CPA & Financial Strategist

Matt Brown

Solving for the Human Element of Finance

Where strategic financial expertise meets genuine partnership. I help businesses and individuals navigate complexity with clarity.

About Me

Matt Brown

I'm a Chartered Professional Accountant who believes that finance should serve people, not the other way around. Over the years, I've helped businesses navigate complex financial challenges—not with jargon and complexity, but with clarity and strategic insight.

My approach is different: I combine deep technical expertise with genuine curiosity about your goals. Whether you're scaling a startup, implementing a treasury strategy, or planning for the future, I'm here to translate the language of business into decisions that align with your vision.

I also write about the intersection of finance, technology, and human behavior—because I believe the most important part of accounting isn't the spreadsheet, it's the conversation around it.

Let's work together to turn your financial data into your competitive advantage.

Chartered Professional Accountant

Licensed CPA with extensive experience in finance, strategy, and operations.

Thought Leader

Regular contributor sharing insights on financial strategy and business growth.

Client-Focused

Committed to delivering personalized solutions that drive measurable results.

Beyond the Spreadsheets

The person behind the professional

Who I Really Am

I didn't set out to be just another CPA. I chose this path because I believe numbers tell stories—stories about dreams, risks, growth, and impact. But I also know that life is about more than balance sheets.

When I'm not crunching numbers or advising clients, you'll find me on a trail somewhere, camera in hand, chasing sunrises and seeking perspective. I believe the best solutions come when you step away from the desk and let your mind wander.

I'm passionate about making finance accessible and human. Too often, accounting feels cold and disconnected. My mission is to change that—to help people see their financial data as a tool for creating the life and business they want, not just an obligation to fulfill.

At the end of the day, I'm here to help you succeed—not just financially, but holistically.

What I Stand For

Integrity First

Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. Trust is earned through consistent ethical action.

Curious Mindset

Asking "why" and "what if" to uncover better solutions and challenge conventional thinking.

People Matter

Behind every number is a human story. I prioritize relationships and the people behind the business.

Services & Consulting

Comprehensive financial services tailored to your unique needs and goals.

CFO Consulting

Part-time CFO services for businesses needing executive financial leadership.

  • Financial leadership
  • Strategic planning
  • Team guidance

Business Advisory

Strategic guidance to help your business grow, scale, and achieve long-term success.

  • Growth strategy
  • Financial modeling
  • Performance metrics

AI Tools & Automation

Revolutionize your finance and operations processes with cutting-edge AI tools and automation solutions.

  • Process automation
  • AI-powered insights
  • Workflow optimization

Stablecoins & Digital Assets

Expert guidance on stablecoins, digital asset treasuries, and blockchain-based financial strategies.

  • Stablecoin Implementation
  • Digital asset management
  • Blockchain integration

Professional Disclaimer: The information provided is for general guidance only and does not constitute personalized financial, legal, or tax advice. All services are provided in accordance with applicable professional standards and regulatory requirements.

Experience & Education

Major wins and achievements across diverse finance leadership roles. Focused on measurable impact and strategic value creation.

Major Wins & Achievements

Financial Operations

Blockchain Finance Leadership

Established comprehensive finance operations for blockchain infrastructure managing 25+ partnerships with multi-jurisdictional compliance.

Key Wins
  • Built US GAAP-compliant financial reporting framework from scratch
  • Designed treasury strategy managing $50M+ in digital assets
  • Streamlined multi-entity tax compliance across multiple jurisdictions
  • Reduced financial reporting cycle time by 40%

Impact: Enabled scalable finance operations supporting rapid business growth

Strategic Finance

High-Growth Company Finance Leadership

Elevated to interim VP of Finance role, leading finance operations for $100M+ revenue organization.

Key Wins
  • Led treasury management strategy securing $25M+ asset-based lending facility
  • Implemented business intelligence platform improving decision-making speed by 50%
  • Built and managed finance team of 5+ professionals
  • Delivered monthly MD&A presentations driving strategic business decisions

Impact: Provided financial leadership during critical growth phase

Corporate Finance

Public Company Financial Transformation

Led financial operations for public company through reverse takeover transaction and exchange listing.

Key Wins
  • Executed $150M+ RTO transaction leading to public market listing
  • Established IFRS-compliant reporting framework for public scrutiny
  • Built consolidated financial model supporting strategic M&A decisions
  • Reduced quarterly close time by 35% through process optimization

Impact: Successfully navigated complex regulatory requirements and market expectations

Systems & Operations

ERP Implementation & Process Optimization

Led enterprise-wide ERP implementation and process redesign for multi-entity organization.

