Accounting for the Future

Closing entries: 2025 in review and takeaways for the year ahead

As we close out 2025 at Accounting for the Future, this final episode brings together the standout insights around how Canadian businesses are navigating uncertainty. Host Anne-Marie Henson highlights the key conversations that stood out and insights that will continue to shape business strategy well into the year ahead. Some of the topics we revisit include: How uncertainty in public markets is reshaping investment strategies and the signals leaders should watch next, with guest Sunil Sharma, National Leader, Transaction Services and Private Equity, BDO Canada. What the changing...

Leveraging audit data analytics for strategic insight

Accounting for the Future

How can audit teams turn data into a strategic asset? This episode of Accounting for the Future explores the real-world impact of data analytics on the audit profession. Host Anne-Marie Henson welcomes Dominic Chow, Head of Operations, Technology Risk Assurance at BDO Canada, for a candid discussion on how analytics is reshaping audits. They explore how technology is enabling auditors to move beyond traditional compliance, using data to proactively identify risks, uncover opportunities, and deliver more value to organizations. They also discuss the importance of robust data governance, the...

Cybersecurity risk management as a strategic business priority

Accounting for the Future

In this milestone 50th episode of Accounting for the Future, host Anne-Marie Henson and Rob Philpotts, a Partner in BDO’s Cybersecurity practice, explore how cyber threats have evolved into a strategic business priority for organizations of all sizes and offer actionable advice for CFOs and finance leaders. They also cover the impact of geopolitical activities on cybersecurity, real-world examples illustrating how cyber incidents can disrupt operations, and why even small and medium businesses must be vigilant. This episode highlights why integrating cybersecurity into business...

Protecting business value: Strategies for sustainability and resilience

Accounting for the Future

As climate volatility and new regulatory pressures escalate, business leaders are increasingly framing complex strategic decisions through the lens of sustainability and resilience. In this episode of Accounting for the Future, host Anne-Marie Henson, Partner, National Industry Leader, sits down with Simon Hutton, National Sustainability Leader, to discuss how organizations are integrating sustainability into proactive risk management, navigating growing pressures, and using data to stay transparent. With grounded insights and practical examples, this episode offers CFOs, audit...

Rethinking the ROI of organizational learning

Accounting for the Future

Learning and development (L&D)—is it just a cost centre, or is it a performance lever, retention strategy, and competitive advantage for your organization? Join host Anne-Marie Henson on Accounting for the Future as of L&D with Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning and Development Officer at BDO Canada. If people are your greatest asset, this episode is your blueprint for turning learning into a strategic engine for growth. What you’ll hear in this episode: [01:38] Keith’s journey: What sparked a passion for learning [05:34] Reframing L&D: From cost centre to...

Breaking barriers: What CFOs need to know about Canada’s interprovincial trade landscape

Accounting for the Future

What do interprovincial trade barriers mean for Canadian businesses and what’s changing? In this episode of Accounting for the Future, host Anne-Marie Henson sits down with Jonathan (Jono) Kalles, Vice President of McMillan Vantage and former advisor to the Prime Minister, to unpack the implications of Bill C-5 and how the interprovincial trade landscape is evolving in Canada. From the removal of federal exceptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement to the complexities of provincial cooperation, they explore the economic, regulatory, and strategic shifts underway. Hear practical...

Working with your board

Accounting for the Future

How can you communicate effectively with your board and turn them into one of your most valuable strategic assets? In this episode of Accounting for the Future, host Anne-Marie Henson is joined by Anthony Marinelli, Board Chair and Partner, Assurance-East Leader at BDO Canada, and Janet Boyle, Independent Board Member at BDO Canada and Senior Vice President at RBC. Together, they unpack how CEOs and senior leaders can foster trust, transparency, and strategic alignment with their boards. Tune in to hear practical advice on the role and value of independent board members, leveraging your...

