Are you a future-fit CFO? Eight key signs
In today’s fast-paced and competitive business landscape, it’s essential for CFOs to evolve both professionally and personally. By taking a proactive and systematic approach to upskilling, CFOs can lead their teams on a journey towards future readiness.
Discover if you are a future-fit CFO of tomorrow with these eight key signs.
1: Future-fit leader
You understand that the era of the new workplace is here to stay and that, from now on, reality will be volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. You know your job as a key member of organisational leadership is to provide a positive example of a future-fit leader. Moreover, you do whatever you can so all C-suite members will understand it and prepare themselves and their teams to successfully deal with the new reality we face.
2: People-oriented
You are not only a numbers-oriented professional but also a people-oriented leader. You understand that in the era of the new workplace your organizational growth and success depend on the quality of the people you recruit and retain. Therefore, you are willing to learn about your employees’ changing expectations and invest time and effort to build a winning culture: a culture in which top talent chooses to come and stay, a culture in which creativity and innovation are the jobs of every leader and employee. This culture is based on integrity, positive relationships and trust, with a sense of a higher purpose at the heart of it.
3: Leading finance transformation
As a CFO you will be leading the finance transformation efforts and looking at utilising new technology such as Jedox. You know that many finance processes can be improved and automated, delivering greater insights, metrics and reporting on demand. Therefore you are putting time and effort into understanding your department’s role in an increasingly digital world. You try to find the best ways that technology and humans can work together to strengthen the strategic impact on your department and business.
4: Forward-looking
You are more of a creator than a controller. In the past, the main job of the CFO was mainly technical. Today, the CFO and the CEO together need to bring an excellent value proposition to current and future clients. Therefore, as the CFO of tomorrow, you hold a forward-looking and global mindset, understand which trends will shape your industry, know your competitors well, and innovate so your organisation will continue to thrive.
5: Multigenerational
You are familiar with the characteristics of Gen Y and Gen Z and know your No. 1 job is to be an inspiring leader for them. You know how to make all your team members feel meaningful and essential. You invest time in their self-development processes, including mentoring sessions and workshops. You use your emotional intelligence — self-awareness, empathy, flexibility and passion — daily in all your interactions.
6: Well-being minded
You understand that well-being is not a luxury but a necessity. You are sensitive to your people’s needs: physically, emotionally and mentally. You do all you can so you and your team members can keep your well-being in good shape.
7: CEO path
Like many of your CFO friends, you want to become a CEO one day. You put in the effort and time to proactively manage your career and build a winning personal value proposition. You know that in the era of the new workplace, career management refers to the ability of CFOs to create a unique winning value proposition and to invent and reinvent themselves. In the past two years, working closely with your CEO, you learned the role of the chief executive has also changed dramatically. Therefore, become a life-long learner in six dimensions: professional, technological, leadership, critical skills (what we used to call soft skills), business acumen, and innovation and entrepreneurship.
8: Strategic goals
You know already that organisational success has a broader definition than the bottom-line results in the era of the new workplace. Therefore, you put strategic goals related to all your stakeholders, employees, suppliers, clients and society in your strategy.
Becoming the CFO of tomorrow is a journey. Like most journeys in life, we need to plan well and be aware of our feelings and thoughts at different stages. Even more important, make sure you enjoy the journey as much as the destination and try to get better every day.
About Kybos
Kybos is a dedicated UK Jedox gold partner. We build planning and analysis solutions that deliver value fast using accountancy qualified consultants. Whether you want a fully customised application or to build upon an existing solution, Kybos consultants are here to help.