Archives for February 2016

February 26, 2016 By Samuel Dergel Leave a Comment

CFO Buzz – week ending February 26, 2016

CFO Buzz is a news feature capturing top stories affecting CFOs. This feature is published Fridays so that CFOs can gain perspective over the weekend, allowing them to challenge themselves and think about how to improve their lives, careers and companies.

1) Let’s merge Finance & HR

It never fails. When I talk to Finance leaders about HR (and when I talk to HR leaders about Finance), executives who are usually rational people start to get emotional. I’ve written about the topic in my blog and book. What do you think about Finance’s relationship with HR?

A Match Made in Human Capital – CFO.com

2) How to tell a Story

When you were younger, you didn’t realize that a big part of your future job as CFO would require you to be a great storyteller. We can all be a better storyteller. Here are some tips.

The Ancient Storytelling Secret That Every Leader Needs To Know – Fast Company

3) You Suck at Networking

We all do. I think I do. The only reason people think I am great at networking is because they see what I’m doing and believe I am better at it than they are. You can become better. You should become better. Make the effort.

Networking Should Never Operate Like a Vending Machine – Entrepreneur

4) Look to your left. Look to your right. One of you won’t be here in 2017.

Yes folks, we are back into a market where people are comfortable looking for a new career opportunity. This means that some people that work with you and for you will be gone soon. What are you going to do to keep the people you need?

What’s that sound? Is it talent heading out the door? – SmartBlog on Leadership

5) CFO Strategic Decision Making – One Story

There are many stories of CFOs leading strategic decision making at their organization. In this one, Frontier Communications CFO John Juller discusses positioning Capex decisions on the path to future growth.

Frontier Communications CFO John Jureller: Capex Planning in the Fast Lane – Deloitte CFO Journal

Some of Samuel’s other CFO stuff this week

CFO Moves – Moves across the USA – week ending February 19, 2016

Tweet of the week

@jonerp Thanks for sharing. I agree. My 2¢: team & talent are key to making it all work. cc @MarkGervase @Intacct_Rob

— Dergel CFO (@DergelCFO) February 25, 2016

February 19, 2016 By Samuel Dergel Leave a Comment

CFO Buzz – week ending February 19, 2016

1) Another reason for CFOs to lose sleep: Activist Investors

This short article, with links to 4 different views on how to best manage Activist Investors, is a reminder to CFOs. Be prepared.

When the Activists Attack – CFO.com

2) And even more on: How long should it take to hire a CFO?

This topic, in its third week running in CFO Buzz, has John Touey sharing his perspective in CFO.com. Perhaps next week I will add my own.

Why Are CFO Jobs Taking Longer to Fill? – CFO.com

3) What do recruiters want?

This report gives you some good insight as to how recruiters position you. These are generalizations though. Keep in mind that retained executive search know what they are looking for, and if it’s not you, introduce them to who you know.

The Bloomberg Job Skills Report 2016: What Recruiters Want – Bloomberg Business

4) How important is HR anyway?

BMW’s CFO thinks that HR is very important, and brings up good points. Questions: How important is HR in your organization? How important should it be? What needs to change?

BMW’s Chief Financial Officer, Talita Ferreira, says “the Board really needs HR” – EG Board & Leadership

5) How valuable is Big Data?

This McKinsey report says that the value of Big Data depends on the type of company you are. Learn more about this continuing relevant topic to CFOs.

Big data: Getting a better read on performance – McKinsey Quarterly

Some of Samuel’s other CFO stuff this week

CFO Moves – Moves across the USA – week ending February 12, 2016

Tweet of the week

5 Ways to Close the Strategy-to-Execution Gap https://t.co/5rzMYN24fc pic.twitter.com/h7ZN9pQvQC

— Yesim Sonmezer (@YesimSonmezer) February 17, 2016

February 12, 2016 By Samuel Dergel Leave a Comment

CFO Buzz – week ending February 12, 2016

1) CFOs end up as roadkill on the path to CEO

Recent research shows that COOs get promoted to CEO much more often than CFOs. This should not be a surprise for most CFOs. My advice: you should become indispensable to your COO. It’s likely he will become your next boss.

COOs Win Out Over CFOs… Pretty Much All the Time – FEI Daily

2) More on: How long should it take to hire a CFO?

In a world where the key players at a company can agree on the kind of person they need as their next CFO, are willing to make this hire a priority, and use a top-notch executive search firm experienced in hiring CFOs – it can take between 3 and 4 months. How long does it take in the real world? This article points to companies that have taken a lot longer than they should. And they even asked me for my opinion.

CFO Searches Drag On as Demand Takes Off – Wall Street Journal

3) Who’s your Successor?

Succession planning for key executives is critical for the ongoing success of any organization. Yet, if all corporations did succession planning properly, executive recruiters wouldn’t be so busy (see previous article). As someone that has helped CFOs prepare their succession, my personal experience shows that most CFOs do not do this well.

