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| cfo questions to ask: 96 Great Interview Questions to Ask Before You Hire Paul FALCONE, 2008-11-12 More than 100,000 copies sold! Every harried interviewer knows the result of throwing out vague questions to potential employees: vague answers and potentially disastrous hiring decisions. Presented in a handy question-and-answer format, 96 Great Interview Questions to Ask Before You Hire provides readers with the tools they need to elicit honest and complete information from job candidates, plus helpful hints on interpreting the responses. The book gives interviewers everything they need to: identify high-performance job candidates • probe beyond superficial answers • spot “red flags” indicating evasions or untruths • get references to provide real information • negotiate job offers to attract winners. Included in this revised and updated edition are new material on background checks, specific challenges posed by the up-and-coming millennial generation, and ideas for reinventing the employment application to gather more in-depth information than ever before. Packed with insightful questions, this book serves as a ready reference for both managers and human resources professionals alike. |
| cfo questions to ask: Effective Directors Charlotte Valeur, Claire Fargeot, 2021-10-10 The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license. Being a good board member is not about knowing everything; it is about asking the right questions and challenging appropriately. Effective Directors: The Right Questions To Ask (QTA) is a reference book for board members and executives globally to support them in their work. With chapters written by senior company board members and respected figures in corporate governance, the questions have been drawn together to offer food for thought and useful prompts that take boards beyond operational discussions. The book clearly presents key areas to be considered by the board (there are over 50 in total) and range from board composition, to data security, diversity and inclusion, and succession planning. The questions are ones that boards, in any organisation, should be asking themselves, their fellow board members, service providers, executives, and other stakeholders to ensure that the right issues are raised, transparency and effective oversight are achieved, and the board is fulfilling its role in governing the organisation. In addition to being invaluable for board members, the book is also a very useful tool for executives in understanding the kind of questions their board members are likely to ask, and the kind of questions that should be asked and discussed in the boardroom. |
| cfo questions to ask: Scaling Up Verne Harnish, 2014 In this guide, Harnish and his co-authors share practical tools and techniques to help entrepreneurs grow an industry -- dominating business without it killing them -- and actually have fun. Many growth company leaders reach a point where they actually dread adding another customer, employee, or location. It feels like they are just adding more weight to an ever-heavier anchor they are dragging through the sand. To make matters worse, the increased revenues have not turned into more profitability, so at some point they wonder if the journey is worth the effort. This book focuses on the four major decisions every company must get right: People, Strategy, Execution and Cash. The book includes a series of One-Page tools including the One-Page Strategic Plan and the Rockefeller Habits Execution Checklist, which more than 40,000 firms around the globe have used to scale their companies successfully. |
| cfo questions to ask: Questions Are the Answer Hal Gregersen, 2018-11-13 2018 Nautilus Book Awards Silver Winner What if you could unlock a better answer to your most vexing problem—in your workplace, community, or home life—just by changing the question? Talk to creative problem-solvers and they will often tell you, the key to their success is asking a different question. Take Debbie Sterling, the social entrepreneur who created GoldieBlox. The idea came when a friend complained about too few women in engineering and Sterling wondered aloud: why are all the great building toys made for boys? Or consider Nobel laureate Richard Thaler, who asked: would it change economic theory if we stopped pretending people were rational? Or listen to Jeff Bezos whose relentless approach to problem solving has fueled Amazon’s exponential growth: “Getting the right question is key to getting the right answer.” Great questions like these have a catalytic quality—that is, they dissolve barriers to creative thinking and channel the pursuit of solutions into new, accelerated pathways. Often, the moment they are voiced, they have the paradoxical effect of being utterly surprising yet instantly obvious. For innovation and leadership guru Hal Gregersen, the power of questions has always been clear—but it took some years for the follow-on question to hit him: If so much depends on fresh questions, shouldn’t we know more about how to arrive at them? That sent him on a research quest ultimately including over two hundred interviews with creative thinkers. Questions Are the Answer delivers the insights Gregersen gained about the conditions that give rise to catalytic questions—and breakthrough insights—and how anyone can create them. |
| cfo questions to ask: The E-Myth Chief Financial Officer Michael E. Gerber, Michael Steranka, Fred G Parrish, 2011-04-29 The E-Myth Chief Financial Officer offers you a roadmap to create a company that's self-sufficient, growing, and highly profitable. |
| cfo questions to ask: HOW TO WIN FRIENDS & INFLUENCE PEOPLE Dale Carnegie, 2023-11-26 Dale Carnegie's 'How to Win Friends & Influence People' is a timeless self-help classic that explores the art of building successful relationships through effective communication. Written in a straightforward and engaging style, Carnegie's book provides practical advice on how to enhance social skills, improve leadership qualities, and achieve personal and professional success. The book is a must-read for anyone looking to navigate social dynamics and connect with others in a meaningful way, making it a valuable resource in today's interconnected world. With anecdotal examples and actionable tips, Carnegie's work resonates with readers of all ages and backgrounds, making it a popular choice for personal development and growth. Carnegie's ability to distill complex social principles into simple, actionable steps sets this book apart as a timeless guide for building lasting relationships and influencing others positively. Readers will benefit from Carnegie's wisdom and insight, gaining valuable tools to navigate social interactions and achieve success in their personal and professional lives. |
