Leading accounting and sales operations
Hey, podcast listeners! I recently had an interesting conversation with Dante Giannini , VP of Accounting and Operations at Actian . Dante shared his unique philosophy on finance and accounting, what’s on the horizon for the accounting industry, how to set up proper reporting and operations, and what it means to be a “Modern CAO.”
Good data matters
Dante emphasized the critical importance of data quality. He pointed out that when data is inaccurate or unreliable, it can lead to flawed outcomes. Good data isn't just the concern of the accounting department, it's a company-wide responsibility. And not just because it’s good business, but because revenue is on the line.
“If you're trying to figure out, ‘What is all this data telling me? How do I ask the right questions for this data? How do I dig further into it to see particular insights from customers or trends or whatever else?’ That's where our product Avalanche can come in and help as well. And the best part about it is you can put it all together and create this kind of suite or platform of products that will support whatever you're trying to do within your business.”
Consumption is complex, so we need to partner up
Consumption isn't merely about debits and credits—it's about understanding customer behavior, preferences, and needs. To navigate this complexity, it's essential for finance teams to partner with other functions within the organization. In a world where technology and consumption models are increasingly complex, collaboration is key. Together, cross-functional teams can strategize on how to optimize the business for long-term success, and accounting professionals can be an instrumental part of that.
“So my philosophy is simple: We sit in a position where we see everything that's going on in the company, and we can help to educate and guide the business in a way that maybe other leaders aren't able to simply because they don't have the insight into the data or the access to all the data that we do. And so that's where I really think that the accounting teams and the finance teams do themselves a great service is by helping to advise the business to say, ‘Hey, look, here are the strategic objectives that we've laid out.’”
The modern CAO is here to stay
We are at a pivotal moment in the accounting industry where we’re seeing a new era in the CAO role. Dante underlines the need for accounting leaders to evolve with the changing business landscape. The modern CAO isn't confined to traditional financial reporting. They need to be actively involved in shaping the business strategy. As finance professionals, it's time to embrace this evolving role and seize the opportunities it presents.
Recommended by LinkedIn
“I think the role of the CAO has been elevated and kind of broken off from the CFO role over the past 10 years, more and more. And why is that? Well, if you look at the modern CFO role, they are involved in so much more than they previously were, right? Before it was just, ‘Hey, what are the financials, are controls in place? Do we have funding? And what's our forecast and how are we doing against that force?’ So kind of those things, but they're getting so much more involved in, ‘Well, what's the product and how are we partnering with our customers? They have to partner so much more closely with the CEO and the other leadership folks that I'm not sure they have time for the complexities of the accounting regulations and all the other things.”
Changing the accounting narrative
Accountants often get a bad rap, pigeonholed as the "dorky" back office function. This perception can inadvertently affect (and has affected!) the job market for accountants and it’s something we need to be aware of as accounting leaders. Dante highlights the role accounting leaders and professionals have in changing the narrative by proactively sharing the value accountants bring to organizations.
We're not just number-crunchers and we aren’t all in the back room of the office with thick rimmed glasses geeking out over our Excel spreadsheets. Ok, we totally geek out over our spreadsheets, but more than that, we're strategic partners to a business' success. By demonstrating the impact we can have, we shift the perception of accountants from a back office function to vital contributors to a company's strategic growth.
“You see it in movies. It's always some guy with a pocket protector and glasses and he's geeking out over an Excel spreadsheet. And while we all geek out over Excel spreadsheets, I think that maybe perception has started to turn some people off to the profession, not just in the US, but it appears to be a global problem. And I think we as accounting professionals need to show that we can actually be strategic partners to the business.”
About the author:
Em Daigle is the VP and General Manager of Zuora Revenue. As a former revenue accountant turned tech executive, Em has always been fascinated by the intersection of accounting and technology. Her mission is to empower every corporate accounting team with the latest technology that enables completeness, accuracy, and real-time revenue visibility, while getting accountants out of “Ex-Hell” and allowing them to focus on analytics and business partnering.
Follow Em on LinkedIn for insights that help accounting leaders evolve their career, modernize their teams and become more influential partners to the business.