CFO Series: Indispensable Skills

Overview

The CFO Series provides a convenient, one-stop way for CFOs and those who aspire to be CFOs, to earn an entire year of CPE with a single decision, featuring high-quality presentations and an interactive, executive level colleague-to-colleague approach with case studies, group discussions, and team exercises.

Highlights

Whether you are a seasoned executive or a young staff professional, you are involved with tasks that can make or break the organization. Raising financing is the single most important duty of leadership, especially for those in finance. Learn how to raise capital efficiently, detailing a proven process. Strategy is vital, but most organizations do a poor job of implementing their strategy. Are you getting the most out of our talent? Do you really understand which clients are valuable and which are not? Are you retaining your top talent and getting the most from their contributions?

Module 1: Raising Capital: How to Execute the Leaders’ Most Crucial Responsibility

The most essential challenge for any organization is to raise capital. Without financing – there are no employees and no bank accounts. What is the process to raise funds to finance an organization? What are the alternatives in addition to debt or equity? What are the pros and cons of each? To successfully raise financing, you must plan extensively, have multiple alternatives, and consider the transaction from the investor’s perspective. Raising financing is a tricky challenge, tailored to suit each individual organization. Whether you are the CEO, CFO, board member, accountant, consultant, or advisor – this discussion will help you understand what to consider when raising financing.

Module 2: Accounting for People: Workforce Trends and Talent to Add Value

Leaders are increasingly responsible for the human resources function, despite limited formal training in people management. Explore how to account for people as a valued asset rather than an expense. Managing the costs, trends, and risks associated with today’s ever-changing workforce has changed. From recruiting and retention to engagement and compensation alternatives. The modern leader must understand how employee-related decisions drive both performance and profitability. Examine the financial implications of HR trends, workforce planning, and the evolving role of talent strategy and how to influence investments in people through accounting and reporting tools. Successful organizations have moved employees to the left side of their balance sheet. Have you?

Module 3: Rethinking Your Customers to Maximize Profitability: Identifying the Right Clients

Some customers are unprofitable from an economic or time perspective – but many organizations do not differentiate or know the difference. When an organization has a unique, well-differentiated service or product, understanding value from the customer’s perspective becomes a crucial factor in profitable pricing. We must take the time to fully understand what our customers value - from the customer’s point of view. What is value? Why do brand, value, and customer focus matter? Developing a deep understanding of our customers is vital. Our most important customer might be someone we have not yet recognized. Understanding both external clients and internal stakeholders - including the evolving role of the finance department, is critical to long-term success.

Module 4: Activate and Execute Your Strategy: Turn Planning into Results

Organizations that execute a wise strategy succeed; others are executed in the market. Many organizations invest significant time in strategic planning but fall short when it comes to execution. According to McKinsey, most fail to properly execute their strategy. Explore the critical transition from strategy to performance while challenging outdated planning models and myths. We often do not think of strategy in the same context of longer-term organizational projects like ERP transitions or risk management. Why should you consider “killing” your current plan and building a new plan centered around financial performance? Dive into the reasons strategy fails, uncover the practical tools for bridging the planning-performance gap, and explore how strong financial integration enables strategy to succeed.

Prerequisites

Participants should have at least six months of industry or public experience and a thorough knowledge of financial accounting principles and practices. Management experience is helpful.

Designed For

Financial leaders, regardless of title, who are, or aspire to be, chief financial officers. Discussions will be geared towards those working in medium-sized organizations.

Objectives

• To understand many methods to potentially finance the organization. 
• To grasp the advantages and disadvantages of various alternative financing methods. 
• To understand the different processes to raise capital. 
• Understanding current trends affecting engagement and employment.  
• Identifying the challenges in valuing and reporting on human capital and reviewing potential solutions to build a great workforce.
• Recognize and understand different types of customers, including internal stakeholders. 
• How to build brand value and retain our best, most valuable customers over the long term.
• Understand how and why most strategic plans fail. 
• Understand and discuss multiple possible solutions to execute a sound strategy.

Notice

Note: This course is a live virtual replay.