In this episode of the Construction CFO Podcast, host Rishi Srivastava sits down with Matt Robinson, CFO of Swain Electric, to explore the realities of leading finance in the construction industry.

Matt shares his journey from public accounting and manufacturing into construction finance, and what surprised him most about the industry — from manual processes to the high level of collaboration among peers. He discusses:

• The toughest parts of cash flow management in construction, from retainage to “pay-when-paid” clauses.

• How he balances paying subcontractors promptly while protecting company cash.

• Why the CFO role is shifting from financial controller to risk manager, collaborator, and strategist.

• Lessons on leadership, hiring the best talent, and becoming a true partner across departments.

• The technologies transforming construction finance, including ERP tools and AI-driven AP automation.

• His vision for the future of the CFO role — and what will separate top performers from the rest.

  
  

  If you want to watch this recording in Video, here is the YouTube link:

  https://youtu.be/oFrnAuoIEPc?si=qPI2YhXq6_Dty2tG

  
  

Whether you’re a CFO, controller, or finance leader in construction, this episode offers actionable insights on cash flow, risk, leadership, and the future of technology in the industry.

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