When Plan B is not enough: Some lessons from the United Airlines CEO succession(s) – SmartCEO

4) Why your company sucks at Big Data

Many CFOs will admit, in camera, that they don’t have a proper handle on Data Analytics. And they should for various reasons, including making the biggest impact at their organization, and that CFOs that really know what they are doing with Data are worth more.

Why Big Data Isn’t Paying Off for Companies (Yet) – Fortune

5) Become a better interviewer

And a better interviewee. These tips in Harvard Business Review are something all executives should keep in mind as they look to hire the best for their teams. Remember – you can only be as good as your team allows you to be. Hiring better requires interviewing better.

7 Rules for Job Interviews That Result in Great Hires – Harvard Business Review

Some of Samuel’s other CFO stuff this week

CFO Moves – Moves across the USA – week ending February 5, 2016

Tweet of the week

Congrats Samuel @DergelCFO! Great @WSJ article & insights @CFOJournal @StantonChase https://t.co/apci6RcNo9

— Cathy Logue (@CatLogueAmbit) February 11, 2016

February 9, 2016 By Samuel Dergel Leave a Comment

Quoted in the Wall Street Journal: CFO Searches Drag On as Demand Takes Off

Excerpt from “CFO Searches Drag On as Demand Takes Off” in the Wall Street Journal, February 8, 2016

Some businesses have lost prime contenders for the finance chief job by waiting too long to make an offer. One industrial company started a CFO search in spring 2015 and identified two finalists late last year. But key decision makers at the company disagreed “over what they really wanted,’’ and their front-runner accepted a job elsewhere, says Samuel Dergel, a recruiter at Stanton Chase, where a colleague handled that hunt.

Company officials “were unhappy that they weren’t able to secure the most appropriate candidate for the role,’’ he added. The company hired the runner-up instead.

You can read the entire article on the Wall Street Journal website here.

February 5, 2016 By Samuel Dergel Leave a Comment

CFO Buzz – week ending February 5, 2016

1) How long should it take to hire a CFO?

Here is one story of a well-known company that has been taking its time, and some of the potential reasons for it. In my experience, companies that take a long time to hire a CFO usually don’t know what they want or need in the first place.

The world’s most valuable private tech company hasn’t had a CFO for almost a year – Business Insider

2) Easy Money: Reducing audit fees?

Good advice is given on how to minimize those pesky audit fees. A word of caution to CFOs that want to be aggressive with your auditors – Be careful. You want a good relationship with your auditors. Don’t piss them off – It might be career limiting.

7 Ways to Keep a Lid on Rising Audit Fees – FEI Daily

3) Supply Chain Hero

This blog, while certainly a sales piece, brings to point that CFOs can be their company’s Supply Chain Hero. Are you a supply chain hero?

How The CFO Can Be A Change Agent In The Supply Chain – BlueGrace Logistics

4) Board meetings from hell

One of the worst things a CFO can do is to be unprepared for a board meeting. Marc MacLeod shares some good advice on how to make sure you are best prepared to deal with what could be a very challenging board meeting.

The “Oh Shit” Board Meeting – StartupCFO

5) The invisible CFO

Visibility is critical to the long term success of a CFO. In today’s age, you can easily take steps to be more visible and let opportunities find you. This article points to more reasons why you need to be visible online to be successful in your career.

Job Hunting? Why You Need a Strong Online Footprint – [email protected]

Some of Samuel’s other CFO stuff this week

CFO Moves – Moves across the USA – week ending January 29, 2016

Tweet of the week

Cell Phones: Addiction or Habit? from @APQC https://t.co/seyvK9lF8V pic.twitter.com/UqoWath5hd

— Dergel CFO (@DergelCFO) January 29, 2016

Archives for February 2016

1) Let’s merge Finance & HR

2) How to tell a Story

3) You Suck at Networking

4) Look to your left. Look to your right. One of you won’t be here in 2017.

5) CFO Strategic Decision Making – One Story

Some of Samuel’s other CFO stuff this week

Tweet of the week

1) Another reason for CFOs to lose sleep: Activist Investors

2) And even more on: How long should it take to hire a CFO?

3) What do recruiters want?

4) How important is HR anyway?

5) How valuable is Big Data?

Some of Samuel’s other CFO stuff this week

Tweet of the week

1) CFOs end up as roadkill on the path to CEO

2) More on: How long should it take to hire a CFO?

3) Who’s your Successor?

4) Why your company sucks at Big Data

5) Become a better interviewer

Some of Samuel’s other CFO stuff this week

Tweet of the week

1) How long should it take to hire a CFO?

2) Easy Money: Reducing audit fees?

3) Supply Chain Hero

4) Board meetings from hell

5) The invisible CFO

Some of Samuel’s other CFO stuff this week

Tweet of the week

Contact Information