We are proud to announce the winners of the Office of the CFO Awards 2023!
In the names and achievements you can see the diversity of award winners in sectors from utilities, to manufacturing, fashion, to tech, biotechnology and advertising to cannabis changing finance from a cost-center to a transformative player.
These awards are meant to give finance teams the recognition they deserve- one survey revelead that two thirds (67%) of US finance leaders feel sorely underappreciated at being relegated to the shadows.
In the words of one of our winners, Robin Kiziak, the controller behind iconic outdoor brands Vans, North Face and Timberland…
“There are lots of people who don’t get the recognition they deserve in the finance and FP&A space.
“Much of this comes down to the fact that finance and accounting professionals are seen as an essential, but back office function.
This is totally the wrong attitude.
“The sales team have their bell to ring and horns to toot when they make a sale…we should be doing the same when we’ve completed another period end, or round of budgeting!”
The Office of the CFO Awards (the OCFOs – we are hoping that catches on) recognizes unsung heroes in finance – AI visionaries, FP& leaders, controllers – who brought $$$ growth to their businesses in 2023. Their stories are inspirational.
Rewarded by peers for their transformational and inspiring finance work
Our winners represent the remarkable work that finance are doing on the numbers but more importantly in business partnering. We selected winners who stood out for the praise they received from their peers in our judging process. There are no “Dr No’s”, or budget killers here! Forgetting old cliches about finance we received hundreds of nominations from colleagues working in operations, product-and everything in between singing the praises of these finance leaders – and all the other dozens of nominations we received.
Congrats to all our winners!
CFOs of the Year
First up the overall winners of CFO Of the Year 2023
- Utilities: Zach Morgan, CFO, United Electric Company – “A true professional and an awesome CFO!”
- Fashion/retail: Melanie Lau, CFO Bandier – “an ideal partner in business transformation.”
- Non profit: Esther Bergman, Chai Lifeline – “strategic vision ensures that financial resources are directed towards maximizing the impact.”
- Non profit: Steve Ailey, CFO, Forefront Living – “ensures organization not just survived hard times, but thrived.”
- Finance: Maurice Kuykendoll CFO, Group Insurance, Prudential Financial – “identified opportunities to increase customer lifetime profitability.”
- Fractional CFO: Kathy Svetina – “reinforces how valuable she can be as a finance partner to lots of small and medium enterprises.”
- SaaS: Sarah Spoja, CFO Tipalti – “a leader who guides the financial systems that empower us.”
- Tech: Shannon Nash, CFO Wing (Google Subsidiary) – “an expert who has vast board experience and experience leading organization’s to drive growth”
- Tech: Sruthi Lanka Public.com – “effective leader by challenging her direct reports with new responsibilities and giving them exposure to leadership.”
- Healthcare: Katie Bollinger, CFO, MLee Healthcare – “Exceptional ability to navigate complex financial landscapes with precision and foresight.”
- Cannabis: David Van Vlierbergen, Founder and CFO, Fernway – “one of the best examples I’ve seen of finance-led growth.”
- Pharmacy: Cecile Munnik, CFO, Pharmcorx – “turned the company around and has brought structure and strategic vision to Progressive Care Inc.”
- Retail: Renato Boldo, CFO LATAM Compra Agora (Unilever)– “enhanced profitability mindset, financial management, facilitated negotiations, and played a pivotal role in supporting the business’s ongoing growth.”
- IT/networking Nadim Allidina, CFO, Generis Group – “consistently seeks innovative solutions to financial challenges.
FP&A Pros of the Year
- Tech: Barry Lin,Head of FP&A, Guesty – “Tech implementation in record time and operates the platform like a maestro.”
- Travel and transport: Kasey Noffsinger, Business Analyst at TransWest Transportation – “streamlined financial processes and we have better data (financials & non-financial) at our fingertips”
- Hospitals and Health care: Gina Slack, Senior Financial Reporting Analyst, Life Care Services – “personifies everything that a CFO would want in an FP&A professional.”
- SaaS: Steve Haase, Director Global FP&A, Backlight – “a true modern FP&A leader and partner.”
- Advertising Services: Javier Aquayo, Director, FP&A, Oxford Road -”worked tirelessly to move our organization out of the world of google sheets and into the world of AI automation”
- Venture Capital and Private Equity: Max Bochner, VP, FP&A Softbank Investment Advisers – “delivered huge improvements in our budgeting process, incredible visuals and centralized information for everyone.
- Biotechnology: Christopher Abbiuso, Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, LGC Clinical Diagnostics – “delivered shareholder value during a time of rapid change and economic challenges.”
- Medical Practices: Neela Patel, Director, Strategic Planning & Financial Analysis Director – “Our organization has grown 600% over the past year with Neela at the helm of large acquisitions and strategic planning for growth”
- Wholesale Building Materials: Susan Bosch, Senior Director of Finance, Wilsonart – built a sustainable process to refresh standard costs for the first time in 7 years and took reporting activities away from interesting data toward insight and recommended actions.”
Visionaries in AI Finance
- Nicolas Boucher, Founder Nicolas Boucher Online – “a leader in practical education and tips for AI in finance with ongoing ”
- Glenn Hopper, Eventus Advisory Group – “Glenn doesn’t just talk about AI, he puts it into practice.”
- Adam Shilton, Senior Consultant, Thinc – His work as an evangelist in the space has brought timely and valuable information to thousands of FP&A pros.
- Don Tomoff, Director, Invenio Advisors – “focused on helping companies “think differently” with technology and innovation.”
Controller of the Year
- Retail Apparel and Fashion: Robin Kiziak, Financial Controller and Finance Business Partner at VF Corporation – “pushes himself out of his comfort zone from finance for non-finance workshops to monthly content on the performance of the finance team – and runs a great website championing finance.”
- Retail Apparel and Fashion: Wendy Van de Putte, Distribution Center Analyst & Budget Planner, VF Europe – “puts in so much work to drive forward her distribution center and gives them insight and analysis to help them improve.”
- Advertising Services: Peter Loewi, Controller, Glassview – “provides our organization with the insight we need to make long-term decisions for the company.”
- Facilities Services: Jefferson Torres Saldanha, Controller, Guima – “strategic leader helping motivating and engaging his team.”
- Social Media Marketing: Matt Fausett, Senior Director of Finance & Accounting, STN Digital- “led the company to its best year yet. Year over year performance metrics for STN include, a 39.1% increase in Revenue, 274.6% Increase in Net Income”
- Restaurants: Anthony Davlin, Controller, Enviromatic Corporation of America – “upgraded many of the systems here from payroll, accounting, helped with training for staff and hr, expanded into 9 additional states.”
- Manufacturing/wholesale building materials: Lemia Young, Financial Controller, ACM Chemistries – “wide range of work including preparing financial reports for general ledger and running budget and management functions.”
Congratulations to all our winners and the hundreds of people who were nominated for this prestigious award. We will see you again next year!