The Finance Professional for Tomorrow
MARKET VIEW
Produced by:
The Finance Professional for Tomorrow
MARKET VIEW
Produced by:
About Vlad Toca
Vlad Toca serves as Chief Financial Officer at Bobcat of Southeast Alaska, overseeing operations in both Juneau and Ketchikan. Since stepping into the role in March 2023, he has led the transformation of finance operations into a modern, strategic, and technology-driven function. With over a decade of leadership experience spanning healthcare and heavy machinery sectors, Vlad brings a unique blend of financial strategy, operational innovation, and hands-on technical expertise to the table. His background includes an Executive MBA and specialization in data science, machine learning, and process automation.
Before joining Bobcat of Juneau and Ketchikan, Vlad served in healthcare senior roles, where he developed 27 corporate-level dashboards and spoke at national conferences about AI integration in finance and operational innovation, working on special projects like state wide telehealth network and technology implementations.
About Vlad Toca
Vlad Toca serves as Chief Financial Officer at Bobcat of Southeast Alaska, overseeing operations in both Juneau and Ketchikan. Since stepping into the role in March 2023, he has led the transformation of finance operations into a modern, strategic, and technology-driven function. With over a decade of leadership experience spanning healthcare and heavy machinery sectors, Vlad brings a unique blend of financial strategy, operational innovation, and hands-on technical expertise to the table. His background includes an Executive MBA and specialization in data science, machine learning, and process automation.
Before joining Bobcat of Juneau and Ketchikan, Vlad served in healthcare senior roles, where he developed 27 corporate-level dashboards and spoke at national conferences about AI integration in finance and operational innovation, working on special projects like state wide telehealth network and technology implementations.
How has the role of finance professionals evolved, and what's driving this transformation?
The modern finance professional is evolving from a passive historian of numbers into a proactive architect of strategy. We are now expected to forecast, advise, and help shape the future of the business. This transformation is driven by real-time data access, digital automation, and the increasing need for cross-functional alignment.
When I joined Bobcat of Juneau and Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska, there were no forecasting tools or consolidated reporting systems. I unified our banking environment, linked it with real-time sales tracking, and worked directly with our regional sales teams. This visibility allowed us to anticipate floor plan due dates and strategically position inventory. By proactively managing product allocation, particularly for government contracts and mining operations, we significantly improved profitability and avoided interest accruals.
What technological innovations are you implementing to modernize operations?
Technology is no longer a support tool; it is the strategic engine of modern finance. I designed forecasting dashboards in our ERP system, IntelliDealer by VitalEdge, integrating floor plan liabilities and vendor payables to streamline weekly planning cycles. Using data science software, we created custom visualizations and month-to-date sales comparisons that allow instant data-driven decisions.
This approach enabled us to reallocate cash more efficiently and avoid high-cost interest. In 2024, we reduced invoice processing time by 48%, freeing up capacity to focus on margin enhancement and client engagement. I also automated month-end close processes, standardized late charges, and implemented cross-departmental protocols.
How are you balancing AI integration with human expertise?
AI and machine learning are revolutionizing how we manage risk, detect fraud, and improve accuracy. Our predictive analytics systems maintain invoice error rates below 2%. We also proactively flag suspicious vendor activity to mitigate risks associated with phishing and payment redirection.
But AI doesn’t replace people—it empowers them. By automating repetitive tasks, we’ve rechanneled our team's energy into strategic initiatives. We introduced daily morning huddles, where our teams meet for 15 to 20 minutes to align on priorities and brainstorm new ideas. These sessions improved engagement and delivered measurable gains within the first quarter.
What challenges keep you focused on continuous improvement?
What truly keeps me up at night is not volatility—it’s inaction. The inability to pivot quickly in a high-stakes environment is a strategic liability. Tariffs, interest rate fluctuations, and logistical constraints in Southeast Alaska amplify these pressures.
Operating in an archipelago the size of Florida, we rely heavily on ferry and barge systems for shipping. In some cases, we’ve delivered equipment to remote areas using helicopters. This demands seamless financial forecasting and operational readiness.
Internally, our greatest challenge is integrating legacy data across disparate systems. Manual approvals and varying vendor terms continue to cause delays. We are currently standardizing vendor onboarding and preparing for a scalable AP automation solution that includes digital invoice capture and approval routing.
What skills will define successful finance professionals in the future?
Future finance professionals need to be multi-dimensional. Beyond accounting skills, they must master business intelligence platforms, speak the language of operations, and offer insights rooted in real-time analytics. Data literacy, forecasting, and automation will define high-performance teams.
Tools like Power BI, Tableau, SQL, and Python are no longer optional—they're fundamental. Strategic scenario modeling and process optimization across functions such as AP, AR, payroll, and procurement will separate tactical accountants from strategic leaders.
For those entering the field, my advice is simple: don’t wait to be told what to learn. Get ahead of the curve. Learn automation tools, find mentors, and study how strong leaders make decisions. Your mindset is your most valuable asset. In today’s world, finance isn’t just about reporting the past—it’s about lighting the way forward.
about
Bobcat Company
Bobcat Company is a premier North American manufacturer of compact construction equipment, serving agriculture, construction, landscaping, and industrial markets globally. With its roots in North Dakota, the company is renowned for innovation and reliability across its lineup of skid-steer loaders, compact excavators, tractors, and utility vehicles. The Southeast Alaska dealership is ranked among the top ten Bobcat dealers in North America and works extensively with public and private sectors including the Coast Guard, Army, Air Force, Navy, mining operations, and local municipalities.