Key Wins
  • Successfully implemented ERP system across 10+ entities
  • Developed automated reporting dashboards reducing manual work by 60%
  • Established financial policies and procedures for complex organizational structure
  • Delivered $75M+ project portfolio financial management

Impact: Transformed finance operations enabling scalable growth

Public Sector

Government Finance & Compliance

Managed financial reporting and compliance for government entities with $60M+ combined revenues.

Key Wins
  • Prepared audited financial statements for multiple government agencies
  • Supported $373M consolidated ministry financial reporting
  • Developed 5-year strategic budget planning documents
  • Established forecasting models improving budget accuracy by 25%

Impact: Ensured transparency and accountability in public sector finance

Education & Training

Academic Finance Education

Teaching foundational accounting principles to undergraduate students while maintaining active finance leadership roles.

Key Wins
  • Instructing Introduction to Accounting courses at major university
  • Bridging academic theory with real-world finance applications
  • Mentoring next generation of finance professionals
  • Contributing to curriculum development and student success

Impact: Shaping future finance professionals through practical education

Education & Certifications

2020

Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA)

CPA Canada

Passed the September 2019 CFE. Licensed CPA in good standing.

2021

Blockchain CryptoAsset Accelerator Program

United States

Focused on CryptoAssets, Web3, and impacts on the financial industries.

2013-2016

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

NAIT, Edmonton, Alberta

Specialized in Accounting and Finance.

2015 & 2016

European Field Studies

NAIT, Edmonton, Alberta

Focused on international business, brand marketing, creativity, innovation, and cultural awareness in France, Spain, Italy, and Austria.

Featured Projects

Real-world results from strategic engagements. All details have been anonymized to protect client confidentiality.

Business Advisory

Manufacturing Company Restructure

Led comprehensive financial restructuring for mid-sized manufacturing client, optimizing operations and improving cash flow.

Key Results

  • 30% reduction in operating costs
  • Improved cash flow by $500K annually
  • Streamlined accounting processes
Financial PlanningProcess OptimizationCFO Services
Tax Strategy

Multi-State Tax Optimization

Developed comprehensive tax strategy for expanding e-commerce business operating across multiple states.

Key Results

  • $200K+ annual tax savings
  • Established nexus compliance framework
  • Implemented automated tax tracking
Tax PlanningMulti-StateE-commerce
Financial Analysis

Private Equity Due Diligence

Conducted thorough financial due diligence for PE firm evaluating $10M acquisition target.

Key Results

  • Identified $1.5M in hidden liabilities
  • Provided comprehensive risk assessment
  • Facilitated successful negotiation
Due DiligenceM&ARisk Assessment
Audit Services

Non-Profit Audit & Compliance

Executed complete audit and established robust compliance framework for growing non-profit organization.

Key Results

  • Achieved clean audit opinion
  • Implemented internal controls
  • Enhanced donor transparency
Non-ProfitAuditCompliance
Business Advisory

SaaS Financial Model Development

Built comprehensive financial model and fundraising materials for Series A SaaS startup.

Key Results

  • Successfully raised $3M Series A
  • Created 5-year financial projections
  • Established KPI tracking framework
StartupsFinancial ModelingFundraising
Investment Advisory

Real Estate Portfolio Analysis

Analyzed and optimized real estate investment portfolio for high-net-worth individual.

Key Results

  • 15% improvement in ROI
  • Tax-efficient restructuring
  • Ongoing portfolio monitoring
Real EstateInvestmentTax Strategy

Confidentiality Notice: All case studies have been anonymized to protect client confidentiality. Specific details and identifying information have been modified while preserving the essential nature of the engagement and results achieved.

Tools & Resources

Downloadable templates and explore AI-powered projects I've built.

Downloads

Resume Template

Professional resume template designed for finance and accounting professionals.

DOCX45 KB

3 Statement Financial Model

Integrated income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement template.

XLSX120 KB

Personal Budget Template

Comprehensive personal budgeting spreadsheet with expense tracking and forecasting.

XLSX85 KB

AI Projects

AI Analytics

Hashtracks

AI-powered social media analytics platform that tracks hashtag performance and engagement metrics across multiple platforms.

Key Features
  • Real-time hashtag tracking
  • Sentiment analysis
  • Cross-platform analytics
AI/MLSocial MediaAnalytics
AI Finance

Equity Allocations

Intelligent equity allocation system that uses machine learning to optimize portfolio distributions based on risk profiles and market conditions.

Key Features
  • ML-based optimization
  • Risk assessment
  • Dynamic rebalancing
AI/MLFinancePortfolio Management
AI Finance

Blockchain Reconciliation

Automated blockchain transaction reconciliation system that uses AI to match and verify cryptocurrency transactions across multiple wallets and exchanges.