| cfo questions to ask: Reinventing the CFO Jeremy Hope, 2006 On the heels of a decade of scandals and the new pressures brought on by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, corporations expect far more from their CFOs than simply managing the numbers. They expect decision-making support and performance insights that can improve bottom-line results. Unfortunately, the complexity and detail inherent in CFOs’ jobs keep them shackled to budgeting and transaction-processing systems that leave little time for value-adding activities. Grounded in extensive research, Reinventing the CFO outlines seven critical roles—from streamlining redundant processes to regulating risk to identifying a few key measures—that CFOs must take on in order to successfully transform the finance operation. |
| cfo questions to ask: Makers and Takers Rana Foroohar, 2017-09-12 Is Wall Street bad for Main Street America? A well-told exploration of why our current economy is leaving too many behind. —The New York Times In looking at the forces that shaped the 2016 presidential election, one thing is clear: much of the population believes that our economic system is rigged to enrich the privileged elites at the expense of hard-working Americans. This is a belief held equally on both sides of political spectrum, and it seems only to be gaining momentum. A key reason, says Financial Times columnist Rana Foroohar, is the fact that Wall Street is no longer supporting Main Street businesses that create the jobs for the middle and working class. She draws on in-depth reporting and interviews at the highest rungs of business and government to show how the “financialization of America”—the phenomenon by which finance and its way of thinking have come to dominate every corner of business—is threatening the American Dream. Now updated with new material explaining how our corrupted financial system propelled Donald Trump to power, Makers and Takers explores the confluence of forces that has led American businesses to favor balance-sheet engineering over the actual kind, greed over growth, and short-term profits over putting people to work. From the cozy relationship between Wall Street and Washington, to a tax code designed to benefit wealthy individuals and corporations, to forty years of bad policy decisions, she shows why so many Americans have lost trust in the system, and why it matters urgently to us all. Through colorful stories of both “Takers,” those stifling job creation while lining their own pockets, and “Makers,” businesses serving the real economy, Foroohar shows how we can reverse these trends for a better path forward. |
| cfo questions to ask: Ask a Manager Alison Green, 2018-05-01 From the creator of the popular website Ask a Manager and New York’s work-advice columnist comes a witty, practical guide to 200 difficult professional conversations—featuring all-new advice! There’s a reason Alison Green has been called “the Dear Abby of the work world.” Ten years as a workplace-advice columnist have taught her that people avoid awkward conversations in the office because they simply don’t know what to say. Thankfully, Green does—and in this incredibly helpful book, she tackles the tough discussions you may need to have during your career. You’ll learn what to say when • coworkers push their work on you—then take credit for it • you accidentally trash-talk someone in an email then hit “reply all” • you’re being micromanaged—or not being managed at all • you catch a colleague in a lie • your boss seems unhappy with your work • your cubemate’s loud speakerphone is making you homicidal • you got drunk at the holiday party Praise for Ask a Manager “A must-read for anyone who works . . . [Alison Green’s] advice boils down to the idea that you should be professional (even when others are not) and that communicating in a straightforward manner with candor and kindness will get you far, no matter where you work.”—Booklist (starred review) “The author’s friendly, warm, no-nonsense writing is a pleasure to read, and her advice can be widely applied to relationships in all areas of readers’ lives. Ideal for anyone new to the job market or new to management, or anyone hoping to improve their work experience.”—Library Journal (starred review) “I am a huge fan of Alison Green’s Ask a Manager column. This book is even better. It teaches us how to deal with many of the most vexing big and little problems in our workplaces—and to do so with grace, confidence, and a sense of humor.”—Robert Sutton, Stanford professor and author of The No Asshole Rule and The Asshole Survival Guide “Ask a Manager is the ultimate playbook for navigating the traditional workforce in a diplomatic but firm way.”—Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together |
| cfo questions to ask: The Ideal Team Player Patrick M. Lencioni, 2016-04-25 In his classic book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni laid out a groundbreaking approach for tackling the perilous group behaviors that destroy teamwork. Here he turns his focus to the individual, revealing the three indispensable virtues of an ideal team player. In The Ideal Team Player, Lencioni tells the story of Jeff Shanley, a leader desperate to save his uncle’s company by restoring its cultural commitment to teamwork. Jeff must crack the code on the virtues that real team players possess, and then build a culture of hiring and development around those virtues. Beyond the fable, Lencioni presents a practical framework and actionable tools for identifying, hiring, and developing ideal team players. Whether you’re a leader trying to create a culture around teamwork, a staffing professional looking to hire real team players, or a team player wanting to improve yourself, this book will prove to be as useful as it is compelling. |
