Stories and lessons from an unexpected journey in finance.

Happy New Year. The books are closed on 2025.

It is tempting to roll forward last year’s habits, but 2026 demands a different approach. Drawing from the trenches and my advisory work, here are three strategic priorities and three personal resolutions for the year ahead.

The Strategic Priorities (The “What”)

1. Move from “Scorekeeper” to “Navigator”

Too many teams report the weather after the storm. The priority is strategic steering—helping the business identify initiatives before money is spent.

The Shift: Don’t just tell Sales they missed their number. Tell them why and where the profitable pockets are.

2. Get Ruthless About Data Integrity

We are drowning in data but starving for insight. Prioritizing integrity isn’t about AI buzzwords; it’s about the unsexy work of governance.

The Shift: Stop building Excel workarounds. If ERP data isn’t trusted, the strategy is just a guess.

3. Future-Proof the Talent

The team that got you to $20M won’t always get you to $50M. We need teams comfortable with ambiguity.

The Shift: Hire for curiosity, not just compliance. We need thinkers, not processors.

The Personal Resolutions (The “How”)

1. Be a “Trusted Advisor,” Not a “No” Man

It is easy to guard the vault; it is harder to help the business win.

The Resolution: Stop saying “We can’t afford that.” Start asking, “What must we believe for this to be a good investment?”

2. Translate “Finance” into “Business”

Marketing and Ops don’t speak GAAP. My job is to bridge that gap.

The Resolution: Stop hiding behind acronyms (EBITDA, CAC). Explain concepts in plain English that connect to their work.

3. Embrace the “Accidental” Moments

The pressure to be perfect is paralyzing. The best lessons in 2025 came from mistakes and detours.

The Resolution: Admit when I don’t know the answer. View ambiguity as an opportunity to lead.

The Bottom Line

We can’t control the market, only our mindset. Here is to a year of clean audits, strong cash flow, and leading with intention.

We all have old habits to break. What is the one thing you are leaving behind in 2025 to make room for growth this year?

#TheAccidentalCFO #CFOInsights #2026Resolutions #Leadership #inersec