David Goelz, CFL, MBA

A Free Guide for Modern Finance Hiring Many accounting and finance job descriptions still default to “CPA or MBA preferred.” But look at what those same positions are often expected to do: Improve accounting and finance processes Lead ERP and technology initiatives Automate workflows Build reporting, KPIs, and analytics Strengthen internal controls Partner across departments Lead finance teams Help the business scale Those are Operational Finance Leadership responsibilities. Hire for the Work...

Finance professionals have more credential options than ever, but those credentials were not designed to validate the same capabilities. The CPA, CMA, MBA, and Certified Finance Leader (CFL) can all contribute to a finance professional’s career. The better question is not which credential is universally “best.” It is: Which credential most closely aligns with the work you do, and the work you want to lead? For Controllers, Finance Managers, Directors of Finance, FP&A leaders, and other...

Why Modern Accounting Roles Increasingly Extend Beyond Traditional Reporting Operational accounting is the application of accounting expertise to the processes, systems, data structures and workflows that connect financial reporting to how a business actually operates. It includes responsibilities such as improving close processes, correcting ERP and account-mapping logic, aligning operational activity with financial reporting, strengthening accounting workflows and improving the reliability...