| cfo questions to ask: The Financial Controller and CFO's Toolkit David Parmenter, 2016-09-19 Simplify and streamline your way to a winning legacy The Financial Controller and CFO's Toolkit is a hybrid handbook and toolkit with over 100 lean practice solutions and a wealth of practical tools for senior financial managers of small, midsized and large companies. This book outlines the mindset of paradigm shifters relevant to future-ready finance teams, and contains guidelines on how to become an effective change leader. Guidance from world leading expert David Parmenter provides the insight and tools you need to reach your true leadership potential and achieve more for your organization. Packed with templates and checklists, this book helps you adhere to the best practices in reporting, forecasting, KPIs, planning, strategy, and technology. The companion website—a complete toolbox for positive, entrenched change—gives you access to additional resources that reinforce The Financial Controller and CFO's Toolkit strategy. This new second edition has been updated to reflect the latest practices and technology to streamline your workflow and get more done in less time—without sacrificing quality or accuracy. As an all-in-one resource for the CFO role, this book provides a clear, practical strategy for demonstrating your value to your organization. Selling and leading change effectively Get more accurate information from your KPIs Attracting, recruiting and retaining talented staff Invest in and implement new essential tools Investing wisely in 21st century technologies Report the month-end within three days, implement quarterly rolling forecasting, complete the annual plan in two weeks or less, and bring your firm into the 21st century with key tools that get the job done. Be the CFO that your organization needs and the leader that your teams deserve. The Financial Controller and CFO's Toolkit gives you everything you need to achieve more by doing less. |
| cfo questions to ask: Play Bigger Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead, Kevin Maney, 2016-06-14 The founders of a respected Silicon Valley advisory firm study legendary category-creating companies and reveal a groundbreaking discipline called category design. Winning today isn’t about beating the competition at the old game. It’s about inventing a whole new game—defining a new market category, developing it, and dominating it over time. You can’t build a legendary company without building a legendary category. If you think that having the best product is all it takes to win, you’re going to lose. In this farsighted, pioneering guide, the founders of Silicon Valley advisory firm Play Bigger rely on data analysis and interviews to understand the inner workings of “category kings”— companies such as Amazon, Salesforce, Uber, and IKEA—that give us new ways of living, thinking or doing business, often solving problems we didn’t know we had. In Play Bigger, the authors assemble their findings to introduce the new discipline of category design. By applying category design, companies can create new demand where none existed, conditioning customers’ brains so they change their expectations and buying habits. While this discipline defines the tech industry, it applies to every kind of industry and even to personal careers. Crossing the Chasm revolutionized how we think about new products in an existing market. The Innovator’s Dilemma taught us about disrupting an aging market. Now, Play Bigger is transforming business once again, showing us how to create the market itself. |
| cfo questions to ask: Unlocking Creativity Michael A. Roberto, 2019-01-07 Tear down the obstacles to creative innovation in your organization Unlocking Creativity is an exploration of the creative process and how organizations can clear the way for innovation. In many organizations, creative individuals face stubborn resistance to new ideas. Managers and executives oftentimes reject innovation and unconventional approaches due to misplaced allegiance to the status quo. Questioning established practices or challenging prevailing sentiments is frequently met with stiff resistance. In this climate of stifled creativity and inflexible adherence to conventional wisdom, potentially game-changing ideas are dismissed outright. Senior leaders claim to value creativity, yet often lack the knowledge to provide a creative framework. Unlocking Creativity offers effective methods and real-world examples of how the most successful organizations create cultures of innovation and experimentation. Best-selling author and scholar Michael Roberto presents a thorough investigation of organizational obstacles to creative thought. Highly relevant to the growth crises many enterprises face in today’s economic landscape, this book examines how to break barriers to spark creativity and foster new ideas. This insightful and informative work allows business executives, senior managers, and organization leaders to: Recognize the six organizational mindsets that impede creativity and innovation Learn how to tear down the barriers that obstruct the creative process Create an environment that allows talented people to thrive Encourage creative collaboration in teams throughout an organization Leaders do not have to conceive innovative ideas, but rather open the path for curious and creative employees within their organization. Unlocking Creativity: How to Solve Any Problem and Make the Best Decisions aids organizations in removing obstacles to the creative process and helps to form an atmosphere of imagination and innovation. |
| cfo questions to ask: 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions Vicky Oliver, 2005 Packed full of the toughest interview questions and the savvy answers today's managers are looking for, this is the definitive guide to landing a job. |
