. In advance of the release of PwC’s CFO Insights this coming January 2022, Alaina shares her perspectives for CFOs, emphasizing the importance of staying in close communication with finance teams, importance o...

A global perspective on the evolving role of the CFO and finance functions

To kick off season two of Finance in 15, host Adam Boutros sits down with PwC Partner Marino Fremis and Helen Brand, the chief executive of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the global body for professional accountants. During the episode, Marino and Helen share their perspectives on some of the findings from the 2021 CFO survey conducted by the ACCA and PwC. They also share their insights about the importance of ESG investing moving forward, and what we can expect t...

Key insights on the impacts of the federal election for businesses and finance leaders

The results are in, and Canadians have elected a Liberal minority government. The election campaign featured vigorous debate about several issues that Canadian chief financial officers and business executives will want to pay attention to, especially when it comes to tax policy changes as the government looks to manage rising debt obligations. In a special episode of our Finance in 15 podcast, Dean Landry, PwC Canada’s National Tax Leader, and Finance in 15 host Adam Boutros discuss the iss...

Looking back—A season in review

In the final episode of the first season, host Adam Boutros reviews some of the highlights from the Finance in 15 podcast so far. The episode reviews key takeaways and insights from episodes one through six, including concepts like the 3Ps of finance: people, process and performance, the process pillar and the ultimate goal of transformation in finance. Featuring snippets from guests Samir Bishara, Lee-Anne Kovacs, Kevin Ng, Marino Fremis, Marilyn Wang, Sebastien Doyon, Michelle Bourgeois an...

Compliance, transformed: How finance can accelerate the close

According to PwC’s Finance Effectiveness Benchmarking report, leading organizations take less than three days to close. They also have fewer errors for first-time processing of journal entries, and they spend an average of three times more effort on reporting and analytics for improved business performance. For many finance companies, accelerating the close is an ongoing challenge. In this episode, host Adam Boutros sits down with Jill Satre, a partner in Risk Assurance Services at PwC Canad...

Bringing your full value as a business partner (Part Two)

PwC’s Finance in 15 podcast series offers finance executives and business leaders insight into the pivotal ways finance can increase strategic value for their organizations. In this episode, our specialists discuss the last of the 3 Ps of finance transformation: performance. As finance teams struggle to produce data fast enough to help the business make key decisions, performance is an essential component of the transformation journey today. During the episode, National Future of Finance Lea...

Bringing your full value as a business partner (Part One)

PwC’s Finance in 15 podcast series offers finance executives and business leaders insight into the pivotal ways finance can increase strategic value for their organizations. In this episode, we discuss the last of the 3 Ps of finance transformation: performance. As finance teams can struggle to produce data fast enough to help the business make key decisions, a focus on performance is an essential component of the transformation journey. During the episode, National Future of Finance Leader ...

Going Big on Digital Transformation

Within critical data lies a huge opportunity. Yet, in finance, the phrase digital transformation is something that tends not to be fully understood. In this episode, Adam takes you through the key things you need to know to transform your finance department with guest, Michelle Bourgeois, ERP Consulting Partner at PwC Canada. Together they explore what movement to the cloud means for your organization, including SAP S/4HANA, how to take an integrated approach, and getting your people on boar...

Reimagining the Processes in Finance

This week, Adam sits down with PwC Canada partners, Marino Fremis, Partner, Finance Transformation Lead and Kevin Ng, Partner, Tax to walk through the second P of finance transformation, “process”. Together they walk through how new processes can transform your finance department, what those processes could look like, and how to remain competitive during the implementation stage.   Check out our website: https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/today-s-issues/future-of-finance/finance-in-15-podcast.html ...

Transforming people in your finance function

In today’s rapidly changing landscape, it has never been more important for your team members to be digitally savvy and collaborative. In our third episode of Finance in 15, Adam speaks to the intersection of people and technology in the finance transformation process with PwC partners Phil Hagel, Partner, Energy, Utilities & Mining and Lee-Anne Kovacs, Partner, Technology, Media & Consumer Markets. Tune in as they discuss the first P of finance transformation, “people” in more detail, why o...

The finance transformation journey: CFO spotlight

What does a finance transformation journey look like? In this episode of Finance in 15, Adam walks you through PwC’s finance transformation with colleagues, Samir Bishara, Canada’s Finance Transformation Leader and Alaina Tennison, CFO of PwC Canada. Together they chat about how the transformation happened and the impact it had on the organization in a short period of time.     For more information about the Future of Finance, check out our website:  https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/today-s-issue...

Getting started with finance transformation

Finance transformation is about more than technology. In our first episode of Finance in 15, Adam sits down with Samir Bishara, who leads PwC Canada’s National Finance Transformation practice, to discuss what executives need to know to transform their department. The two walk through what PwC has established as the three Ps of a successful finance transformation (People, Process, Performance), Samir’s unique point of view on these engagements, the outcomes that leaders need to aim for, and o...

Introducing Finance in 15