Criteria for selecting a winning CFO; extracted from an article in CFO Magazine.

1. How to Pick a Winning CFO
The following critical attributes were presented in a CFO Magazine article dated April 15, 2005 entitled
How to Pick Winning Finance Execs.
▪ Passion and Energy count for a great deal.
▪ They seek duties beyond the technical, they show leadership potential, they can strategize,
and they can put financial data into the context of the overall business.
▪ People who have the hardest time getting to the executive level are the ones who were
accounting majors. Raw intelligence (“intellectual horsepower”) is a better determinant of
success; i.e., connecting facts with business issues.
▪ The content of the CPA exam and the responsibilities of the CFO job show very little
correlation.
▪ They show a willingness to grow; taking on assignments that stretch their skills, and
expanding those skills.
▪ They have a balance of internal and external exposure; working with people inside & outside
the company
▪ They have an appetite for challenge; such as willingness to join an underperforming business
unit.
▪ Communication and presentation skills are also key.
▪ There is an elusive mixture of technical expertise, business savvy, and personality
▪ They have exposure to the different disciplines of finance; i.e., controllership, a tad of financial
analysis, and treasury
▪ They are results-oriented
▪ The biggest differentiators are the ability to see the big picture, and interpersonal skills
▪ They have “presence” and confidence
The full article can be viewed at: http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/3880906?f=home_featured