| cfo questions to ask: Objectives and Key Results Paul R. Niven, Ben Lamorte, 2016-09-06 Everything you need to implement Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) effectively Objectives and Key Results is the first full-fledged reference guide on Objectives and Key Results, a critical thinking framework designed to help organizations create value through focus, alignment, and better communication. Written by two leading OKRs consultants and researchers, this book provides a one-stop resource for organizations looking to quantify qualitative goals and ensure each team focuses their efforts to make measureable progress on their most important goals. You’ll learn how OKRs came to be and how leading companies use them every day to help teams and employees stretch their thinking about what’s possible, build their goal-setting muscles and achieve results that reflect their full potential. From the basic framework to a detailed dissection of best practices, this informative guide walks you through real-world implementations to help you get the most out of OKRs. OKRs help employees work together, focus effort, and drive the organization forward. Key results are used to define what it means to achieve broad, qualitative goals, and imperatives like “do it better” are transformed into clear, measureable markers. From the framework’s inception in the 1980s to its popularity in today’s hyper-competitive environment, OKRs make work more engaging and feature frequent feedback cycles that enable workers to see the progress they make at work each and every day. This book shows you everything you need to know to implement OKRs effectively. Understand the basics of OKRs and their day-to-day use Learn how to gain the executive support critical to a successful implementation Maintain an effective program with key assessment tips Tailor the OKRs framework to your organization’s needs Objectives and Key Results is your key resource for designing, planning, implementing, and maintaining your OKRs program for sustainable company-wide success. |
| cfo questions to ask: Distressed Investment Banking Henry Furlow Owsley, Peter S. Kaufman, 2005 The definitive work on the role of the investment banker in a troubled company situation. |
| cfo questions to ask: The Essential CFO Bruce P. Nolop, 2012-03-16 Discover the power of the CFO's role in delivering shareholder value During the past decade, the CFO role has expanded dramatically in its breadth, complexity, and criticality. Filled with proven strategies, best practices, and keen insights, The Essential CFO describes how today's CFOs are responding to their expanded roles within both public and private companies. With straightforward and pragmatic guidance, author Bruce Nolop shows how CFOs are partnering with CEOs to deliver shareholder value by articulating a strategic plan, determining capital allocations, managing the capital structure, driving financial performance, and implementing strategic transactions. Covers how CFOs are establishing robust accounting and risk management processes and effectively communicating with both external and internal constituencies Looks at the role of the CFO in transforming financial organizations to drive effectiveness and efficiencies Examines how CFOs can develop talent with the experience, expertise, and leadership skills to meet the challenges of the future Written from a balanced, top-down perspective of the modern CFO, The Essential CFO provides you with practical prescriptions for executing impactful corporate finance strategies. |
| cfo questions to ask: The New Rules of Work Alexandra Cavoulacos, Kathryn Minshew, 2017 In this definitive guide to the ever-changing modern workplace, Kathryn Minshew and Alexandra Cavoulacos, the co-founders of popular career website TheMuse.com, show how to play the game by the New Rules. The Muse is known for sharp, relevant, and get-to-the-point advice on how to figure out exactly what your values and your skills are and how they best play out in the marketplace. Now Kathryn and Alex have gathered all of that advice and more in The New Rules of Work. Through quick exercises and structured tips, the authors will guide you as you sort through your countless options; communicate who you are and why you are valuable; and stand out from the crowd. The New Rules of Work shows how to choose a perfect career path, land the best job, and wake up feeling excited to go to work every day-- whether you are starting out in your career, looking to move ahead, navigating a mid-career shift, or anywhere in between-- |
| cfo questions to ask: Right Away & All at Once Greg Brenneman, 2016-02-09 An expert in business turnaround shares his inspiring approach to problem-solving: “A fascinating read” (Mitt Romney). Visionary leader Greg Brenneman believes that true business success and personal fulfillment are two sides of the same coin. The techniques that will grow your business will also help you achieve a rich, purposeful, and integrated life. Here, Brenneman takes what he’s learned from turning around or tuning up many businesses—including Continental Airlines and Burger King—and distills it into a simple, clear, five-step roadmap that anyone can follow. He teaches you how to: *prepare a succinct Go Forward plan *build a fortress balance sheet *grow your sales and profits *choose all-star servant leaders *empower your team For more than thirty years, Brenneman has seen these steps foster dramatic results in a variety of business environments. But he also came to realize that he could apply these same principles to improve his life and build a lasting moral legacy. He found he could make better decisions by carefully taking the most important facets of his life—faith, family, friendship, fitness, and finance—into consideration. Brenneman’s inspiring examples, from both his business and his life, demonstrate the astounding effects these steps can have when you apply them—right away and all at once. |
| cfo questions to ask: 60 Minute CFO David Duryee, 2017-07-05 Business owners believe that if sales and profits are strong and growing, banks should enthusiastically provide the necessary funding. Bankers are concerned that business owners do not understand the difference between profits and cash flow, and may overly rely on debt to support the growth. CPAs provide valuable information in the form of financial statements, but often struggle with explaining how they should be interpreted. This book bridges the communication gap between these parties, and describes in simple and easy to understand language what it all means. What key indicators to look at and why. What the rules of behavior are for dealing with the banker and CPA. The Excel-based workbook that is available on the author's website makes it easy by doing all the calculations automatically, including the ability to forecast profits, cash flow and financial strength. It is critical that the business owner, banker, and CPA understand each other. Give it 60 minutes a month. That's all it takes to make it happen. |
