Leading Blog

JUNE 13, 2011

Your talent assessment/development systems should have as much “rigor and repeatability as systems used for finance and operations.” And you should “review people as thoroughly and regularly as you review operations, business performance, strategy, and budgets.”. Elevate it to the same level as the CFO.

Development 285

Development Charan Leadership CFO 285

Strategy Driven

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

Leaders of small and medium size businesses (SMBs) often think their size lets them operate under the radar, as less attractive targets to bad guys. How would your CFO or CIO handle this? But, actually, their lack of robust security strategy and resources make them easier to penetrate. An excerpt is below. His new book is Tech Debt 2.0™:

Bottom-up 91

Bottom-up Software Policies CIO 91

Strategy Driven

SEPTEMBER 1, 2013

The CFO’s Cheat Sheet to Compensation Risk & Reward. Finance leaders; find out how to stop struggling with time-consuming, inaccurate incentive compensation processes. Click here for more information on The CFO’s Cheat Sheet to Compensation Risk & Reward. by Ultimate Software. Consider leaving a comment!

Resources 50

Resources CFO ROI Risk Management 50

Strategy Driven

MARCH 20, 2021

But you must also remember that any new technology you onboard will bring change to your bank’s operations—some of which isn’t welcome just yet. It’s usually the job of a bank’s chief financial officer (CFO), chief risk officer (CRO), or chief technology officer (CTO) to oversee tech implementation.

Technology 69

Technology Chief Financial Officer Banking Chief Technology Officer 69

Harvard Business Review

OCTOBER 26, 2011

Yet this is exactly the challenge facing leaders of the finance function who are asked to help their organization improve the way that work is done. As finance shifts its focus from controlling costs to advising managers on improvement activities, CFOs must change their thinking and behaviors. Getting the CFO on board is key.

Finance 13

Finance CFO Budgeting Operations 13

Harvard Business Review

JULY 25, 2016

What receives far less attention is that, more and more in our increasingly complex, volatile, and fully-globalized business world, the effectiveness of such action depends on a powerful partnership between the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the General Counsel (GC). Compliance.

CFO 8

CFO Chief Financial Officer Compliance Due Diligence 8

N2Growth Blog

AUGUST 22, 2010

The harsh reality is that great numbers of leaders continue to operate in a vacuum by sequestering themselves away in the corner office and attempting to lead from afar. So the real question is this…how does a CEO get to the point of being so disconnected from operations that he or she just doesn’t have a clue?

Blog 417

Blog Gordon CEO Consultative 417

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 23, 2015

If you want approval for a new project — purchasing new equipment or computer systems, applying for a patent, building a new store — chances are you need your company’s finance department on board. To get the green light, it helps to understand how finance people think. Finance & Accounting Tool.

Finance 8

Finance NPV CFO ROI 8

N2Growth Blog

JUNE 29, 2010

Home About Overview News Careers Contact Blog Services Branding/Identity Executive Search Leadership Development Overview CEO Coaching Executive Peer Groups Strategic Growth Consulting Innovation Management Personal Branding Reputation Management Social Media Consulting Pro Bono Services Clients Intermidiaries Downloads Blog Contactus N2growth Home (..)

Blog 313

Blog Brand CEO Consultative 313

Harvard Business Review

JULY 29, 2014

In the July/August issue of HBR , Ram Charan argues that the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) role should be eliminated, with HR responsibilities funneled in two separate directions — administration , led by traditional HR-types, reporting to the CFO; and talent strategy , led by high-potential line managers, reporting to the corner office.

CFO 12

CFO Charan Intangible Assets Human Resources 12

Harvard Business Review

JUNE 8, 2018

This notion, that risk is a desirable feature, can seem like sacrilege to anyone who’s taken an introductory finance course. CFOs of these companies themselves admit that they cannot justify their market capitalizations based on traditional metrics. Traditional companies therefore rely on two strategies.

Report 8

Report GAAP Net Present Value CFO 8

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 6, 2013

But this makes the still lingering CMO-CFO disconnect even more significant, as both executives are now stewards of that critical corporate data. We found that we shared a passion for finance, the stock market, innovation, and marketing (and, candidly, politics). Figure out the definitions.

CFO 8

CFO Advertising Finance Marketing 8

Harvard Business Review

AUGUST 8, 2014

A similar proposal to Split Finance would likely have been rejected out of hand by organization leaders (and Harvard Business Review editors), because its obvious that the Finance function must fit the organization strategy and leader capabilities. Yet this evidence is apparently not well-known.

