Listen, Learn, Lead: Mastering the Dynamics of Business Relationships

02/29/24 • 37 min

The Closers: Modern Revenue Accounting Podcast

This episode features an interview with Jaime Dreikosen, CAO, Icertis.

In this episode, Jamie talks about the importance of effective communication and strategic messaging within business partnerships. Em and Jamie delve into the crucial role of empathy in fostering successful business relationships, challenging stereotypes about its perceived absence in the workplace.

Em’s Takeaways:

Effective Communication and Strategic Messaging: The importance of clear communication and strategic messaging in business partnerships was underscored, emphasizing the need to articulate technology initiatives in a way that aligns with broader business objectives, particularly when seeking buy-in from CFOs or securing investment.
Active Listening and Relationship Building: The significance of active listening was highlighted as a means to not only build relationships and gain trust but also to extract valuable insights. The takeaway emphasized the critical role of understanding the CFO's perspective and tying messages to specific business outcomes to demonstrate the direct value of technology initiatives.
Balancing Compliance and Business Assistance: A key insight revolved around finding a nuanced balance between compliance and aiding the business. The speaker suggested acknowledging the gray area in business partnerships, especially in roles like being a business partner, where flexibility and adaptability in navigating the complexities of controls and support are essential.

Timestamps:

*(01:04) - Off the Ledger

*(07:36) - General Ledger

*(32:42) - The Future of Revenue Accounting

Links:

Sponsor:

Zuora’s Modern Accounting Summit: If you are an accounting or finance leader looking to learn from the best and elevate your role in the organization, this virtual Summit is for you!

Join us live to hear from modern CAOs and controllers, as well as the top experts from EY, PwC, and Deloitte. Together, we’ll explore what modern accounting looks like today and where it’s headed in the future. If you are unable to attend live, you can watch the event on-demand using the link below.

Learn more, register, or watch on-demand here.

Check out additional resources for this episode:

>> Connect with Em Daigle on LinkedIn

This episode features an interview with Jaime Dreikosen, CAO, Icertis.

Em’s Takeaways:

Effective Communication and Strategic Messaging: The importance of clear communication and strategic messaging in business partnerships was underscored, emphasizing the need to articulate technology initiatives in a way that aligns with broader business objectives, particularly when seeking buy-in from CFOs or securing investment.
Active Listening and Relationship Building: The significance of active listening was highlighted as a means to not only build relationships and gain trust but also to extract valuable insights. The takeaway emphasized the critical role of understanding the CFO's perspective and tying messages to specific business outcomes to demonstrate the direct value of technology initiatives.
Balancing Compliance and Business Assistance: A key insight revolved around finding a nuanced balance between compliance and aiding the business. The speaker suggested acknowledging the gray area in business partnerships, especially in roles like being a business partner, where flexibility and adaptability in navigating the complexities of controls and support are essential.

Timestamps:

*(01:04) - Off the Ledger

*(07:36) - General Ledger

*(32:42) - The Future of Revenue Accounting

Links:

Sponsor:

Zuora’s Modern Accounting Summit: If you are an accounting or finance leader looking to learn from the best and elevate your role in the organization, this virtual Summit is for you!

Learn more, register, or watch on-demand here.

Check out additional resources for this episode:

>> Connect with Em Daigle on LinkedIn

Previous Episode

The Power of Clean Data, Automation, and Collaboration

In this episode, Roxanne Brady and Jesse Fillerup from the Connor Group discuss the transformative impact of accounting automation on businesses. They delve into the evolution of technology and its incorporation into various industries. Roxanne emphasizes the necessity for a mix of traditional and innovative tools to ensure business efficiency. Jesse further elaborates on the importance of cross-functional team collaborations and the need for a dynamic approach in revenue accounting. They both advocate for automating repetitive tasks, discussing the return on investment that comes from more reliable and efficient systems and processes.

Em’s Takeaways :

The top three areas of focus to work on with clients:
- Embrace the power of clean data: Roxanne shares why squeaky-clean data is your secret weapon for smooth system operations.
- Teamwork makes the dream work: It's all about teamwork! The accounting department collaborates with sales, legal, and operations to make smart decisions together. Everyone needs to grasp revenue recognition principles for smooth sailing.
- Train your team cross-functionally: Let's get everyone on the same page. Training can minimize confusion and maximize efficiency.
Prioritize automation and system integration for high-growth companies: Roxanne and Jesse stressed the significant ROI of automation, enabling swift scaling alongside company growth. Their advice? Opt for a customized tech stack that suits your needs, ensuring robust inter-system connections for efficiency and accuracy.

Episode Timestamps :

*(00:08) - Off the Ledger

*(09:27) - General Ledger

*(38:49) - The Future of Revenue Accounting

Links:

Check out additional resources for this episode:

>> Connect with Em Daigle on LinkedIn