| cfo questions to ask: The Financial Controller and CFO's Toolkit David Parmenter, 2016-08-29 Simplify and streamline your way to a winning legacy The Financial Controller and CFO's Toolkit is a hybrid handbook and toolkit with over 100 lean practice solutions and a wealth of practical tools for senior financial managers of small, midsized and large companies. This book outlines the mindset of paradigm shifters relevant to future-ready finance teams, and contains guidelines on how to become an effective change leader. Guidance from world leading expert David Parmenter provides the insight and tools you need to reach your true leadership potential and achieve more for your organization. Packed with templates and checklists, this book helps you adhere to the best practices in reporting, forecasting, KPIs, planning, strategy, and technology. The companion website—a complete toolbox for positive, entrenched change—gives you access to additional resources that reinforce The Financial Controller and CFO's Toolkit strategy. This new second edition has been updated to reflect the latest practices and technology to streamline your workflow and get more done in less time—without sacrificing quality or accuracy. As an all-in-one resource for the CFO role, this book provides a clear, practical strategy for demonstrating your value to your organization. Selling and leading change effectively Get more accurate information from your KPIs Attracting, recruiting and retaining talented staff Invest in and implement new essential tools Investing wisely in 21st century technologies Report the month-end within three days, implement quarterly rolling forecasting, complete the annual plan in two weeks or less, and bring your firm into the 21st century with key tools that get the job done. Be the CFO that your organization needs and the leader that your teams deserve. The Financial Controller and CFO's Toolkit gives you everything you need to achieve more by doing less. |
| cfo questions to ask: Vault Guide to Finance Interviews D. Bhatawedekhar, Hussam Hamadeh, 2002 From the Vault Career Library covering the basics of financial statements, fit portion of interviews and equity and debt valuation techniques in a step-by-step process. |
| cfo questions to ask: Extraordinary Circumstances Cynthia Cooper, 2009-03-23 The longer WorldCom Chief Audit Executive Cynthia Cooper stares at the entries in front of her, the more sinister they seem. But the CFO is badgering her to delay her team's audit of the company's books and directing others to block Cooper's efforts. Still, something in the pit of her stomach tells her to keep digging. Cooper takes readers behind the scenes on a riveting, real-time journey as she and her team work at night and behind closed doors to expose the largest fraud in corporate history. Whom can they trust? Could she lose her job? Should she fear for her physical safety? In Extraordinary Circumstances, she recounts for the first time her journey from her close family upbringing in a small Mississippi town, to working motherhood and corporate success, to the pressures of becoming a whistleblower, to being named one of Time's 2002 Persons of the Year. She also provides a rare insider's glimpse into the spectacular rise and fall of WorldCom, a telecom titan, the darling of Wall Street, and a Cinderella story for Mississippi. With remarkable candor, Cooper discusses her struggle to overcome these challenges, and how she has found healing through sharing the lessons learned with the next generation. This book reminds us all that ethical decision-making is not forged at the crossroads of major events but starts in childhood, decision by decision and brick by brick. At a time when corporate dishonesty is dominating public attention, Extraordinary Circumstances makes it clear that the tone set at the top is critical to fostering an ethical environment in the work-place. Provocative, moving, and intensely personal, Extraordinary Circumstances is a wake-up call to corporate leaders and an intimate glimpse at a scandal that shook the business world. |
| cfo questions to ask: EMPOWERED Marty Cagan, 2020-12-03 Great teams are comprised of ordinary people that are empowered and inspired. They are empowered to solve hard problems in ways their customers love yet work for their business. They are inspired with ideas and techniques for quickly evaluating those ideas to discover solutions that work: they are valuable, usable, feasible and viable. This book is about the idea and reality of achieving extraordinary results from ordinary people. Empowered is the companion to Inspired. It addresses the other half of the problem of building tech products?how to get the absolute best work from your product teams. However, the book's message applies much more broadly than just to product teams. Inspired was aimed at product managers. Empowered is aimed at all levels of technology-powered organizations: founders and CEO's, leaders of product, technology and design, and the countless product managers, product designers and engineers that comprise the teams. This book will not just inspire companies to empower their employees but will teach them how. This book will help readers achieve the benefits of truly empowered teams-- |
| cfo questions to ask: Cfo Sandra Calvert, John Petty, 2018-11-24 The role of a CFO and value that a CFO provides has seen a number of disparate definitions of the role. In this article, we analyse the evolution of the position through time and its progression into the future. We are interested in unravelling the differing evaluations of the CFO through our findings to create clarity to the workforce and educational sector. We consider how the role interfaces within the hierarchical chain and to the added value provided to those in governance. We demonstrate how the CFO adds value and in so doing, is a dynamic pivotal executive in an organisation. We conclude with a greater appreciation and understanding of who the current CFO is and the future of such. |