Going private: Why companies are exiting capital markets and who’s buying them

Accounting for the Future

In this episode of Accounting for the Future, host Anne-Marie Henson is joined by , to unpack what's fueling the rise in companies going private. They discuss how current market conditions, including interest rates, geopolitical uncertainty, and undervalued assets, are influencing M&A activity in 2025. The conversation also covers why private equity is eyeing public markets, what makes a company an attractive target, and the ongoing valuation gap between buyers and sellers. What you’ll hear in this episode: [1:38] Market comparisons between 2022 and 2025, and what they mean for...

Unlocking value in the finance function

Accounting for the Future

In today’s evolving market, finance leaders are moving beyond traditional back-office functions to become strategic leaders and value creators. Anne-Marie sits down with Jesus Ballesteros and Charlotte Zhen of BDO’s value creation team, to explore how the modern CFO is transforming into a chief value creation officer—aligning finance, operations, and strategy while leading digital transformation to boost efficiency and long-term growth. What you’ll hear in this episode [4:07] The role of historical and current market fluctuations when analyzing and creating effective margin...

Scaling AI in the manufacturing industry

Accounting for the Future

Host Anne-Marie Henson sits down with Paul Dostaler, BDO’s Partner and National Manufacturing and Distribution Leader, to unpack how manufacturers can move beyond pilots and start scaling AI effectively. They explore the current pace of AI adoption in Canada, the roadblocks many businesses face, and what’s needed to realize long-term ROI. The episode features data from Momentum: BDO's Manufacturing and Distribution Leadership Report. . What you’ll hear in this episode: [1:33] AI overview: Rate of adoption and key trends. [5:08] Challenges in AI adoption. [9:30] Considerations...

More Episodes

Some of the topics we revisit include:

How uncertainty in public markets is reshaping investment strategies and the signals leaders should watch next, with guest Sunil Sharma, National Leader, Transaction Services and Private Equity, BDO Canada.
What the changing interprovincial trade landscape means for business and how to thrive through the transition, with guest Jonathan Kalles, Vice President, McMillan Vantage.
How learning and development is emerging as a core driver of resilience and growth, with guest Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning and Development Officer, BDO Canada.
And many more topics, from sustainability and generative AI to the evolving impact of women in leadership.

Join us as we connect the dots across a year of insights and highlight the takeaways that will help you navigate what’s coming next.

#accounting #BusinessStrategy #FinanceLeadership

What you’ll hear in this episode:

00:00 – Anne-Marie introduces episode

02:05 – How uncertainty in public markets is shaping investment strategies

04:52 – Leveraging strategic planning to thrive through uncertainty

08:50 – Navigating interprovincial trade and policy changes

12:59 – Why board members need to stay informed on regulatory changes

18:37 – The value of finance leaders and boards prioritizing sustainability

23:43 – How women leaders are shaping the finance function

25:51 – Why learning and development is more than a cost centre

30:24 – How generative AI is helping businesses unlock value

33:56 – The role cybersecurity plays in ransomware and nation-state attacks

37:03 – Anne-Marie’s closing thoughts

Mentioned:

Quotes:

“In these times, I think it's really critical to ensure that your organization has strategic clarity, because it provides organizations with a framework in which to make decisions when the external environment shifts—as it consistently is these days.”

“Where I believe that we're actually going to see an active change towards more women in the boardroom is women becoming investors. Those that see the opportunity to write the checks and be a part of the deal making. I believe that that's going to actively lead to more women in the boardrooms over time as well.”

“Strong sustainability data creates value. It can protect value, and it can build transparency that can inform smarter decision-making and create numerous benefits in the business. Again, both from a value creation point of view and also from a value protection point of view, a risk management point of view.”

“Agility, sometimes, is confused with a quick response, right? In fact, as a board, when you think about agility, it's more around: have you built a culture at the board level of being able to respond to things in a thoughtful way, in a timely way that will allow pivoting? That doesn't necessarily mean we've got to make a quick decision.”

Accounting for the Future

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