Strategic Finance is really hand in hand with AI because the AI tools are just going to help us do a better job and tell us where the gaps are.

– Kerry Butler, CFO of Woolnorth Renewables

Kerry Butler, CFO of Woolnorth Renewables in Tasmania, shares her bold NetSuite rollout, revealing strategic insights on tech, budgeting, AI, and scaling clean energy operations.

In this episode, we talk about . . .

• Insights from attending SuiteWorld 2025 in Las Vegas
• Strategic NetSuite rollout, starting with Planning & Budgeting (NSPB)
• Overcoming implementation challenges with a lean finance team
• Use of implementation partners: Pivot Two & Netgain
• Multilingual board reporting (Chinese & English) and real-time forecasting
• Integrations with SharePoint, virtual cards, and maintenance systems
• Leveraging AI and Ask Oracle for smarter decision-making
• Community involvement and commitment to renewable energy
• Advice for scaling businesses and choosing the right tech stack

🧰 Apps & Tools Mentioned:

NetSuite, NetSuite Planning and Budgeting (NSPB), Netgain, Pivot Two, SharePoint, Smart View, Camtasia

📺 Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome & Guest Intro: Kerry Butler, CFO of Woolnorth Renewables
01:45 – Why Kerry Chose NetSuite: Flexibility and ecosystem advantages
04:12 – Board-Ready Reporting in Two Languages: How NSPB enabled it
06:57 – Implementing NSPB First: Breaking ERP rollout conventions
09:43 – Smart Budgeting Tools: Using Smart View for real-time inputs
12:21 – Leveraging Implementation Partners: Pivot Two & Netgain’s role
15:02 – Complex Accounting Made Simple: Wind farms, loans & derivatives
17:35 – AI & Strategic Finance: What’s coming next in NetSuite
20:14 – Clean Data = Better AI: System integration & SharePoint sync
22:41 – Ask Oracle: AI-powered reporting for CFOs and CEOs
25:33 – SweetWorld Learnings: Building a global CFO network