CFO Series: Leading and Reporting

Overview

All times are listed as Eastern Standard Time.

CASE STUDY – We all aspire to be great leaders, improve organizational effectiveness, learn new skills, and deliver reports that truly are effective. We will discuss how, and specifically what, you can do to improve your management skills, how to uncover lies, and how to effectively change corporate culture. We also will show what great reports look like, giving you insight into how to make your reports understood and actionable. What are the new skills a CFO needs to be successful in 2035? The best leaders aspire to improve and strengthen the organization. These four sessions of two hours each will help you become a better leader.

This course qualifies for 2.00 hours of A&A credit.

Module 1: Better Management Reporting: Clear + Simple = Great! - 2.00 hours of A&A credit Most management reports are misunderstood and misused. Reports are dull and have been presented in the same manner for decades. Do your audiences sometimes fail to get the message? Learn how to grab your audiences’ attention and deliver an actionable message. Discover the power of “The Trifecta” and the five secrets of effective reports and presentations. Learn how to make your messaging a “re-memorable event.” Learn how to give the users what they need to know. We will discuss how to make your reports useful and understandable to your audience. If management does not understand the financial reports they receive, and most do not, this seminar will provide keen insight to make your reports useful. Be the hero who delivers informative reports. We will show great examples of what to do and how.

Module 2: Changing Corporate Culture: Understanding Your Culture and How to Improve It Every organization, team, and family have its own unique culture. Additionally, everyone within each business, team and family has their own definition for what the culture is or should be. We will review several types of culture, what makes each type work, what can destroy them, and how to shift and shape your actions to transform the culture. Learn how to shift the culture without demanding major changes in individuals, how to reduce resistance to change, and create a culture with low fear and high confidence which translates into higher levels of productivity, profitability, and lower turnover. The best employees actively seek out organizations with the best cultures. Culture matters.

Module 3: Recognizing Lies: How to Detect and Prevent Trust is the glue that binds all relationships. Regardless, humans tell lies, a cruel fact. Every lie undermines trust and damages productivity. What signals indicate lies? How are the cues properly interpreted? How can you protect yourself from lies? Learn how to discern lies effectively. Do not be taken advantage of. Learn an established and proven process to uncover the truth.

Module 4: Reinventing the Modern CFO: Adapting and Advancing! The role of today’s financial leader, including CFO, transcends traditional financial stewardship; it demands agility, innovation, crisis management, and strategic foresight. This seminar will discuss the new, multifaceted skills and insights needed to excel in the dynamic role of modern finance. Through a blend of theory, case studies, and practical exercises, participants will explore the diverse roles of today’s CFO as innovation champions, technology evangelists, leaders, and change agents, leveraging practical principles to drive organizational success. Financial leaders can adapt or be left behind. Whether you are a seasoned CFO or aspiring to step into a leadership position, this seminar will discuss the essential tools and insights to navigate the newer demands of financial managers with confidence and competence.

Highlights

Module 1: Better Management Reporting: Clear + Simple = Great!

• Why do most managers not understand financial reports? o The mistakes users make and the mistakes the accountants make o Steps to take to correct the issues
• What do managers need from their reports? o The step-by-step process to build reports that provide vital information o How to learn what your users want o Alternative methods to present reports
• What systems and software could be helpful?
• Examples of great reports o What works and what does not work well? o Crafting a report to suit your audience
• The benefit of and necessity of an annual review

  Module 2: Changing Corporate Culture: Understanding Your Culture and How to Improve It

• The eight types of corporate cultures
• Determining which culture(s) exist in your organization
• How to introduce change in an acceptable way
• What are core values and why they are so important?
• What kind of culture(s) fits in the organization?
• Where do you need the culture to develop so the organization can thrive?
• Why people are so resistant to change
• What is the 'right' speed for change?
• How to grow your team into a better culture

  Module 3: Recognizing Lies: How to Detect and Prevent

• Lies abound o Why is it so difficult to call out a liar? o How lies devastate o Why do we despise lies? o What sets liars apart?
• Deciphering the signals that indicate dishonesty
• How short-term thinking leads to lies and leads to uncovering lies o Analyzing the cues o Differentiating concerns and guilt
• The deception paradox
• What makes a great lie so great?
• Proven processes to uncover lies

  Module 4: Reinventing the Modern CFO: Adapting and Advancing!

• Championing the role of innovation in the workplace
• Technology evangelists and change agents o What does it mean? o What is our role?
• The roles we take on and differences between the roles we are assigned
• How innovation and strategy matters
• Current and future trends and expectations for financial leaders and CFOs
• Top ten crucial skills for 2035

Prerequisites

Preferably at least six (6) months of professional financial statement analysis experience and/or at least six (6) months of professional experience in preparing or reviewing accounting processes and reports; experience working with internal clients or external clients and business leaders.

Designed For

Corporate financial leaders, corporate financial managers, CEOs, CFOs, controllers, accountants, board members, advisors, and consultants; CPAs in public practice and CPAs in industry; business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals who are interested in learning more about how to make better reports, change management, how to discern lies, and what new skills are needed for the successful CFO in 2035.

Objectives

• Recognize that some recipients of financial reports do not understand those reports.
• Develop reports that are used properly. Understand and discuss examples of great reports and why they are useful.
• Recognize and accept cultural differences within departments and in the entire organization.
• Learn how to determine the right cultural dynamics for your organization.
• Successfully introduce change for optimum buy-in.
• Recognize that lies are a part of human nature.
• Identify and unearth lies.
• Learn a process to help uncover the truth.
• To gain a deeper appreciation of newer duties and roles of today's leaders, and to learn the skillsets required to succeed.

Notice

All materials will be available to download in advance and participants will receive an email two days prior to the course date. Materials will also be posted in the “My CPE” section of the NESCPA website.