It’s not just about numbers – people skills add up for CFOs
CFOs are no longer hired purely for their abilities with numbers and analytics, with strong people skills equally as
important says recruiting experts Hays in New Zealand.
According to a survey of 500 CFOs, conducted for the recruiter’s ‘DNA of a CFO’ report, commercial acumen, people
management, strategic planning and stakeholder engagement are four important skills for any successful CFO.
“Compared to 15 to 20 years ago, people skills and general management capabilities are a much bigger part of the
selection process,” says Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand. “CFOs are certainly no longer hired
purely for their abilities with numbers and analytics – although of course this has to be an underlying technical
strength – but added to the classic skills mix is an increasing requirement for a whole range of different
competencies.”
According to the Hays survey, 64% of CFOs say commercial acumen is the most important skill for a CFO to have. People
management took second place (57%), reflecting the CFO’s role as a leader, influencer and negotiator.
This was followed by strategic planning (51%), while almost one quarter (24%) of respondents nominated stakeholder
engagement and risk management/corporate governance skills as essential.
“The importance placed on commercial acumen can perhaps explain why so many CFOs go on to become MDs or CEOs, or take a
calculated risk to set up their own business ventures,” says Jason.
“It also explains why many CFOs take on roles outside finance on their way to the top finance job. A general management
position can certainly give an up-and-coming CFO a more strategic mindset and understanding of how other departments
operate – which can put you in a stronger position when you do become CFO. It’s important for a CFO to stay close to the
business, and commercial awareness is essential if you want to be a successful business partner,” he said.
“Meanwhile the importance of people skills is understandable when you consider that CFOs manage large teams and also
need to know how to present numbers to non-financial people in easily digestible pieces.”
The Hays survey also showed that 27% of CFOs believe that the operations function is the single most important
discipline for them to partner with. “Over the past decade CFOs have been instrumental in reviewing the policies and
controls within their organisation. This has brought them into close contact with operations teams and so coining the
term ‘business partner’ into day-to-day business and finance language,” said Jason.
Operations was followed by sales (10%), IT (8%), HR (7%), legal/compliance (5%), procurement (5%) and
marketing/communications (2%), which all trail some way behind the strategic importance put on working hand-in-hand with
operations. But 36% of CFOs indicated that it is important for finance to partner with all of these departments.
The report is available at www.hays.net.nz/CFO
Methodology
500 finance professionals were surveyed face to face over December 2013 and January 2014. The majority held the position
of CFO, while a small percentage indicated their current job title was Finance Director, Group, Divisional or Regional
Finance Director, Director of Finance, Head of Finance or GM of Finance.
400 were based in Australia and 100 were in New Zealand. Of these, 47 per cent work in commerce and industry for an ASX
non-listed organisation and 20 per cent work for an ASX listed organisation. 28 per cent work in the public or
not-for-profit sector, and 0.4 per cent work for an accountancy firm. The remaining 4.7 per cent elected not to specify
their organisation.
These CFOs were asked about their educational background, qualifications, international experience, responsibilities,
challenges and personal aspirations.
To see more detailed profiles of the CFOs who appear in this report, please visit www.hays.net.nz/CFO
Hays, the world’s leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional and skilled people.
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