Liquid: How CFOs Outperform

The Global CFO: Lessons in Leadership, AI, and Agility

Episode Summary

In this episode, Tom talks with Michiel Boere, CFO of Remote, about what it takes to lead finance for a global company operating in over 100 countries.

Episode Notes

In this episode, Thomas Gavaghan talks with Michiel Boere, CFO of Remote, about leading finance for one of the world’s fastest-growing global HR platforms. Michiel shares how Remote helps companies hire, manage, and pay talent anywhere in the world, and how that mission shapes his approach as CFO.

Michiel offers a candid look at the realities of managing finance across 100+ countries, from the complexity of global payroll and navigating diverse regulations, to the challenge of mitigating foreign exchange risk. He discusses the true ROI and variable cost of AI investments, sharing practical advice on balancing innovation with discipline in a fast-scaling company.

Drawing on his experience at Uber and Remote, Michiel explains why great CFOs must balance data with judgment, stay nimble in uncertain times, and lead with both flexibility and trust. He highlights the importance of understanding the business beyond spreadsheets—connecting with teams, empowering decision-making, and focusing on what truly drives growth and resilience.

Guest Quote:

From a financial point, the complexity with that global footprint lies, at least to a large extent, in the money movement, right? It's much more complex than generally people think to move money around the world. If it's not going to the top countries in the world, right? It’s very easy to move money from say, Europe to the US and back and forth, but to get the funds right in time for payroll to the Philippines or Pakistan, is a different story. There is a lot of time and effort that goes into managing that complexity.