Stephanie Cabral-Choudri, Chief Financial Officer of Arctic Glacier Premium Ice, Choudri emphasised the pivotal role of finance in business success, saying that financial oversight should extend beyond accounting to every functionfrom contract negotiations with customers and suppliers to strategic decision-making.
In a recent interview, Choudri shared insights into the evolving responsibilities of her role, emphasizing the need for CFOs to anticipate change and foster trust within their teams.
“Finance should be involved in everything,” she said. “From contract negotiations with customers and suppliers to strategic decision-making, our engagement drives stronger outcomes.” Her leadership has positioned finance as a critical partner in Arctic Glacier’s operations, enhancing results through collaboration.”
Since joining Arctic Glacier, she has tackled significant challenges, particularly in improving financial forecasting for a business heavily influenced by seasonal weather patterns. “One of my first mandates was to improve forecasting and cash flow visibility,” Choudri said. “We built a 13-week cash flow forecast, which we expanded into a full-year model to account for our seasonality.”
The unpredictable weather in key markets like California, which accounts for nearly 60% of Arctic Glacier’s revenue, posed a major hurdle in 2025. “This summer in California started much later than expected. We didn’t see the hot, dry weather until July, which significantly impacted liquidity and forecasting,” Choudri explained. Her team’s proactive approach to modeling ensured the company could navigate these challenges while maintaining financial stability.
Choudri also stressed the importance of finance’s involvement across all business functions. “Finance should be involved in everything,” she said. “From contract negotiations with customers and suppliers to strategic decision-making, our engagement drives stronger outcomes.” Her leadership has positioned finance as a critical partner in Arctic Glacier’s operations, enhancing results through collaboration.
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On the capital expenditure front, Choudri highlighted the complexities of managing Arctic Glacier’s ice plants, which rely on heavy machinery like condensers, compressors, and palletizers. “These are large-dollar items with unpredictable break-and-fix elements,” she noted. “We track their useful lives, but the unpredictability is a major challenge.” Her team’s rigorous tracking and forecasting models have helped mitigate these risks, ensuring operational efficiency.
Looking ahead, Choudri envisions a future where CFOs increasingly leverage technology to streamline processes and maintain transparency with their teams. “The modern CFO must anticipate change, integrate technology into daily work, and keep teams aligned through trust,” she said. Her strategic vision is helping Arctic Glacier stay competitive in a dynamic market, reinforcing its legacy as a leader in the ice distribution industry.
