The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Offering

Today’s turbulent times mean that finance businesses are confronted with major upheavals, whether due to globalisation, new technologies or integrated information systems.

For many years now, financial businesses have had to cope with major upheavals:

• Globalisation of markets (deregulations, industrial restructuring, greater competition)
• New technologies (Internet, E-commerce, dematerialisation)
• Integrated Information Systems (Enterprise Resource Planning, global reporting, cash pooling)

These changes imply:

• New obligations for companies (New Economic Regulations law, new IFRS accounting standards, Sarbanes-Oxley law)
• Having to face wider legal and tax issues
• The implementation of complex financial engineering 
• And, consequently, the creation of new financial positions (reconciliation experts, financial-tax engineer, etc.) 

These changes are leading to a complete redefinition of the CFO’s profile. In addition to being adept with figures, the CFO is now required to devise strategies that will appeal to both bankers and investors, head large multi-disciplinary and, often multi-cultural teams, and manage large cross-functional operations.