Charan 15

Charan Finance Human Resources Supply Chain 15

Harvard Business Review

NOVEMBER 25, 2013

This lack of an analytical approach has traditionally formed a barrier between marketing and finance. One financial services CMO told us how CFOs typically perceive his function: “We’re going to give a certain amount of dollars to those guys. They’re going to make ads and do whatever it is they do.

CFO 8

CFO Short-term Long-term Benchmarking 8

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 2, 2017

Every organization has a slightly different framework of expected experience, but I like to look at this through the lens of strategy and operations. One CFO I know managed finance for a spin-off firm when it went public and then returned to the parent company in a corporate position.

CFO 8

CFO How To CIO Finance 8

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 7, 2017

Employees and other constituents should expect HR to hold leaders accountable for fiduciary and strategic risks, just as a CFO would be expected to hold leaders accountable for a risky pattern of using corporate funds or resources. Are these acceptable growing pains? In one word: No.

Compliance 12

Compliance Hedge Human Capital Finance 12

Harvard Business Review

AUGUST 5, 2016

Under this financing structure, the company contracts to buy kilowatts, not the turbines and panels. They had framing conversations with the CEO and CFO early on to discuss any financial or operational challenges. The Texas site alone produces more energy than what Owens Corning uses across its significant Texas operations.

Energy 8

Energy Industry Finance CFO 8

Harvard Business Review

APRIL 16, 2012

To enhance financial flexibility, companies have been retaining unprecedented amounts of cash on their balance sheets, calling it "strategic" cash to distinguish it from the "operating" cash that is needed to run the business. Arguments for Strategic Cash. It can: Save Taxes. Facilitate Investments. Arguments Against Strategic Cash.

Company 15

Company Cost of Capital Finance Long-term 15

Harvard Business Review

JULY 8, 2013

Certainly we know that heads of finance and HR tend to move around a lot more because the skills are very transferrable, and in fact it looks better for an HR executive or CFO to show a breadth of industry. Insiders are much more likely to replace the COO, for instance, while outsiders are more likely to replace the CFO.

CEO 10

CEO CFO COO Industry 10

Harvard Business Review

OCTOBER 18, 2018

Lance was struck by what he saw in CFO Damon Ewen’s file. His CFO and his sales chief had been at loggerheads for a while. After all, sales and finance were often at odds in organizations, and the conflict hadn’t had a big impact on Barker’s revenues. I’m the CFO and he’s in charge of sales.

Case Study 14

Case Study Team CFO Merchandising 14

Harvard Business Review

DECEMBER 25, 2014

In the case of Rohm and Haas this process began in earnest in 1985 with the appointment of a Greek national, Dr. Basil Vassilou, to head our operations in Europe; followed by a Cuban, Henri Martinez, heading our Latin American operations starting in 1988; an Indian American (myself) heading up Asia Pacific operations in 1993.

Team 13

Team Diversity TSR CFO 13

Harvard Business Review

APRIL 6, 2011

Process champions must have them ready for the day when the CEO or CFO effectively says, "Show me the money.". Engage the finance organization. Finance was on board at the company in our story. The system must be reviewed and validated by finance. What were the key mistakes that caused them to fail?

Process 15

Process Six Sigma Finance Short-term 15

Strategy Driven

OCTOBER 21, 2011

Twelve cases are written as narratives with multiple teaching points, but without a focus on a particular business decision; the remaining twenty-three cases were written around specific conundrums related to strategy, operations, finance, marketing, leadership, culture, human resources, organizational design, business model, and growth.

Learning-by-Doing 62

Learning-by-Doing Price Bottom-up Finance 62

Harvard Business Review

JULY 29, 2014

In Sarah’s opinion, the problem was obvious: Sid Yerby, the CFO. How could she or any of the other directors provide fiscal oversight without access to details of the company’s operations or accounting? In fact, one of her fellow directors had accused her of having a private agenda that included taking the CFO down a couple of pegs.

Case Study 9

Case Study Real Estate CFO Letter 9

Harvard Business Review

OCTOBER 11, 2018

a cataract operation can cost $200 or less, compared with $3,500 in the U.S. Ascension saved 10%–15% a year by aggregating all of those contracts and negotiating from the strength of the combined operation. The savings to Ascension in supplies alone totaled about $1 billion, or 5% of total revenues.

