Controllers Classified

Controllers and accountants perform some of the most critical and dynamic roles in business — and this podcast will share their inside stories and strategies. Join us as they divulge exclusive insights on the topics redefining the world of accounting and finance, from AI to digitization to globalization. Presented by Brex, an AI powered spend platform

Controllers Classified is a business podcast hosted by Brex, with 26 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Brex hosts Controllers Classified, a business show with 26 episodes published.

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  Controllers Classified

  Weathering tariff risks: Richie Mashiko’s framework for lean, resilient CPG brands

  May 20, 202539 minS0

  <p>Host Erik Zhou, CAO at Brex, sits down with Richie Mashiko, Fractional CFO, to unpack the financial complexities of running high-growth e-commerce and CPG brands. From measuring the right things to navigating ad spend, pricing strategies, and fragile supply chains amidst tariffs, Richie offers a unique operator’s perspective on what it takes to drive sustainable growth in today’s market.</p><p>Key quotes</p>“There are 4 things I look at in an e-commerce business: cost of goods, operating expenses, advertising spend, and profit” “A lot of e-commerce businesses are dependent on the performance and efficiency of ads on Meta, Go...

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  Controllers Classified

  Mastering e-commerce accounting with Scentbird’s Amber Papp

  Mar 25, 202544 minS0

  <p>Host Erik Zhou sits down with Amber Papp, VP of Finance at Scentbird, to explore the unique challenges of accounting in the e-commerce space. From managing a massive inventory of over 700 fragrances to navigating rapid growth and making smart automation decisions, Amber shares firsthand insights on what it takes to keep financial operations running smoothly at a high-growth, subscription-based company.</p><p>Amber and Erik also dig into relevant themes like the role of AI in accounting, balancing efficiency with cost when evaluating new financial tools and systems, and the never-ending pursuit of data integrity.</p><p>And as...

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  Controllers Classified

  From accounting to operations, how Brad Silicani became COO of Anrok

  Feb 26, 202537 minS0

  <p>On this episode of Controllers Classified, host Erik Zhou sits down with Brad Silicani, COO of Anrok, to talk about his journey from Big Four accounting to leading operations at a fast-growing tech company. </p><p>The discussion begins by covering Brad’s transition from audit to client side, and highlights the myriad of roles he held at Dropbox. In his time there he was Controller, tasked with landing a sound revenue recognition method, Head of Tax, focused on developing the right international tax structure prior to IPO, and Treasurer, responsible for managing $2B in cash in a changing int...

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  Controllers Classified

  Embedding tax strategies into company plans with PWC’s Michael Williams

  Feb 11, 202542 minS0

  <p>In this episode of Controllers Classified, Erik Zhou sits down with Michael Williams, a Tax Partner at PwC, to unpack both his career path to Partnership and his firm’s POV on corporate tax strategies in 2025 and beyond. </p><p>Michael begins by sharing key milestones in his time at PWC, noting how his perspective, role, and scope shifted as he worked towards becoming a Partner at the firm. He underscores the importance of real value creation for clients and notes that if you’re in the business of service and advice, it has to be quality and actionable. </p><p>H...

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  Controllers Classified

  The role of accounting in a company's exit strategy with Clari's Karen Wu

  Jan 28, 202541 minS0

  <p>In this episode of Controllers Classified, Erik Zhou sits down with Karen Wu, the Chief Accounting Officer at Clari, to discuss the role of accounting in a company’s exit strategy. The conversation starts with an overview of Karen’s time in Transaction Services at PWC, where she helped a myriad of companies prepare for IPO - including Alibaba, the largest IPO in US history. Drawing on those experiences, Karen covers the reasons why a company may look for an exit, the types of exit strategies, and the role of the accounting team in those strategies. </p><p>Specifically, Karen...

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