Julie Munn-Sims, CFO Advisory Partner, EisnerAmper

Julie Munn-Sims, CFO advisory partner at EisnerAmper, spoke with Invest: about the growing role of AI in finance transformation, Houston’s advantages as an energy and business hub, and how companies are balancing automation, governance, and workforce development. “In consulting, there is rarely a single right answer, so we need people who are comfortable working in ambiguity,” Munn-Sims said.

How has demand for advisory services evolved over the past year, particularly across the energy and industrial sectors?

We are seeing accelerated growth and transformation across industries. Businesses are trying to determine how to adapt quickly while remaining accurate and efficient. In energy specifically, there is significant demand around power generation, data centers, and AI processing centers.

Companies are asking how to incorporate AI, how to use it effectively, and most importantly, how to derive value from it. CFOs and controllers want to understand how AI impacts the bottom line, and that is where advisory services are becoming increasingly important. We are helping organizations establish processes, technologies, and accounting structures to support AI adoption while enabling finance leaders to make better decisions.

What are finance leaders most focused on right now?

CFOs and finance leaders are focused on automation and accessing better data faster. They are looking at AI-driven forecasting, embedding live signals for greater accuracy, and improving visibility through real-time dashboards and automated alerts.

We are also seeing increased focus on commodity risk, capital raising, and connecting companies with investors to support innovation. Beyond that, there is growing attention on automation, compliance, continuous monitoring, and how organizations manage the broader energy transition.

How do you see Houston’s role evolving as energy and technology become more interconnected?

The energy sector covers oil and gas, chemicals, renewables, and oil-field services, and cost pressures are always present. Historically, companies focused heavily on automation. Now they are rethinking how work itself gets done.

Also, demand for energy products continues to grow, particularly because of geopolitical issues and rising global energy needs. Houston is becoming increasingly important because of the Houston Ship Channel and the region’s ability to move products efficiently.

Consumers are feeling the impact through fuel prices, flight costs, and shipping costs. That pressure pushes companies to lower costs, increase supply, and access additional markets while still meeting demand.

What advantages does Houston offer businesses and professional services firms?

Texas and Houston are business-friendly. The lack of a state income tax and a lower regulatory environment continue to attract companies, especially from the West Coast.

Houston also benefits from a strong workforce and education base. The region also recognizes the importance of trade professions and blue-collar industries. Not every student needs to follow the same educational path, and Houston has built a workforce ecosystem that supports both professional and trade careers to meet economic demand.

What are clients asking for as they work through finance transformation and ERP modernization projects?

Clients are asking how they can grow without proportionally increasing their cost base. We advise organizations through what we call the target operating model: people, process, and technology.

On the people side, companies are adopting a more modern workforce that includes both human and digital capabilities. We talk about an agentic workforce and how organizations can create capacity without simply hiring more people.

On the process side, we help clients automate workflows in both the back office and front office. Historically, finance teams spent a great deal of time on reconciliations, manual journal entries, and reporting. Today, automation allows analysts to focus more on analytics and business insights rather than calculations.

From a technology perspective, many companies are evaluating whether their ERP systems are truly fit for purpose. In many cases, the answer is not necessarily a complete ERP replacement, but rather integrated technologies with AI and digital capabilities that provide real-time insights across the organization.

How are workforce expectations and required skills changing?

The role of the financial analyst has evolved dramatically over the past decade. Accounting and finance are now much more technology-driven. There is growing emphasis on AI, management information systems, and understanding how to use technology to analyze and interpret data.

Companies are looking for employees who want to learn continuously and embrace evolving technologies. AI is becoming part of daily workflows, but it is not just about asking simple questions. It is about using AI critically, exploring alternative viewpoints, and leveraging it to optimize projects and decision-making processes.

The real value is the speed at which teams can access different perspectives and insights.

How is EisnerAmper approaching talent development and retention?

Our CFO advisory practice has experienced tremendous growth, and we look for people who are curious, adaptable, and eager to learn. In consulting, there is rarely a single right answer, so we need people who are comfortable working in ambiguity.

We want consultants who ask thoughtful questions, identify the core business challenges, and develop multiple options for clients. If we only provide one answer, then we have failed. Clients need flexibility, whether driven by cost considerations, technology requirements, or geopolitical factors.

We are also seeing clients balance environmental responsibility with rising energy demand. The industry continues to focus on sustainability, but organizations must also ensure they can meet growing consumer and industrial energy needs.

Where do you see the biggest opportunities for growth in professional services?

At EisnerAmper, our agility is one of our greatest strengths. We support everything from quick transformation projects to large-scale multiyear initiatives.

We often talk about little “t” transformation versus big “T” transformation. Some clients need quick operational improvements, while others are fundamentally redesigning their organizations across people, process, and technology.

A major area of growth is helping companies define and quantify the value of transformation, especially around AI. Organizations want to understand how to communicate the value of those investments to stakeholders and investors.

We are also seeing strong demand around cybersecurity and governance. As organizations become more technology-enabled, they face increased cyber risk. Clients want to know how to protect their employees, customers, and systems while still encouraging innovation and self-service automation.

Governance has become equally important. Companies are empowering employees to automate workflows themselves, but they also need controls and visibility around those activities.

Are there any final thoughts you would like to add?

This is an exciting time in consulting because the technology is changing at a rate that the consultant and the client are learning together. That has made the work incredibly innovative.

No two clients or projects are the same, and that constant evolution continues to drive both personal and professional growth for our teams and our clients.