Integrating Finance and IT: Insights From the CIO of Brookfield Residential

About This Episode

In this episode, Brookfield Residential  CIO Brandon Sharp joins host Melissa Howatson to share his unique career journey and to reveal why tighter alignment between finance and IT drives true transformation. 

Brandon reflects on lessons learned while leading major initiatives in homebuilding and real estate, from navigating shadow IT to building cross-functional trust. He offers practical insights on transparency, influence, and project management—and explains why finance leaders who are “data curious” often become the critical bridge to IT. 

This discussion highlights practical strategies to strengthen IT–finance partnerships, accelerate transformation, and foster alignment that delivers business-wide impact. 

Discussed in This Episode: 

• How to transform IT–finance collaboration into a growth engine 
• The “Tell Them” Triad for influence 
• Balancing time, cost and quality in transformation projects 
• Identifying and empowering data-curious champions within finance 

Episode Resources: 

• How These Finance Leaders Ditched Static Forecasts for a “Living Plan 
• The Complete Guide to Finance Business Partnering: Strategies for Working With Every Department 
• 5 Expert Strategies for Better Finance Business Partnering 
• 9 Expert Tips To Improve Your FP&A Processes in 2025 
• The Most Important Skill in FP&A Is Business Acumen. Here’s Why. 
• Is Your Budgeting Process Causing Organization-Wide Dread? 6 Tips To Fix It. 
• Excelerate Finance Fest 2026 

Related Episodes: 

• Strategic Business Partnering Playlist 
• Better Business Partners: Finance and the Office of the CIO