Nearly everyone agrees: Accounting has a talent shortage problem.

A recent survey from accounting and finance talent outsourcing firm Personiv found that about nine in 10 finance leaders (87%) acknowledged a shortage exists, a rate that’s been on a steady upward climb from 63% back in 2020.

CFO Brew spoke with Megan Weis, Personiv’s VP and general manager of FAO services, to break down the survey findings and discuss the reasons behind the ongoing shortage.

Here’s the situation. According to the survey of more than 250 finance and accounting leaders, organizations on average had five open finance or accounting positions, up from an average of two open positions in the 2024 survey. Half the respondents said it takes their organizations 60 days or more, on average, to fill those open roles.

Weis said organizations are responding by automating certain processes, increasing salaries and benefits, and offering more flexible work arrangements. She remembered working 80-plus hours a week during the busier times of year when she started her career as an auditor in 1998.

Click here for more on the accounting talent crisis.—AZ

Start revving those engines and planning late summer road trips because gas prices might drop in August.

Eight members of OPEC Plus announced on Saturday that they will increase oil production by 548,000 barrels a day. The group—which includes Saudi Arabia, Russia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Kazakhstan, and Algeria—will increase global production by about half a percent.

Analysts were expecting a slightly smaller increase for the back half of the summer and believe that the additional supply will likely surpass demand, lowering prices. They expect crude oil prices to fall from $68 per barrel last week down to the $50–$60 range later this year, the New York Times reported.

OPEC Plus wrote that “a steady global economic outlook and current healthy market fundamentals” contributed to the increase. Aside from a brief spike in prices, the oil industry appears unfazed by the conflict between Israel and Iran. But some analysts see some ulterior motives.

How low will oil prices get?—JK

One is responsible for money in, the other for allocating funds. While similar in some ways, yet distinctly different in others, the CRO-CFO relationship can be contentious. Nailing it can work wonders for an organization.

In separate conversations with Revenue Brew, SaaS platform Xactly’s CFO Jason Godley and CRO Sam Zayed dished on how they’ve built an effective relationship with each other, how to navigate difficult conversations between teams, and other advice for other CFOs and CROs.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

What are some common miscommunications that can happen between the CRO and the CFO?

Zayed: The CFO might think that the CRO is just like any other sales guy that wants to get a deal done at all costs, at any terms and discounts, and give away the farm just to kind of get a deal done and bring the register.

Godley: CRO probably has a shorter lens: “The world is quarter.” I’m looking both this quarter and in the future. So in the near term, if there’s an issue or disagreement around a certain decision right now, if we can frame it in the context of the long-term plan.

Keep reading Revenue Brew’s story on the CFO-CRO relationship here.—BS

When the market gets murky, great CFOs get focused. Discover how to stay steady by zeroing in on what you can control—like operational efficiency, financial buffers, and strategic acquisitions. Don’t miss this expert-led discussion on July 10, where we’ll break down how to navigate economic headwinds with confidence and clarity. Register here.