| cfo questions to ask: HBR Guide to Finance Basics for Managers (HBR Guide Series) Harvard Business Review, 2012-09-18 DON’T LET YOUR FEAR OF FINANCE GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR SUCCESS Can you prepare a breakeven analysis? Do you know the difference between an income statement and a balance sheet? Or understand why a business that’s profitable can still go belly-up? Has your grasp of your company’s numbers helped—or hurt—your career? Whether you’re new to finance or you just need a refresher, this go-to guide will give you the tools and confidence you need to master the fundamentals, as all good managers must. The HBR Guide to Finance Basics for Managers will help you: Learn the language of finance Compare your firm’s financials with rivals’ Shift your team’s focus from revenues to profits Assess your vulnerability to industry downturns Use financial data to defend budget requests Invest smartly through cost/benefit analysis |
| cfo questions to ask: Playing to Win Alan G. Lafley, Roger L. Martin, 2013 Explains how companies must pinpoint business strategies to a few critically important choices, identifying common blunders while outlining simple exercises and questions that can guide day-to-day and long-term decisions. |
| cfo questions to ask: The Innovator's DNA Jeff Dyer, Hal Gregersen, Clayton M. Christensen, 2011-07-12 A new classic, cited by leaders and media around the globe as a highly recommended read for anyone interested in innovation. In The Innovator’s DNA, authors Jeffrey Dyer, Hal Gregersen, and bestselling author Clayton Christensen (The Innovator’s Dilemma, The Innovator’s Solution, How Will You Measure Your Life?) build on what we know about disruptive innovation to show how individuals can develop the skills necessary to move progressively from idea to impact. By identifying behaviors of the world’s best innovators—from leaders at Amazon and Apple to those at Google, Skype, and Virgin Group—the authors outline five discovery skills that distinguish innovative entrepreneurs and executives from ordinary managers: Associating, Questioning, Observing, Networking, and Experimenting. Once you master these competencies (the authors provide a self-assessment for rating your own innovator’s DNA), the authors explain how to generate ideas, collaborate to implement them, and build innovation skills throughout the organization to result in a competitive edge. This innovation advantage will translate into a premium in your company’s stock price—an innovation premium—which is possible only by building the code for innovation right into your organization’s people, processes, and guiding philosophies. Practical and provocative, The Innovator’s DNA is an essential resource for individuals and teams who want to strengthen their innovative prowess. |
| cfo questions to ask: Finance 'n Stilettos Zaneilia Harris, 2015-11-30 No matter where you are in life personally, Finance ’n Stilettos is written for you. Zaneilia strives to show women how to effectively manage their finances with class and a touch of flair. As well-heeled women, we know that shoes are an essential component to a stylish and sophisticated wardrobe. Finance is just as important to our daily lives as the red peep toe stiletto pump is to a perfectly tailored black pinstripe suit. They both are valuable to a woman’s confidence and inner feeling of being well put together. Throughout this book, Zaneilia intertwines her personal stories while highlighting financial tips for women going through the various phases of life. She shares how smart successful women can avoid and recover from money mishaps that can potentially derail their financial progress. The first step to bouncing back with grace and dignity is acknowledgement of the mistake. If you never admit it, you can’t fix it. Instead of dwelling on past financial missteps, she wants to motivate women to learn effective strategies that can help them navigate through the runway of life. |
| cfo questions to ask: Financial Intelligence, Revised Edition Karen Berman, Joe Knight, 2013-02-19 Explains what business numbers mean and why they matter, and addresses issues that have become more important in recent years, including questions about the financial crisis and accounting literacy. |
| cfo questions to ask: Power Questions Andrew Sobel, Jerold Panas, 2012-02-07 An arsenal of powerful questions that will transform every conversation Skillfully redefine problems. Make an immediate connection with anyone. Rapidly determine if a client is ready to buy. Access the deepest dreams of others. Power Questions sets out a series of strategic questions that will help you win new business and dramatically deepen your professional and personal relationships. The book showcases thirty-five riveting, real conversations with CEOs, billionaires, clients, colleagues, and friends. Each story illustrates the extraordinary power and impact of a thought-provoking, incisive power question. To help readers navigate a variety of professional challenges, over 200 additional, thought-provoking questions are also summarized at the end of the book. In Power Questions you’ll discover: The question that stopped an angry executive in his tracks The sales question CEOs expect you to ask versus the questions they want you to ask The question that will radically refocus any meeting The penetrating question that can transform a friend or colleague’s life A simple question that helped restore a marriage When you use power questions, you magnify your professional and personal influence, create intimate connections with others, and drive to the true heart of the issue every time. |
