My CEO Life

How does one make an accounting/reporting role exciting? I was cracking my head after reading your blog on how to attract excellent people. How does one start the conversation to do a hard sell on accountants? In most cases it’s probably the other way round. Any comments on this?

Well this is a tough question but very answerable.  Firstly, you need to think about what the role of accounting is in your business.  At one end of the spectrum, it can be described in a procedural, boring way at the other, it is the check and balance of the business.

So, firstly, we view accounting / finance (ie CFO reports) as being part of the right hand of the Chief Executive Officer.  I spend lots of time with them, trying to understand the numbers and seeking their input on what can be done better.  They are more than just number crunchers – they are the monitors of the life blood of the business and they have all the rights to have input into what is right / wrong with the business.

Basically i am saying that the finance / accounting roles need to be clearly related back to the objectives of the business.  They need to see how they clearly contribute to its success.  Also, you need to make sure that you rotate people through the business so that finance / accounting guys get a true feeling for the business.

Secondly, i would make sure that when i advertise the accounting role – i focus on the upside / the working in the business / the career opportunities etc rather than the more procedural side.  I would describe it as more than a traditional accounting role – “be a key participant of the leadership team driving the growth of the business.  Liaise directly with senior management to provide them with timely and invaluable advice on where to take the business.  Etc … ”

I hope this makes some sense.

Also – the last thing we did we hire a fun CFO.  He is great, energises his team, knows the details and is repected across the business not only for the numbers but for his leadership.  I would start with my CFO!

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