To the new or aspiring CFO

When a first-time CFO or a CFO new to an organization takes the reins, they should be prepared to face challenges beyond spreadsheets and income statements. In many ways, the CFO serves as a “consigliere” to the CEO, an indispensable adviser and right-hand man or woman. An effective CFO takes full ownership of the financial aspects of decisions so the CEO doesn’t have to. And he or she does so in a way that builds confidence with senior management and the board of directors, as well as investors, bankers, and analysts.

One of the key areas where new CFOs need to develop expertise is corporate strategy. Understanding why a company is successful and what it must do to adapt and win in a dynamic environment is critically important.

Strategic thinking starts with understanding the company’s competitors and competitive advantages and how they relate to the organization’s growth, pricing, and market share.

Mastering the development and analysis of strategy requires time. Take every opportunity to listen and actively participate in internal strategy meetings. Read some of the seminal books on strategy or take outside classes. Just don’t wait until you become CFO to start thinking about this side of the business or you may never get there.

What else do successful CFOs do? They are very active in growing their networks, both within their companies and outside of them. Outside the company, CFOs often network with the CFOs of customers, suppliers, and even competitors. Treasurers, controllers, and others potentially in line for a CFO spot can do the same. If you are a treasurer, connect with other treasurers, either independently or through networking organizations.

When you meet counterparts from other companies, ask them what has made them successful. Listen to them describe how they relate to their CFO, CEO, and other top executives, and emulate the best practices. In addition, reach out to your colleagues in other disciplines to better understand their roles and challenges, and seek ways for your organization to help them be successful. Networking develops interpersonal skills and signals your suitability for a more dynamic role like CFO.

The most successful CFOs are less busy on a day-by-day basis than their counterparts. They are not rushing from meeting to meeting with little ability to prioritize. Once these very successful CFOs understand the various functions they oversee and they get a capable and talented team in place, they delegate everything they can. That frees them up to engage deeply in the strategic thinking and networking efforts discussed above.

The last piece of advice for new or aspiring CFOs is the same as to any leader: Worry more about the success of the people that report to you than the person you report to and those direct reports will make you look good in front of your boss.

Adapted from: “To the New or Aspiring CFO”, by Greg Milano, founder and CEO of Fortuna Advisors, published on CFO News on 23 March 2022.