Survival Guide for the CFO: The Necessary Path to Financial Leadership

Author: Kathrin Stenzel
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) plays an increasingly important role in the strategic decision-making and management control of modern enterprises. Financial reporters, financial leaders—these are just a few of the many titles a CFO must possess. However, having only technical expertise is not enough to be competitive. A top-tier CFO needs to possess more qualities to stand out in this industry. This book realistically and sensitively reveals the new role of CFOs after the Enron scandal, summarizes the limitations of short-term, data-driven goals, and explains how to bring long-term growth and profitability to the company by focusing on development and emotional intelligence (EI). By illustrating the relationships between the CFO and other stakeholders (such as CEOs, executive teams, customers, suppliers, community voters, etc.), this book helps you become a top CFO. Many valuable materials demonstrate how to leverage strengths and address weaknesses through self-assessment and real-world case studies. Here are some key points the book focuses on: How a CFO can transition from a risk-averse individual to an active leader, shift from being a control-oriented responder to a proactive learner, and move from focusing on costs to focusing on value. What CEOs truly expect from CFOs; the essential skills and abilities required for successful CFOs; the importance of the financial work led by CFOs in the value-creation process; how to guide and shape change rather than just react to it; and an in-depth, highly insightful exploration of new concepts such as development, leadership, ethical behavior, and interdependence. The book "The CFO Survival Guide" aims to precisely identify leadership capabilities, distinguish the ambiguous yet crucial ethical values based on human wealth, trust, and integrity, and help professionals achieve success in their companies!