Register for the upcoming webinar now and learn how finance leaders are breaking the reporting rut and driving strategic impact: https://insightsoftware.com/resources/get-out-of-the-reporting-rut-how-finance-leaders-drive-strategic-impact/
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In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, host Wassia Kamon, CPA, CMA, MBA, sits down with Anna Sagan, Senior Principal Solutions Engineer at Insightsoftware, who brings over two decades of experience in financial software and strategic reporting. From early roles in bank advisory to helping companies simplify complex ERP data, Anna has seen firsthand how reporting tools and the people who use them can make or break financial decision-making.
Together, they unpack the critical challenges finance teams face with real-time data access, tool adoption, and reporting alignment. Anna shares her journey into tech, the evolution of Excel as a strategic tool (not just a spreadsheet), and why understanding your users is more important than chasing flashy solutions. They also discuss AI’s role in reporting, the risk of underutilized tools, and how finance leaders can drive meaningful change without burning out their teams.
Whether you're a controller frustrated by ERP reports or a CFO aiming to future-proof your reporting stack, this episode delivers sharp insights and real-world advice.
Key Takeaways
Excel as a Strategic Tool: Why finance professionals still rely on Excel and how to maximize its potential
ERP Limitations: The real reason most ERP-native reports fall short for finance teams
Implementation Playbook: How to drive adoption, not just installation, of new reporting tools
AI + Human Touch: Why future-ready reporting still needs people to interpret and steer insights
Underutilized Tech Risk: How to recognize when your tools are going unused, and what to do about it
Noteworthy Quotes
"Everyone's favorite BI tool? The one that gets data into Excel the fastest." – Anna Sagan
"Reporting tools don’t fail because of the tech, they fail because no one uses them." – Anna Sagan
"You can’t deliver strategy from a spreadsheet you don’t trust." – Anna Sagan
"If you're still asking 'how can we do this better?' You're doing it right." – Anna Sagan
Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction to Anna Sagan’s background and career journey
[05:47] The evolving expectations from finance teams: speed, data, and usability
[07:30] Why Excel is still the most loved BI tool in finance
[10:47] Reporting limitations in ERPs and the case for specialized tools
[15:33] Why companies underutilize the tools they pay for
[18:25] Key questions CFOs should ask to assess reporting effectiveness
[22:35] A step-by-step playbook for successful reporting tool implementation
[24:40] The future of reporting: AI, automation, and the human touch
[29:17] Personal insights: Parenting, tennis, and how software shapes her worldview
👉 If becoming a CFO is in your 5-year plan, get your free CFO Readiness Scorecard here: http://thecfo.scoreapp.com
📬 Get Involved
Have a question or topic suggestion?
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🔗 Connect with Guest Anna Sagan on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annasagan/
Insightsoftware (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/outcomes-by-insightsoftware/
Insightsoftware: https://insightsoftware.com/
🔗 Connect with Host Wassia Kamon on
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wassiakamon/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wassiakamon/
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