| cfo questions to ask: Eliminate Your Competition Sean O'Shaughnessey, 2018-05-14 Most salespeople lose the deal before they ever get started! It isn't uncommon for the customer to have already made a decision before most salespeople even learn of the opportunity. Most salespeople have to beat the preferred competitor by a significant margin just to be considered equivalent. Don't you wish that you could be the preferred vendor in all of your opportunities? Selling is a difficult career in which to make a living; it is not uncommon to have the commission check denied before the salesperson even gets a chance to win. Analysis of thousands of sales situations has made it phenomenally obvious that most salespeople begin their sales campaign so late in the decision-making process that they are virtually guaranteed to lose the order. To make matters worse, when they do start the campaign early enough, most salespeople do not know how to control the prospect adequately so that they can guarantee their victory. Typical turnover for a sales department is 10-20%. Many companies see turnover that approaches 40-60%! This turnover costs them 50% of their revenue-generating capability. In any organization that exceeds 25% turnover, the loss of trust with the customer can be astounding as the new salesperson tries to rebuild the entire relationship. In any given quarter dozens or hundreds of companies do not make their forecasted numbers and are dramatically punished by Wall Street. This book will provide the management of a company with a framework to teach their salespeople how to attain their quotas with higher profits. It will also allow salespeople to rise to the top of their organization and be the super-achievers who win awards, trips, bonuses, and respect. In this book, I will show you how to eliminate your competition and maximize your commission. |
| cfo questions to ask: The Chief Development Officer Ronald J. Schiller, 2021-05-15 The Chief Development Officer: Beyond Fundraising is a guide not only to those preparing for or serving in the role of CDO but also to those charged with selecting, appointing, and supporting CDOs. It includes ten chapters, each presenting a role beyond frontline fundraising and fundraising program management in which today’s top CDOs excel: Relationship Builder in Chief; Shaper of a Culture that Embraces Philanthropic Partnership; Visible Leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Strategist and Planner; Trusted Advisor on Board Matters; Thought Partner; Visionary and Confident Sight Raiser; Resilient Optimist; Talent Magnet; and Mentor, Sponsor, and Ally to Future CDOs. Each chapter includes a description of the elements of the role, illustrations of how CDOs excel, and advice on preparing for the role. The book encourages anyone with an interest in the CDO position to take steps to prepare well ahead of stepping into the position. It also encourages mentors, supervisors, and other industry leaders to identify those with potential for success in the CDO role, provide resources such as this book, and create opportunities for them to gain experience and skill that they will need when they step into this complex, challenging, yet extremely important and deeply rewarding role. |
| cfo questions to ask: The Manager's Path Camille Fournier, 2017-03-13 Managing people is difficult wherever you work. But in the tech industry, where management is also a technical discipline, the learning curve can be brutal—especially when there are few tools, texts, and frameworks to help you. In this practical guide, author Camille Fournier (tech lead turned CTO) takes you through each stage in the journey from engineer to technical manager. From mentoring interns to working with senior staff, you’ll get actionable advice for approaching various obstacles in your path. This book is ideal whether you’re a new manager, a mentor, or a more experienced leader looking for fresh advice. Pick up this book and learn how to become a better manager and leader in your organization. Begin by exploring what you expect from a manager Understand what it takes to be a good mentor, and a good tech lead Learn how to manage individual members while remaining focused on the entire team Understand how to manage yourself and avoid common pitfalls that challenge many leaders Manage multiple teams and learn how to manage managers Learn how to build and bootstrap a unifying culture in teams |
| cfo questions to ask: Your First CFO Pam Prior, 2018-01-13 “Whether you’re looking to add a bookkeeper, part-time CFO, or full-time CFO, Your First CFO is an eye-opening must-read.” —Kevin Kruse, New York Times–bestselling author of Unlimited Clients Are you paying good money for an accountant and bookkeeper, but still lacking enough confidence in your company’s financials to answer critical money questions? Do you sit up at night processing and reprocessing unresolved questions about how to keep your business on a solid financial footing or nurture it to the next level? Do you feel like you’re flying blind with your finances and have no sense of the terrain ahead? Your First CFO is a step-by-step blueprint for using the tools and people you’ve already paid for to shine a spotlight on your business finances so they make sense to you and are reliable, timely, and relevant. With this guide, you can transform your current stress and uncertainty about bookkeepers, accounting, and finance into a foundation of steady confidence about the future of your business. |
| cfo questions to ask: Red to Black Larry M Cooper, 2019-04-30 Red To Black is for Owner/Managers, C-Suite Executives, Non-Financial Executives who want to better understand the full financial aspects of a business. It will educate you on what you need to know about the financial affairs of a company. It will accelerate your learning curve about what is important in a finance department, what questions to ask to get the most out of the finance team and how the finance team can be best deployed to add value to your business. Red To Black will be a great reference source even after you have read it to refresh yourself on topics as they come up. |
| cfo questions to ask: Venture Capital For Dummies Nicole Gravagna, Peter K. Adams, 2013-08-15 Secure venture capital? Easy. Getting a business up and running or pushing a brilliant product to the marketplace requires capital. For many entrepreneurs, a lack of start-up capital can be the single biggest roadblock to their dreams of success and fortune. Venture Capital For Dummies takes entrepreneurs step by step through the process of finding and securing venture capital for their own projects. Find and secure venture capital for your business Get your business up and running Push a product to the marketplace If you're an entrepreneur looking for hands-on guidance on how to secure capital for your business, the information in Venture Capital For Dummies gives you the edge you need to succeed. |
