Hey there, CFOs! 💼

Welcome back to the newsletter—your go-to space for smart insights and real conversations about what’s shifting in the world of business leadership. This week, we’re diving into something every forward-thinking finance leader is feeling: the pressure to deliver real, sustainable growth—and the new tools that make it possible.

From the evolving role of the CFO (hint: it now includes AI fluency and contract sleuthing) to the rising bar for what “success” actually means in today’s capital markets, we’re seeing a powerful theme emerge: discipline is the new disruptor.

So grab your coffee, take a breath, and let’s break it down together.

📰 Upcoming in this issue

• CFOs Flip the Script: Why Growth Without Profit No Longer Flies 💸

• CFOs Reimagined: Why There's No Turning Back from AI 🤖 

• CFOs, This One Lever Might Be Worth Millions 🧾

📈 Trending news

• Genworth’s CFO Turns Teamwork into Strategy

• UOB Taps New CFO to Steer ASEAN Growth

• ​Huntington CFO: Navigating Volatility with Strategic Growth and Innovation​

CFOs Flip the Script: Why Growth Without Profit No Longer Flies 💸 read the full 1,030-word article here

Article published: April 24, 2025

After soaking in “Making the shift from growth at all costs to profitable growth” from CFO Brew, it’s clear that a seismic shift is underway in how companies think about success—and CFOs are steering the ship.

Gone are the days when burning cash was a badge of honor in pursuit of scale. Thanks to rising interest rates and a volatile capital market, execs are finally embracing a more disciplined, ROI-driven mindset. Companies like Thumbtack and Brex have retooled operations and restructured teams, all in service of one goal: self-sustained profitability.

This isn’t just about hitting EBITDA targets—it’s about freedom. CFOs who champion return on invested capital (ROIC) and positive free cash flow aren’t just pleasing shareholders. They’re buying their company leverage, optionality, and time.

Because in this new world? Control isn’t just financial. It’s existential.

Key Takeaways:

• 📉 Growth alone won’t cut it. CFOs are now expected to show returns, not just scale—especially in a tighter funding climate.

• 💡 Capital efficiency is king. Return on invested capital (ROIC) is becoming a critical metric for CFOs to drive internal accountability.

• 💼 Brex hits reset. The fintech slashed burn by 80% and tripled revenue, pivoting to sustainability over endless fundraising.

• 📊 EBITDA drives valuation. Once profitable, companies must shift how they communicate with investors—from top-line hype to margin metrics.

CFOs Reimagined: Why There's No Turning Back from AI 🤖 read the full 1,030-word article here

Article published: April 22, 2025

After diving into “No turning back: How disruption is accelerating era of next-gen CFO” from CFO Dive, it’s crystal clear: we’ve entered the AI age of corporate finance—and there’s no rewind button.

From supply chain chaos to geopolitical wildcards, today’s economic multiplex is forcing CFOs into the lead role of transformation. But instead of just cutting costs, next-gen finance leaders are harnessing AI to unlock speed, precision, and power at scale.

Whether it’s tightening fraud controls, running real-time forecasts, or unlocking hidden liquidity, AI has become the CFO’s most trusted tool—not a luxury, but a strategic lifeline.

The bottom line? CFOs are no longer just bean counters. They’re technologists, futurists, and risk whisperers—and AI is the engine driving their evolution.

Key Takeaways:

• 🧠 AI is CFOs’ new co-pilot. From cash flow to scenario planning, AI is boosting strategic agility and reducing friction in decision-making.

• 🔍 HSBC cut false positives by 60%. Embedded AI in fraud detection is improving both speed and accuracy of financial oversight.

• 📊 Forecasting is now predictive. AI tools combine historical data and real-time inputs to simulate risk and opportunity at scale.

• 💼 It's a point of no return. CFOs who ignore AI risk falling behind—those who embrace it are writing the new rules of financial leadership.

CFOs, This One Lever Might Be Worth Millions 🧾 read the full 1,780-word article here

Article published: April 21, 2025

After reading “Why contract disposition may be the CFO’s most overlooked lever” from CFO, it’s hard not to feel a bit stunned. Turns out, there’s a financial goldmine buried in the fine print—literally.

When companies merge, split, or spin off, the whirlwind of negotiations often misses one massive cost-saving opportunity: combing through existing contracts. From unused software licenses to outdated umbrella agreements, the waste is real—and recoverable. Some companies have slashed costs by up to 60%.

The most surprising part? Many firms don’t even know what contracts they have. Others ask vendors for copies. Yikes.

This article doesn’t just warn—it maps a strategy for CFOs who want to find hidden synergies and claw back costs hiding in plain sight. In a shaky economy, that edge can mean everything.

Key Takeaways:

• 📉 40–60% cost reductions are possible. Disposing or renegotiating old contracts during M&A can lead to major financial upside.

• 💻 IT contracts are a top priority. Think Microsoft 365, DocuSign, and Salesforce—often the biggest, most bloated line items.

• 📂 Most firms lack a contract repository. Many don’t track renewal dates, pricing structures, or usage rates—leaving savings on the table.

• 🔍 Utilization matters. Are you paying for 10,000 seats and only using 1,500? Many are. Create a master usage report now.

Why It Matters

The CFO seat isn’t just about crunching numbers anymore—it’s where strategy, technology, and survival intersect. The leaders who lean into profitable growth, embrace AI as a partner, and find value hiding in the details (hello, contracts!) will be the ones who steer their companies through uncertainty—and come out ahead.

In a world where burn rates used to be bragging rights, today’s winners are those who build resilient, data-driven, ROI-positive machines. If you’re a finance leader, the future’s not just knocking—it’s already in your calendar.

Until next time, keep leading with clarity and conviction.

Vanessa Carter
Editor-in-Chief
CFO Executive Insights