Strategic Financial Leadership
The long-term financial health of an organization is the primary emphasis of strategic financial leadership. Strategic financial leaders must keep an eye on the books but also anticipate potential problems and come up with solutions. Aims and objectives for the next five to ten years must be developed, along with road maps and key performance indicators (KPIs) to help the organization succeed. Executives in strategic finance may also find themselves collaborating more closely with those in charge of marketing and supply chain management.
A strategic CFO would analyze the company’s financial data and think about the business as a whole and how it may expand. To achieve the company’s long-term financial goals, it may raise prices, form partnerships that raise brand awareness, or use supply chain improvements that lower costs per unit.
This blog will start with the most elementary suggestions for enhancing and extending your abilities in regard to strategic financial leadership. Learning the later ones, notably corporate vision, will likely take more time, but we believe you will discover that it benefits you and your business greatly in the long run. Here are the six most important things that a CFO needs to fulfill the strategic financial leadership model:
- Predictions and Reporting
A CFO’s primary responsibilities should include reporting and forecasting. SaaS and cloud services have made it simpler and cheaper to implement enterprise-wide accounting system integration. In the strategic financial leadership style, a leader looks for ways to go deeper into the data to surface actionable insights for the business. At the same time, a functional Chief of finance ensures that everyone who needs access to these tools has been properly onboarded and is using them.
- Analyzing and Planning Finances
To take financial planning and analysis to the next level, a strategic CFO should seek opportunities to use standard databases and quantitative expertise, a key requirement for strategic financial leadership. Typically, FP&A is used to generate fact-based responses to queries about the financial and operational performance of any part of the business.
There are both regular analyses, like comparing this period’s results to the last and ad hoc studies, like determining the payback period for a brand-new sales enablement technology platform. A strategic Chief of Finance is similar to a functional CFO because they use similar procedures and ask similar questions. Still, the key difference is that the former is more proactive due to the approach of strategic financial leadership.
- Controlling Risk and Preventing It
The global emergence of COVID-19 and the resulting disruptions in supply chains have shown that risk management is much more than an afterthought for finance managers.
The CFO’s function has evolved to encourage departments across the company to conduct risk assessments and frequently discuss ways to reduce those risks. They must also view risk management as an opportunity, seizing the windows of expansion it may provide for business. It is few of the most crucial elements of the strategic financial leadership style.
- Well-Equipped with Digital Transformation
The chief financial officer is frequently in the position of demanding more with less. Chief financial officers should set an example by researching ways to automate administrative activities, freeing workers from mundane tasks and saving costs. Automation can also help the finance department during the hectic periods around mergers and acquisitions and during the regular cycle of work spikes within tight schedules (such as monthly closing and urgent analysis requests). Constantly falling short of staff and time causes a great deal of anxiety.
In this method of strategic financial leadership, the finance chief understands the importance of being technologically savvy in the company’s digital transformation era. The chief financial officer typically has to do more with fewer resources. A proactive Chief of Finance recognizes this problem and seeks to find and implement software to automate repetitive tasks.
The Chief of Finance should lead by example in adopting automation in the finance department and the rest of the business. Besides saving time and money, automating repetitive operations also improves productivity. When business is brisk, such as during a merger or an acquisition, or when deadlines are pressing, as in monthly closings or emergency demands for analysis, automation becomes even more helpful. The Chief Financial Officer can ease the strain on the business caused by resource scarcity by using digital tools to help the finance department get through busy times.
The financial leader who is fully prepared knows that digital transformation is more than just automation. They are thoroughly familiar with the latest innovations and developments impacting the financial sector. They can then use this information to spot areas for process enhancement, fine-tune their financial systems, and propel new ideas inside the finance department. The CFO also works with other company executives to investigate how cutting-edge tools like AI and machine learning may be used to finance to improve decision-making and uncover previously unknown trends.
By embracing digital transformation, the strategic Chief Financial Officer improves the finance department’s productivity and competitiveness in a technology-driven corporate environment. They take the initiative to embrace technological change, looking for new ways to use Information Technology to boost productivity, boost profits, and advance the company’s long-term goals.
- Talent and Culture
The chief financial officer might play a more strategic role by getting his or her hands dirty in hiring and developing new employees. A strategic CFO won’t merely advise HR on staffing needs; they’ll work with HR to open doors for top-tier financial professionals to join the company.
A strategic Chief of Finance works directly with human resources to recruit and hire talented finance experts rather than just providing advice on staffing needs. They recognize that a competent staff is critical to the company’s bottom line. The Chief Financial Officer may aid in filling talent gaps, developing winning recruitment strategies, and streamlining the selection procedure by working closely with HR.
- Strategic Preparation
The finance chief adds credibility to strategic planning with their logical, fact-based approach. For example, by advocating acquisitions or creating alliances to expand competitive advantages, the Chief Financial Officer can use this chance to contribute to transforming the company’s commercial goals or capabilities.
Following the model of strategic financial leadership, a financial leader can help the company get an edge in the market by lobbying for strategic actions like mergers and partnerships. The Chief Financial Officer can impact the evolution of the company’s commercial objectives and resources through this opening. The strategic financial leader can aid in identifying development possibilities, optimizing resource allocation, and protecting the company’s long-term financial health thanks to their expert knowledge of financial dynamics and market trends. Their emphasis on strategic financial leadership promotes a proactive and future-oriented mindset among employees by ensuring that financial decisions align with the organization’s overarching goals.
Conclusion
Companies that intend to expand rapidly shortly or take on additional risk in product innovation, research, and development, or new market competitors, are the types of commercial ventures that would benefit most from a strategic financial leadership style.
The strategic CFO can see and understand more about the firm, giving them a unique perspective on the products, capabilities, and prospects that can impact the business. However, keep in mind that leadership is what will genuinely boost your contribution to a growing organization.