Health Care 8

Health Care Insurance Cost Price 8

Harvard Business Review

DECEMBER 17, 2015

Education crowdfunder DonorsChoose.org, which finances classroom-based projects, is a good model of success. For example, Cesar Bocanegra started as VP for operations, then asked to take on human resources as well. As the organization has grown, CEO Charles Best has encouraged senior executives to take on increasing responsibilities.

Development 8

Development Mentor COO CFO 8

Harvard Business Review

JULY 17, 2017

It’s far from the only case of a failure to embrace a more digital approach; the larger shift to digital is changing the way every industry operates. The current innovation model in the finance sector is designed to generate the highest possible short-term returns. Insight Center. Crossing the Digital Divide.

Industry 13

Industry Short-term Planning Long-term 13

Harvard Business Review

APRIL 30, 2015

“At most companies, the cost of capital is a mechanical calculation done by the finance people. For example, a company’s cost of capital may be 10% but the finance department will pad that some and use 10.5% Finance & Accounting Tool. Though there is typically a distinction. or 11% as the discount rate.

Cost of Capital 8

Cost of Capital Cost Finance Discount 8

Harvard Business Review

SEPTEMBER 29, 2011

In addition they operate from a plan — however confidential it may be — to strengthen the team year over year. For example, Tim Sheahan, Chief Financial Officer for a large division of a multi-national corporation, aspires to become CFO of a Fortune 100 company in the future.

Execution 15

Execution Team Chief Financial Officer Finance 15

Harvard Business Review

FEBRUARY 20, 2013

They too have struggled to operate in complex environments, and have developed the skills and expertise to overcome these challenges. Access to finance , designing operational processes and systems , and building strong, talented management teams are just a few obstacles that many cite.

Entrepreneur 8

Entrepreneur Company Six Sigma Franchising 8

Harvard Business Review

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

In most larger companies, you'll need to generate roughly 200+ responses per operating unit per period. Your CFO and finance team can take a leadership role here. Unless line managers and finance really believe in the link between customer feedback and business outcomes, your incentive system won't last long.

Incentives 12

Incentives Sample Customer Loyalty Metrics 12

Harvard Business Review

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

Strategies like outsourcing, hiring lower-cost people, or exotic employment offer tempting cost savings to the finance-minded folks. Scaling up comes with CFO and board pressure to gain efficiency, and the natural tendency of a business will be to squeeze customer teams. What not to do. Don’t get distracted by cost reduction.

Metrics 15

Metrics Engineering Efficiency Learning-by-Doing 15

Harvard Business Review

DECEMBER 8, 2016

Listening, Derek Melis, his friend and CFO, was relieved. And although senior managers’ remuneration was tied to Contect’s overall sales and operating profits, the head office had relatively little control over the 30,000 projects the company had underway at any given time. Is it your personal relationship?

Case Study 8

Case Study Decentralization CFO Construction 8

Harvard Business Review

OCTOBER 10, 2013

The chief financial officer (CFO) role rose to prominence in the mid -1980’s as pressures for value management and more transparent investor relations gained traction. Because the new data analytics horizons typically span a range of functions, including marketing, risk, and operations, the C-suite evolution may take a variety of paths.

Chief Financial Officer 8

Chief Financial Officer Information Technology Metrics CFO 8

Harvard Business Review

JANUARY 30, 2013

In fact, Amazon was only operating at such a high burn rate because it could. Well, he's a hedge fund veteran who has always taken a skeptical view of Wall Street, treating it more as a loopy rich uncle than the efficient information processor of standard finance theory. Nobody complains.

Training 10

Training Bond Christensen Long-term 10

Harvard Business Review

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

But that mind-set's simply too focused and operational. Every CEO, CMO, CFO, and business unit leader should ask themselves these questions: If I decided to launch a hedge fund based solely on the data our business generates, what kind of financial opportunities immediately suggest themselves?

Hedge 15

Hedge Core Competence CFO ROI 15

Harvard Business Review

FEBRUARY 20, 2014

They can be all sorts of people – introverts, extroverts, operations-oriented folks, great sales people, men, or women. The CEO leaves a meeting at the office with the CFO, his daughter, and he goes home to her mother, his wife and joint owner of the business. Leaders who thrive in this environment embrace and use this messiness.

How To 8

How To CFO Execution Learning-by-Doing 8