#238 Why CFOs Who Ignore Excel & Automation Are Falling Behind with Richard Nero, GrowCFO Facilitator

#238 Why CFOs Who Ignore Excel & Automation Are Falling Behind https://open.spotify.com/episode/0pwzX0ujbANt79RKKxEDMD In this insightful episode of the GrowCFO Show, Kevin Appleby sits down with Richard Nero, a Microsoft Excel MVP and GrowCFO Facilitator who specializes in finance systems consultancy. The conversation explores the critical importance of Excel proficiency and automation for modern finance leaders. As businesses increasingly rely on data-driven decision making, CFOs who fail to embrace these technological tools risk falling behind their more tech-savvy counterparts. Richard Nero brings his extensive experience in Excel, Power BI, and automation to the discussion, sharing how these tools can transform finance operations and create significant efficiencies. The episode provides valuable insights for finance professionals looking to enhance their technical capabilities and leverage automation to focus on more strategic aspects of their roles, rather than getting bogged down in manual processes that consume valuable time and resources. Key topics covered: * Richard's journey from early Excel exposure to becoming a Microsoft Excel MVP and finance systems consultant * The critical importance of Power Query as a game-changing tool for finance professionals * How automation can free finance teams from manual data entry to focus on analysis and strategic decision-making * The competitive advantage gained by CFOs who embrace technological tools versus those who resist change * The value of continuous learning and staying current with evolving finance technologies https://youtu.be/wIPL5EncKVg Links * Richard Nero on LinkedIn * Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn * GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps * 00:23:12 Introduction of Richard Nero, Microsoft Excel MVP and finance systems consultant * 00:25:30 Richard discusses his early exposure to Excel and career progression in finance * 00:32:15 Exploration of the "Mastering Excel for Finance" course and its key components * 00:38:40 Discussion of Power Query's transformative impact on financial reporting * 00:42:20 How automation is changing the role of finance professionals * 00:48:15 The importance of continuous learning in the rapidly evolving finance technology landscape Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way,