Key Features
  • Automated reconciliation
  • Multi-wallet support
  • Transaction verification
AI/MLBlockchainCrypto
AI Creative

NFT Projects

AI-generated NFT collections with unique metadata and rarity scoring. Includes tools for collection management and marketplace integration.

Key Features
  • AI generation
  • Rarity scoring
  • Marketplace integration
AI/MLNFTCreative

Speaking Engagements

Sharing insights on finance, leadership, and the human element of business.

Speaking Topics

Blockchain & Digital Assets in Finance

Understanding cryptoassets, Web3, and their impact on financial industries and accounting practices

Financial Operations & Treasury Management

Building institutional-grade reporting, controls, and operating systems in complex, regulated environments

The Human Element of Finance

How understanding people, psychology, and relationships transforms financial leadership and business outcomes

AI-Enabled Finance & Automation

How technology and automation are transforming finance operations while maintaining audit-readiness

Past Engagements

Presentation

My Journey as a Professional in the Digital Asset Space

Altcoin Pro University

Shared my professional journey navigating the digital asset space, from traditional finance to blockchain accounting. Discussed the evolution of financial operations in Web3, the challenges and opportunities in digital asset treasury management, and how finance professionals can adapt to the rapidly changing landscape of cryptocurrency and stablecoin implementation.

2024
Virtual
CFO Discussion Series

CFO Discussion Series: Digital Asset Finance

CoinTracker

Participated in a discussion series focused on digital asset finance, treasury management, and the evolving landscape of crypto accounting.

Last Week
Virtual
Guest Speaker

How Interest Rates Affect the Economy

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

Presented on the mechanisms of interest rates and their impact on economic indicators, business decisions, and financial markets.

2024
Edmonton, Alberta
Guest Speaker Panel

Finance Industry Panel Discussion

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

Participated as a panelist discussing current trends in finance, accounting technology, and career paths for accounting students.

2024
Edmonton, Alberta
Accountant in Residence

Blockchain, Digital Assets, and Automation in Accounting

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

Delivered presentations to students and instructors on emerging topics including Blockchain, Digital Assets, and Automation. Educated instructors on topics that future accountants will need such as coding abilities, understanding of blockchain assets, and critical thinking skills.

Jan 2022 - Mar 2022
Edmonton, Alberta
Keynote Speaker

ACAC Provincials Keynote

ACAC Provincials

Delivered keynote address at ACAC Provincials.

2021
Alberta
Industry Panel

Industry Panel

UAlberta Accounting Club

Participated in an industry panel discussion with the UAlberta Accounting Club.

January 2024
Edmonton, Alberta
Industry Panel

Industry Panel (IT Focused)

UAlberta Accounting Club

Participated in an IT-focused industry panel discussion with the UAlberta Accounting Club.

October 2024
Edmonton, Alberta
Industry Panel

Industry Panel

UAlberta Accounting Club

Participated in an industry panel discussion with the UAlberta Accounting Club.

January 2025
Edmonton, Alberta

Book Me for Your Next Event

I speak on blockchain finance, digital assets, the human element of finance, and the future of accounting. Whether it's a conference, workshop, or educational institution, I'd love to share insights with your audience.

I'm currently accepting speaking opportunities at no cost to build experience and share knowledge with diverse audiences who may need help becoming familiar with the topics I've researched.

Beyond the Ledger

My Substack exploring the intersection of finance, strategy, and the human side of business.

Read Beyond the Ledger
Tax Strategy

Tax Planning Strategies for 2025

Navigate the changing tax landscape with these proven strategies to optimize your tax position and maximize savings.

November 15, 2025
8 min read
Read Article
Business Growth

The Hidden Costs of Scaling Too Fast

Learn how rapid growth can strain your finances and what metrics to watch to ensure sustainable scaling.

November 10, 2025
6 min read
Read Article
Financial Literacy

Understanding Financial Statements: A CPA's Guide

Demystifying balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements for business owners.

November 5, 2025
10 min read
Read Article
M&A

M&A Due Diligence: What to Look For

Critical financial and operational factors to evaluate when considering an acquisition.

October 28, 2025
7 min read
Read Article
Risk Management

Building a Recession-Proof Financial Strategy

Protect your business with these essential strategies for navigating economic uncertainty.

October 22, 2025
9 min read
Read Article
Best Practices

The ROI of Good Accounting

Why investing in quality accounting pays dividends beyond just compliance.

October 15, 2025
5 min read
Read Article

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Let's Connect

Ready to discuss how I can help your business? Reach out for a consultation.

Get in Touch

Whether you need strategic guidance, tax planning, or financial advisory services, I'm here to help you achieve your goals.

Location

Based in Alberta, Canada
Available for remote consultations

Currently Accepting New Clients
I typically respond within 24 hours. Let's discuss how I can help your business thrive.