Brian Howell recently joined the NexTec Group as Chief Financial Officer. An experienced finance leader with a track record in the high-growth SaaS industry and private equity, Brian brings expertise in financial modeling, budgeting & forecasting, data analytics, strategic partnerships, and executive communication. Prior to joining NexTec Group, Brian was an executive-in-residence at Evergreen, a family of managed IT services and software partners that acquired NexTec in May 2025. Brian has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. We sat down with Brian to ask a few questions about why he joined NexTec, the opportunity that lies ahead, and how modern cloud ERP solutions are transforming accounting and finance.
Welcome to the team, Brian! What drew you to NexTec Group, and what excites you most about the ERP industry?
Thank you—it’s a privilege to be here. What drew me to NexTec was its distinct culture and the leadership team’s unwavering focus on fulfilling the company’s vision: “To be an organization where both our employees and clients prosper, a great place to work, and a trusted partner for companies looking to innovate, grow, and thrive.”
NexTec has a long-standing tradition of prioritizing the success and well-being of both its employees and clients. It is rare to find an organization that has cultivated partnerships lasting 15 years or more with so many team members and customers. This longevity is a testament to the culture that Eric, Alan, and Russ (retired) have built over the past 25 years.
What excites me most about the ERP industry is knowing firsthand how critical this function is to the success of any organization. Each day, I am motivated by the opportunity for NexTec to help our clients achieve greater success—through ongoing innovation and by consistently delivering the highest level of partnership.
What do you see as NexTec’s key strengths and differentiators in serving our ERP clients?
ERP implementations are notoriously complex, disruptive, and critical to get right. What sets NexTec apart in navigating this process is our steadfast commitment to our core values: Integrity, Commitment, and Trust. In my short time here, I have already witnessed countless examples of our team going above and beyond to act in our clients’ best interests, ensuring they achieve their goals for long-term success.
These values have been the foundation of NexTec’s success over the past thirty years, and they will continue to be the driving force that enables us to grow alongside our clients for the next thirty years and beyond.
In addition to your new role as NexTec CFO, you’re also a new father – congratulations! How are you managing to maintain a healthy balance, and how sleep deprived are you these days?
Yes! Thank you. It has been an eventful last few months in our household file with a lot of change. My wife and I are loving our new life as parents even through the long nights. At the end of the day, I think it’s helpful to focus on gratitude each day. Even on the busier or more challenging days, I am incredibly grateful for my newborn daughter and so grateful to be a part of an organization like NexTec. Although I have less time for sleep than I used to, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Is there a book, podcast, sport or hobby that’s had a significant impact on your leadership style or approach to finance?
I have always loved being out in the mountains somewhere. As a kid, I was involved in Boy Scouts and was able to earn my Eagle Scout award in high school. In college, I was a backpacking guide in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado where I led 7-day backpacking trips that spanned anywhere from 25-45 miles. These experiences taught me the importance of relational leadership and making sure I am prepared for anything that could come my way. These are values that I lean on every day, although it often looks different behind a laptop than it did at 14,000 feet.
Favorite sport and sports team?
I am a proud alumnus of the University of Texas, and I bleed burnt orange! I have never gotten too deep into professional sports, but I have always loved the history and tradition of college football. I vividly remember experiencing the roar of 100k+ fans at my first UT game and have been addicted to that feeling ever since.
How do you view the current challenges facing accounting and finance teams these days?
Accounting and finance teams are navigating unprecedented pressures in today’s technology and AI driven environment. Many organizations with legacy systems are feeling an urgent need to adopt AI and automation, while still ensuring reporting accuracy and regulatory compliance. Implementing new systems, redefining operational processes, and maintaining parallel accuracy between legacy and modern platforms places significant strain on teams accustomed to stable, repetitive monthly reporting cycles.
This challenge is compounded by an increasingly dynamic regulatory landscape where frequent policy changes demand rapid adaptation. As a result, the profession is experiencing historically high levels of burnout, contributing to a growing shortage of qualified talent. Looking forward, I think both finance and accounting professionals, and the technology platforms that support them, will play an increasingly critical role in enabling organizations to remain agile, compliant, and positioned for sustainable growth.
What trends do you see shaping the ERP services market in the next 2-3 years, and how is NexTec positioned to capitalize on them?
This industry is evolving at a pace that we have never seen before. From smaller questions like the best pricing models to big behemoth questions like how to unlock the full potential of AI at scale, innovation continues to accelerate in our industry year after year. With NexTec’s recent partnership with Pine Services Group, a firm deeply committed to the long-term success of its operating companies, we are uniquely positioned to operate with a long-term perspective. This partnership enables us to make strategic, and sometimes challenging, decisions today that will drive sustained growth and success for both our clients and employees in the years ahead.
What advice would you give a fellow CFO looking to implement new technologies like cloud ERP and AI to transform their company’s operations and financial processes?
My first piece of advice is to select a software publisher and implementation partner you can truly trust. ERP implementations are often pivotal decisions for CFOs, ones that can significantly impact an organization’s long-term success. It is essential to partner with a firm that is committed to your success not only during the sales cycle and implementation phase, but throughout the entire lifecycle of the software, which can often span 15 years or more. When you find a partner who embraces a true, long-term partnership approach, the value to your organization will extend well beyond the initial go-live, which will pay dividends for years to come.
My second piece of advice would be to get in touch with NexTec!
About NexTec Group
NexTec Group is one of North America’s largest and most experienced technology consulting firms, specializing in industry-specific solutions for mid-sized organizations. For thirty years, NexTec has been a trusted partner to businesses, delivering, implementing, and supporting the core Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Business Intelligence (BI) solutions they need to scale and grow.
With seasoned consultants from coast to coast, and a premium portfolio of innovative business management solutions including Acumatica and Sage X3, we help you get the most out of your technology investments. Our over 90% customer retention rate is a testament to the lasting, impactful relationships we build with our clients.
To learn more, visit www.nextecgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