| cfo questions to ask: What the CEO Wants You to Know Ram Charan, 2001 A powerful lesson in what is really important in business, this remarkable book by an ultimate insider takes the lessons of the peddler and reveals how they can be used by the rest of us. Reminiscent of bestsellers such as Who Moved My Cheese? and The One-Minute Manager, What the CEO Wants You to Know is simple, direct, and of immense use to everyone in business. |
| cfo questions to ask: Hope Is Not a Method Gordon R. Sullivan, 1997-09-02 Since the end of the Cold War, the United States Army has been reengineered and downsized more thoroughly than any other business. In the early 1990s, General Sullivan, army chief of staff, and Colonel Harper, his key strategic planner, took the post-Cold War army into the Information Age. Faced with a 40 percent reduction in staff and funding, they focused on new peacetime missions, dismantled a cumbersome bureaucracy, reinvented procedures, and set the guidelines for achieving a vast array of new goals. Hope Is Not a Method explains how they did it and shows how their experience is extremely relevant to today's businesses. From how to stay on top of long-range issues to how to maintain a productive work force during times of change, it offers invaluable lessons in leadership and provides proven tactics any business can implement. |
| cfo questions to ask: Talk to Me Dean Nelson, 2019-02-19 “The perfect guide to interviewing . . . anyone who speaks with fellow humans to acquire information will find Nelson’s guidance priceless.” —Tom Foster, New York Times–bestselling author of How to Read Literature Like a Professor Interviewing is the single most important way journalists (and doctors, lawyers, social workers, teachers, human resources staff, and, really, all of us) get information. Yet to many, the perfect interview feels more like luck than skill—a rare confluence of rapport, topic, and timing. But the thing is, great interviews aren’t the result of serendipity and intuition, but rather the result of careful planning and good journalistic habits. And Dean Nelson is here to show you how to nail the perfect interview every time. Drawing on forty-years of award-winning journalism and his experience as the founder and host of the Writer’s Symposium by the Sea, Nelson walks you through each step of the journey from deciding whom to interview and structuring questions, to the nitty gritty of how to use a recording device and effective note-taking strategies, to the ethical dilemmas of interviewing people you love (and loathe). He also includes case studies of famous interviews to show how these principles play out in real time. Chock full of comprehensive, time-tested, gold-standard advice, Talk to Me is a book that demystifies the art and science of interviewing. “One of the best interviewers around.” —Anne Lamott, New York Times–bestselling author of Help, Thanks, Wow |
What Is a Chief Financial Officer (CFO)? Role and Responsibilities
May 22, 2025 · A chief financial officer (CFO) is a top-level executive. The CFO handles everything relating to cash flow, financial planning, and taxation issues.
What is a CFO? Understanding the Chief Financial Officer Role
2 days ago · The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a senior executive responsible for managing the financial actions of a company. This includes overseeing financial planning, risk management, …
Chief financial officer - Wikipedia
The CFO thus has ultimate authority over the finance unit and is the chief financial spokesperson for the organization. The CFO typically reports to the chief executive officer (CEO) and the …
What Is a Chief Financial Officer? CFO Roles and Responsibilities ...
Apr 1, 2025 · What Is a Chief Financial Officer (CFO)? A chief financial officer (CFO) is the highest-ranking financial professional in an organization and is responsible for the fiscal health …
What Is A Chief Financial Officer? CFO Role Explained - Forbes
Jun 2, 2024 · It is the CFO's job to promote financial growth. A chief financial officer, or CFO, is essentially the person holding the purse strings within an organization, overseeing every …
What Is A CFO? Key Roles And Responsibilities Explained - NOW CFO
Dec 5, 2019 · What is a CFO? A Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is the highest-ranking member of an accounting and finance staff. They serve as a key player in the Chief Executive Officer’s …
What Does A CFO Do? The Evolving Role and Responsibilities
The CFO oversees a company’s financial operations. A CFO’s responsibilities include internal and external financial reporting, stewardship of company assets, and ownership of cash …
What is a CFO? - Go Fractional
Mar 19, 2025 · What is a CFO? A CFO provides strategic leadership to help organizations meet their financial goals. Learn more about a CFO’s responsibilities and how to hire a CFO. A CFO …
What Does CFO Stand For and What Do They Do? - Western …
Jan 1, 2024 · CFO stands for “chief financial officer.” The CFO is the top financial position held by an individual in a company or organization. What is a CFO? A chief financial officer (CFO) …
What Is A CFO? - Oracle
A chief financial officer (CFO) is a senior executive responsible for managing the financial actions of a company, including tracking cash flow and financial planning and reporting.
What Is a Chief Financial Officer (CFO)? Role and Responsibilities
May 22, 2025 · A chief financial officer (CFO) is a top-level executive. The CFO handles everything relating to cash flow, financial planning, and taxation issues.
What is a CFO? Understanding the Chief Financial Officer Role
3 days ago · The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a senior executive responsible for managing the financial actions of a company. This includes overseeing financial …
Chief financial officer - Wikipedia
The CFO thus has ultimate authority over the finance unit and is the chief financial spokesperson for the organization. The CFO typically reports to the chief executive …
What Is a Chief Financial Officer? CFO Roles and Responsibilities ...
Apr 1, 2025 · What Is a Chief Financial Officer (CFO)? A chief financial officer (CFO) is the highest-ranking financial professional in an organization and is responsible for the …
What Is A Chief Financial Officer? CFO Role Explained - Forbes
Jun 2, 2024 · It is the CFO's job to promote financial growth. A chief financial officer, or CFO, is essentially the person holding the purse strings within an organization, …
