Publisher’s Letter

If you’re reading this publication, you’re already savvy enough to know that the image of CFO-as-bean-counter is long obsolete. Today’s CFOs play a critical role in steering the direction of their businesses. Indeed, the CFO position is now widely regarded as the best place to look for a company’s next CEO. But for all that, CFOs are still the money and numbers people too. The role of the post-Sarbanes-Oxley CFO encompasses a broad range of responsibilities.

In producing this book we have focused on the key areas in which the modern CFO is able – or required – to effect change. Paramount among these is ensuring compliance with the myriad legislative and other oversight regulations that govern the business environment today. But any CFO who focuses solely on compliance and does not also lift his or her head and look to the horizon will not remain in their post for long.

Strategy and execution, and aligning the activities of departments with the goals of the company are mission-critical. Managing performance throughout the entire company is no longer optional – it is absolutely necessary to drive change and to achieve and maintain a competitive advantage. Competitive Financial Operations: The CFO Project is designed to help.

In this volume of The CFO Project, we explore the way CFOs are managing this tricky balancing act between serving as internal “traffic cop” and forward-thinking business leader. We also present expertise on corporate governance, risk management, achieving compliance and transparency, business planning, executive compensation and more. Given the sensitive and evolving nature of the CFO function, the knowledge contained here should be top of the agenda for finance executives looking out for the health of their organizations and their careers.

We would like to thank our authors and everyone who helped us to bring together this work. Readers are invited to visit www.CFOProject.com for additional research and for links to other resources. We would love to hear your comments and any other feedback as we move forward, so please reach out with your ideas and participate.

Chris Trayhorn
CEO