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Beyond the Ledger

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The people and ideas shaping accounting and finance.

Beyond the Ledger, hosted by Troy Ashby, President at Benchmark Search, shines a light on the people, ideas, and stories shaping today’s accounting and finance industry. Each episode features in-depth conversations with leaders, innovators, and professionals who share their journeys, insights, and strategies for success, from career growth and leadership lessons to industry trends and challenges.

18 episodesHosted by Troy Ashby
Channel Brief·Beyond the Ledger · 18 episodes
Updated Aug 4, 2026

Career advancement beats titles; relationships and mastery drive leadership.

Beyond the Ledger profiles accounting and finance leaders who built durable careers through intentional skill-building, strategic relationships, and adaptability. The channel argues that credentials matter less than what you can do.

Beyond the Ledger argues that accounting and finance careers are built not on credentials or job titles, but on mastery of every role, deliberate relationships, and the willingness to stretch beyond your core function. Every episode profiles a named leader who embodies this thesis, grounding the argument in real career arcs: Raquel Hardy spent 30 years mastering every accounting role from audit to operations at a major health system; Johnnie Akin left Deloitte to lead a startup; CFO Joe LaPolla moved from public accounting to industry finance. The channel's proof pattern is biographical narrative paired with distilled career principles.

Drawn from From Auditor to Accounting Leader: Raquel Hard… and 2 more →

“Fair does not mean identical; individualized leadership performs better.”

Episode 11: Why Treating Everyone the Same Is Hurting Your Team

By the numbers

30

Years Raquel Hardy built accounting career by mastering each role

8

Years Schuyler Floyd spent in audit and financial due diligence

40

Year span of Felix Lozano's career in public accounting

What the channel argues

InsightPractical skills now matter more than formal credentials in accounting roles.→
InsightSpiral growth, combining core mastery with cross-functional stretch work, builds promotion-ready leaders.→
DataRaquel Hardy's 30-year career was built on deliberate mastery of every role in accounting.→
InsightCFOs must lead people and growth, not just numbers; audit expertise is the starting point.→
InsightTrust-based flexibility for working parents is a retention and growth strategy, not a perk.→
DataRelationships, proximity, and the courage to say yes shaped a nearly 40-year accounting career.→

What you'll learn

•Career stagnation breaks when you invest intentionally in yourself, your network, and your perspective on the work ahead.
•New leaders who seek feedback, lean on mentors, and decide with intention navigate promotion steeper learning curves successfully.
•The sizzle factor—personal qualities and presentation—matters as much as a strong resume in hiring decisions.
•Hiring people unlike yourself, with complementary strengths, widens your team's range and sharpens your own growth.
•Finding your 'why' in accounting—resilience and relationships guide reinvention when you pivot roles or industries.

What to do about it

→Map your current role's core competencies, then identify one cross-functional project that stretches a new capability; spiral growth requires pairing mastery with deliberate stretch.
→Audit your leadership approach: do you tailor feedback and development to each person's needs, or treat the team identically? Individualized leadership lifts retention and performance.
→If you lead in accounting or finance, formalize mentorship and feedback loops for newly promoted leaders; the transition requires psychological safety and intentional decision-making support.

Who and what shows up

Raquel Hardy

Senior Director of Accounting Operations, Parkland Health

30-year accounting career built by mastering every role, from external audit to full-scope financial operations at a major public health system.

Schuyler Floyd

Certified Public Accountant, LensLock

Transitioned from eight years in audit and financial due diligence at mid-market firms to financial leadership in technology and public safety.

Felix Lozano

Retired Chief Growth Officer, Whitley Penn

Built a nearly 40-year career in public accounting through communication, proximity, service, and the courage to say yes to opportunities.

Sandra Fendley

Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, Vaquero Midstream

Advocates for prioritizing great work, mentorship, and curiosity over title-chasing as the foundation of a rewarding accounting career.

Joe LaPolla

CFO, Driver Pipeline

Moved from public accounting to CFO role in pipeline construction, offering lessons on intentional transitions, team culture, and navigating industry change.

Questions this channel answers

Q

How do you break out of career stagnation?

Invest in personal development, stay intentional about your next move, and build a strong professional network. Andrea Carter emphasizes doing this with purpose, not drift.

What to Do When Your Career Feels Stuck: Invest in Yours… →
Q

What should a newly promoted leader do first?

Seek continuous feedback, lean on mentorship, and make decisions with intention. The steep learning curve requires psychological safety and deliberate support.

How to Succeed After Getting Promoted: Seeking Feedback,… →
Q

What matters more: credentials or skills?

Practical skills and demonstrated capabilities now trump formal credentials. The industry values professionals who adapt and show they can do the work.

Skills Over Credentials: What Actually Matters in Accoun… →
Q

Should you chase titles or focus on great work?

Great work, mentorship, and curiosity build a more rewarding career than title-chasing. Sandra Fendley argues durability and impact beat promotions on paper.

Stop Chasing Titles, Build a Career That Matters: A CAO’… →
Q

How do you succeed moving from public accounting to a CFO seat?

Make intentional, well-timed transitions and pair technical depth with adaptability. Joe LaPolla and Melinda Lawrence show that the CFO role is about leading people and growth, not just numbers.

From Public Accounting to CFO: The Leadership Wake-Up Ca… →
Topics:Career transitions and reinventionLeadership development and mentorshipPublic accounting to industry finance movesTeam culture and retention strategiesCross-functional skill-building
Themes:Mastery and stretch over titles and credentialsRelationships and proximity as career currencyIntentional adaptation to industry and role change

Industry context

HR and organizational leadership face major transformation driven by technology and talent dynamics, requiring leaders to adapt skills and capabilities beyond traditional credentials to navigate industry change.

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