Lights, Camera, Accounting: Brad Channer's Evolution from Actor to CFO
"Success in finance isn’t just about crunching numbers—it’s about storytelling, strategy, and steering the business forward. You’ve got to perform, adapt, and think ahead, because the real game is shaping the future, not just reporting the past."
In this episode of It’s Not All About the Numbers, hosts Chris and Mike welcome Brad Channer, award-winning CFO of UBO. The conversation starts with a lighthearted chat about accents and greetings before shifting to leadership, finance, and career journeys. Brad shares his experience managing high-pressure deadlines, board meetings, and strategic planning, reflecting on the transition from intense work periods to quieter times. He also discusses his role in the CIMA Council and the future of management accounting, emphasizing the growing need for technology, automation, and strategic thinking in finance.
The discussion explores the generational gap in accounting, the shift from traditional finance to management accounting, and the challenges of attracting young talent. Brad highlights leadership as a form of performance, drawing from his acting background, and stresses the importance of adaptability and strategic foresight in a CFO role. He also reflects on his unconventional path from acting to finance and how it shapes his leadership approach. The episode wraps up with insights on career evolution, entrepreneurship, and the future of finance.
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“Chris Argent isn’t here to play by finance’s old rulebook - he’s here to rewrite it.” From challenging outdated corporate thinking to rallying finance leaders around a more connected, adaptable future, the founder of GENCFO is leading a quiet revolution in how CFOs and finance leadership work, think, and influence. Chris Argent, founder of GENCFO, is a finance leader redefining the role beyond business partnering. A self-described “reluctant accountant,” he’s built a global community for progressive accounting and finance leaders who value connection over competition and action over tradition. Chris believes the greatest risk to the profession is clinging to outdated norms, and that mindset and adaptability outpace any technological change. His work champions leaders who turn new ideas into real-world change, blending people-centred strategies with new ways of working and technology. In conversations, he challenges, provokes, and inspires - proving that the future of finance belongs to those ready to lead it together.