Using Leadership to Turn the Year-End Chaos into Achievement

Hi , this is Stephen McLea of the Finance Leader Podcast . This is bonus episode number 81 . I hope you all have started the week off in a great way . My week definitely has . If you didn't know , I am located in Nashville , tennessee , and our winter weather has definitely started , which really means it got cold , but not too cold , not the cold I am used to from where I grew up , which was in Maine . We had a few snow flurries last week , which coincided well with the city of Nashville as they lighted the Christmas tree that same night , so we had some snowflakes falling with the Christmas tree lighting . That doesn't happen very often in Nashville , so it made it a little special . Now this week I wanted to highlight end-of-the-year activities again . We have a lot going on in our personal lives , but we still have business activities to close out and we may have some professional obligations too . So ensure you properly plan out the next few weeks and then be ready for the new year , which means new goals and new possibilities . So this week I'm sharing a replay of bonus episode number 68 , closing the Year Strong Planning , budgeting , professional Development and Self-Care Tips for Finance Leaders . I talk about year-end close budget planning for next year , completing your continuing professional education credits , goal setting and taking some time off to rest before the new year begins , because once the new year begins , it is full speed again . Take some time off to rest before the new year begins , because once the new year begins , it is full speed again . Take some time off to rest . Please enjoy this encore replay of bonus episode number 68 , closing the Year Strong Planning , budgeting , professional Development and Self-Care Tips for Finance Leaders . You can find more resources at financeleaderacademycom . Enjoy the rest of your week and thank you for listening toademycom . Enjoy the rest of your week and thank you for listening to the Finance Leader Podcast . Enjoy the replay . Thank you , hi . This is Stephen McLean of the Finance Leader Podcast . This is bonus episode number 68 . Good day and good week to everyone .

We have an amazing opportunity every day to shape our career , our team members' goals and also to shape our organizations to be better , and I love that . No matter what else is happening , we have the opportunity to help another leader to understand their numbers more clearer or to help explain how a KPI or metric is behaving in a way that maybe only our team can explain . We can do that . We lead with the numbers in ways no one else can . Now . That is finance leadership Bringing our ability to find the right number or development model to reinforce decision making or to enlighten senior leaders on what may be happening . Analyzing the numbers is what most of us are driven to do with incredible passion , and I believe we can be amazing when we apply finance leadership to the strategy . That is why we are here . In this week's bonus episode .

I want to address a few end-of-the-year activities . You will have both organizational and personal end-of-the-year activities to complete or plan . The first two activities that I will highlight are organizational activities . Now here is a short list of the key end-of-the-year activities . Number one year-end close . Your company may match up their yearly calendar with the actual calendar , so year-end close may be coming up in January and it's time now to develop your calendar and key activities to have a successful year-end close . Year-end close is a very thorough process , so it's important to start soon with the planning if you have not done so already . Start soon with the planning if you have not done so already .

Number two budget for next year . You should be nearing the final approval of your 2024 budget very soon . What would you do differently next year ? Did your team publish budget development guidance . What are your assumptions for next year that may affect how you forecast ? How did you handle senior leaders or department heads who disagreed with you or the guidance ? As we all know , the budget is a decision to commit our limited resources to support the strategy . It's always about choices and not everyone will agree . This requires effective finance leadership .

Number three CPEs completed and turned in . It's early November , so time is running out . If you need to recertify by the end of the year , your organization may also require CPEs to be completed and turned in , depending on what role you have . I talk about CPEs all year and this is one of the most important processes we have . As a professional . Our growth and development is what separates professionals from amateurs , but CPE completion is often put off later and later every year until it becomes too late . I want you to have a CPE plan every year so you accomplish some of the requirements every quarter .

Number four goal setting . Please review your progress for this last year and start to set your personal goals for next year . This is really an all-year activity , just like CPE completion . This time of year , it's good to determine how well you did with your current goals and then that will lead you to what you want to get done next year . I will have my annual goal setting episode out in January , so we start off the year right . I will have my annual goal setting episode out in January , so we start off the year right . Oh , and I love goal setting and accomplishment . It gets me really motivated .

And finally , number five take paid time off . You need to take a break also . You have worked hard all year and you deserve a break , so please schedule some time off to spend with your family or some other activity that can help you recharge . It's important to take some time off . Don't overlook taking a break and practicing some great self-care . These are just a few critical year-end activities . There may be more based on your organization and your personal goals . Please check out Finance Leader Academy , where you can find some great resources , and also download the free Become a Finance Leader Guide . Have a great rest of your week . Thank you for listening to the Finance Leader Podcast . Until next time , lead your team , lead your organization and practice some amazing self-care . Thank you .