Today's Controller or CFO must Focus on the evolving nature of their role. This evolving role has four major points of emphasis. They are:
1. Gold prospector.
2. Casting agent.
3. Team player.
4. Meteorologist.
The Controller or CFO as a gold prospector must find ways to be strategic. They must identify the value to the organization beyond traditional accounting functions, accounting process improvement or efficiencies. This individual must also be a casting agent. Every company will acknowledge that their most valuable asset is their people. Therefore the Controller or CFO must be excellent in recruiting, developing and retaining staff. It is imperative that the Controller or CFO as a team player practice servant leadership. When any support service department such as accounting, human resources, or information technology, desires to participate in the Strategic Planning process of the organization, they must practice servant leadership. When support departments complain about not having a voice in the direction of the company it is usually a result of not understanding their role in the organization as well as their inability to be a servant of operations. Finally, a Controller or CFO must be a meteorologist. They must be able to tell what happened to the organization regarding traditional Financial results. They must also be able to predict or forecast what is going to happen to the organization in the future. This not only includes tracking and forecasting the organization results but also includes interpreting the business environment in which the company operates. A Controller or CFO that understands how economic trends impact the organization will always be valued. ©2017 Thorsten Consulting Group, Inc.