Landing your Dream CFO Role
The role of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has evolved significantly in recent years, becoming increasingly strategic and integral to the overall success of an organization. As businesses navigate complex financial landscapes and seek to drive growth, the CFO has emerged as a critical member of the C-suite, responsible for not only overseeing financial operations but also serving as a trusted advisor to the CEO and board of directors. Securing a CFO position, therefore, has become a highly sought-after goal for many finance professionals.
The Global Finance Summit’s session focused on “Landing Your Dream CFO Role,” provides attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the skills, experiences, and strategies required to achieve this career milestone. The panel discussion, featuring Andrew Waters, co-founder of Zanda, and experienced CFO guests Manisha Chana with Alopecia UK and Adam Prickett of MaxContact, delved into the nuances of the CFO role, the key differences between this position and other finance leadership titles, and the essential competencies needed to excel in this dynamic and influential role. By sharing their personal journeys and the challenges they faced in transitioning to their first CFO positions, the speakers offered valuable insights and practical advice to help finance professionals navigate the path to their dream CFO role.
Highlights:
- The session provided an overview of the CFO role and the key differences between a CFO, head of finance, and FD.
- The speakers, Manisha and Adam, shared their career journeys and the challenges they faced in transitioning to their first CFO roles.
- The discussion emphasized the importance of essential hard skills, such as analytical abilities and understanding numbers, as well as crucial soft skills like relationship management and effective communication.
- The speakers highlighted the value of networking and mentorship in supporting career progression to a CFO position.
- The session explored strategies for approaching the first 100 days in a CFO role, focusing on understanding the organization, building relationships, and prioritizing high-impact changes.
- The Q&A session addressed the differences in skill sets between FP&A and controller backgrounds, and the importance of building a strong finance team to complement any gaps.
- The session provided valuable insights and practical advice for finance professionals aspiring to reach the CFO level.
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