E50: Zuora CFO Todd McElhatton on Why 70% of Finance Stacks Hold Back Growth

This week, Sasha Orloff and Zuora CFO Todd McElhatton discuss the growing complexity of finance operations and the critical role of AI in modern accounting. They talk about the insights from the 'Modern Finance Leader' report, strategies for overcoming legacy systems, and practical advice for finance leaders navigating technological change. -- SPONSORS: Notion Boost your startup with Notion—the ultimate connected workspace trusted by thousands worldwide! From engineering specs to onboarding and fundraising, Notion keeps your team organized and efficient. For a limited time, get 6 months of Notion AI FREE to supercharge your workflow. Claim your offer now at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://notion.com/startups/puzzle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Puzzle 📈  No more waiting for month's end. No more manual reconciliations, just financials that keep up with you. Puzzle is leading a new movement with an AI first ledger, built for speed, automation, and real time decision making. Join today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://puzzle.io/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-mcelhatton-2140761/ https://www.zuora.com/resource/modern-finance-leader-report/_ -- X/SOCIAL: @Zuora (Zuora) @sashaorloff (Sasha) -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Preview (00:43) Intro (01:11) Season 2 focus: Accounting and technology (01:30) Insights from the Modern Finance Leader Report (02:13) Interview with Todd McElhatton: Challenges in finance technology (05:34) The modernization Catch 22 (09:08) AI and the future of finance (13:46) Sponsors: Notion | Puzzle (15:26) Practical advice for finance leaders (16:53) Zuora's impact and client success (19:20) Role of AI and automation (21:13) Building a 'Yes' department (23:27) Advice for new finance leaders (25:46) Transforming existing finance teams (30:14) Strategic investment in technology (32:22) Evolving role of CFOs (34:21) Joining Zuora and making an impact (35:29) Client success and product value (36:39) Wrap