The Influence Skills for FP&A Pros to Build Boardroom Trust Without the CFO Title with Wassia Kamon

In this episode of FP&A Tomorrow, host Paul Barnhurst chats with Wassia Kamon, the Chief Financial Officer at Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE), about her journey from financial planning and analysis (FP&A) to leading as a CFO. Wassia opens up about the challenges, surprises, and growth she's experienced, particularly in learning to navigate the boardroom and building strategic influence within her organization. Along the way, she shares valuable insights into leadership, trust-building, and why it's essential for finance professionals to expand beyond the numbers.

Wassia Kamon is a finance powerhouse with over 15 years of experience across various industries, including manufacturing, technology, pharmaceuticals, and nonprofits. As CFO at ACE, a nonprofit lending institution, she plays a key role in providing capital to entrepreneurs. Wassia has also been recognized as a 40 Under 40 honoree by CPA Practice Advisor and is the host of the podcast The Diary of a CFO. She's passionate about helping high-potential finance leaders step into executive roles and shares her expertise through coaching, speaking engagements, and teaching at the Wharton Online Certificate Program.

Expect to Learn:

• How Wassia transitioned from FP&A to CFO and the unexpected challenges she faced along the way.
• The power of trust and relationships in becoming a key business partner, not just a number cruncher.
• Why being invited into decision-making conversations early is a game changer for finance teams.
• What it was really like dealing with the board of directors for the first time as a CFO.
• How to expand your influence and take a broader view of business to become a true strategic partner.

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• “In FP&A, it's important to build those relationships early and not just be the person catching up after decisions are made.” - Wassia Kamon
• “You can’t be great at FP&A unless you are in the room where decisions are made. It’s about having the trust to influence, not just report.” - Wassia Kamon
• “Good FP&A is when you're already top of mind to decision makers, and they come to you for input, not the other way around.” - Wassia Kamon

Wassia delivers a powerful perspective on the role of financial leaders and the critical need for stronger relationships, trust-building, and strategic influence in today’s business environment. This episode is essential listening for finance professionals, aspiring CFOs, and business leaders looking to enhance their impact, improve decision-making, and build stronger, more collaborative teams.

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Earn Your CPE Credit

For CPE credit please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, and answer a few questions and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode

[01:42] - Welcome and Introduction

[03:29] - Wassia’s Journey from FP&A to CFO

[05:02] - What Makes Great FP&A?

[07:13] - Dealing with the Board for the First Time

[09:45] - Building Trust and Strategic Influence in Finance

[13:20] - Leading in Multiple Industries

[17:05] - Expanding Your Network and Influence

[21:14] - Managing Uncertainty as a CFO

[25:32] - Leadership Lessons from Wassia’s Career

[29:00] - Building Effective Relationships in Business

[33:47] - Key Takeaways