CFO Chronicles: The Secrets Behind Success

88% of buyers start on Google, but if your firm isn’t showing up, you don’t exist.⚠️

 Referrals won’t scale. SEO alone won’t save you. And “trying out” paid ads without a strategy? That’s just burning cash.

In this episode of CFO Chronicles, we’re joined by Jeremy Estey of Amber Sky Marketing, a Google Ads strategist helping firms across North America get seen, clicked, and hired. We unpack the hard truths firms need to hear in ...

Growth ≠ scale, and too many founders learn that the hard way.

In this episode, I sit down with Michael Straza of Straza Consulting to unpack what actually holds back firms from reaching the next level and why more sales won’t fix a broken structure.

They dive into:

• The difference between running a business and truly being in control
• Why poor delegation crushes growth (and team morale)
• How Straza helped firms jump from $5M to $15M, ...

2,600 CFOs. 100+ interviews. One framework every advisory-first firm should know.

Jack McCullough, founder of the CFO Leadership Council and host of the globally ranked Secrets of Rockstar CFOs podcast, shares what the best financial leaders do differently, and how to position your firm for where the industry is going.

This episode covers:

• The CREATE Framework: 6 traits great CFOs consistently show
• Why strategic thinking now matter...

4.5 years in federal prison. $0 to 7 figures. One of the most powerful growth stories you’ll hear this year.

In this episode, Dr. Patience Jackson Rose breaks down the exact mindset and strategies that took her from wrongful conviction to running multiple businesses across the U.S.

What we cover:

• 💰 How she doubled, then tripled, then quadrupled her revenue in 3 years
• 📈 Took one client from $5M to $12M in just 90 days
• 🧱 Built a no...

97% of CFO consultants never crack 7-figures

Mark Gandy’s been breaking the mold since 2001. With a 98% close rate, 250+ podcast episodes. He’s living proof that the “fractional CFO” label is killing your growth.

In this episode, he shares:

 🔑 The #1 sales secret that closes more deals than any pitch deck
 ⚡️ Why recurring revenue might actually hurt your growth
 🚀 How referrals alone fuel his million-dollar business an...

Fired. Depressed. Then tapped by the FBI.

 Andrew Jordan’s story isn’t a straight line - it’s a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and building a firm the right way.

In this episode, we unpack:

• The real story behind a $20M fraud scandal (and Andrew’s whistleblower role)
• How getting fired sparked the growth of Jordan CPA
• What it takes to build a 12-person firm with EOS and zero burnout
• The single best move Andrew made after ...

7 clients. 30 posts. One phone.

Jeremy Davila didn’t wait to “feel ready” - he built a client pipeline with raw, consistent content.

In this episode, we break down:

• The exact content that brought in new clients
• Why 3 videos outperformed 10 cold emails
• The $10K mistake most firms make on Instagram
• How to use social without being “salesy”
• The easiest way to create 30 days of content in 1 hour

If you’re not creating content, th...

I walked off stage and knew our business had just leveled up.

This wasn’t just a marketing play,it was a career milestone, a systems test, and a visibility machine rolled into one.

In this episode, I break down what really happened at GrowCon 2025, from battling nerves backstage to booking deals, meeting the team in real life, and learning where our systems still break.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• The ROI of sponsoring high-ticket ev...

Most accountants run from sales - Vanessa ran toward it.

 After 9 years behind the books, she pivoted into a full-time sales role and never looked back. In this episode, we unpack her journey from accountant to closer - and the mindset shifts that made it possible.

We get into:
 – How to make a career leap without starting over
 – Why mindset > tactics in outbound sales
 – What to do when the leads don’t say yes
–...

He scaled a firm 5x in 3 years—and didn’t burn out doing it.

In this episode, James sits down with John Roberts Jr. of Attract Accounting to break down the mindset, systems, and strategy behind one of the fastest-growing firms in the country.

You’ll learn:

• How John bought his first firm with no money down
• Why building SOPs before hiring paid off fast
• The masterminds that changed everything
• How his team helped land an $70M client exit
• ...

What if your biggest bottleneck… was you?

In this episode, James sits down with Tom Dillon of Frak Finance, a former investment banker turned fractional CFO, to unpack the real reason most firm owners stall out- and what it takes to scale beyond the “one-man band” model.

You’ll learn:

• Why hiring before you're ready is often the smartest move
• How to remove emotion from high-stakes financial decisions
• The moment Tom knew he had t...

What if you could cut your tax bill in half—just by owning your building the right way?

In this episode, James sits down with Sean Graham of Maven Cost Segregation to unpack the most overlooked tax strategy business owners, CFOs, and firm leaders aren’t using—but should be.

You’ll learn:

• How cost segregation turns depreciation into cash flow
• Why most accountants still don’t bring it up to clients
• Who qualifies (and how much you can ...

You don’t need more clients. You need the right ones—and a system that keeps them.

That’s exactly what Marta Grumberg  built with Grumberg Accounting: a hands-free, high-retention accounting service tailored specifically for bars, restaurants, and caterers.

In this episode, Marta joins James to break down how she became the go-to financial partner for food businesses across the U.S.—and how she’s grown through referrals, retention, a...

What if the old rules for growing your firm no longer applied?

No cold calls. No in-person handshakes. No chasing local leads.
 Just brand, trust, and content that actually converts.

In this episode, James sits down with Stoy Hall, founder of Black Mammoth and host of the No BS Wealth podcast, to break down how he’s scaling a modern family office by doing things differently—and why that’s exactly what today’s market demands.

You’l...

Where is your firm bleeding cash, and what can you do about it?

In this episode, James sits down with Larry Levine of P3 Cost Analysts, who works with companies doing $20M to $500M+ to recover tens (sometimes hundreds) of thousands in unnecessary expenses—without cutting staff, renegotiating client contracts, or sacrificing service quality.
You’ll learn:

• Why CFOs and controllers often miss cost-saving opportunities hiding in ...

The most successful accounting professionals don't sell—they consult. This transformative episode with Neil Barrow reveals the crucial mindset shift that separates struggling practitioners from those who effortlessly build thriving books of business.

Drawing from nearly a decade in public accounting as a business development leader, Neil dismantles the uncomfortable "sales" stigma that plagues many financial...

Tired of Feeling Like Just Another Number Cruncher?
If you're an accountant or bookkeeper stuck in the compliance grind—undervalued, underpaid, and wondering how to position yourself as a strategic advisor—this episode is your wake-up call.

🎙️ Roger Knecht, President of Universal Accounting Center, breaks down how to transform your bookkeeping or accounting practice into a high-value, profit-driving firm. With o...

We dive deep into the world of fractional CFOs and their pivotal role in transforming financial strategies for businesses aiming to scale. Our guest, Ken LaCroix, a seasoned fractional CFO, shares his invaluable experiences and strategies for leveraging financial data, moving beyond gut-instinct decision-making, and harnessing analytical insights for growth. 

Ken illustrates the potential for fractional CFOs to bridge high...

Unlock the secrets to attracting high-paying clients without the dreaded "salesy" vibe. Explore insights with Michelle Weinstein from the Abundant Accountant, as she shares her transformative journey from finance to entrepreneurial success. We promise you'll master strategies that empower you to communicate your value effectively, freeing yourself from solely relying on referrals. Michelle's structured sales pro...