Survival Guide for Finance Professionals in Small Firms

1
Survival Guide for Finance Professionals in Small
Firms

• Institute of Management Accountants
• June 19, 2007

2
Introduction

• Finance and Accounting Professionals in Small
  Firms have become Key Members of the Management
  Team. Your Ability to Influence and Inspire
  Management, Staff, and Co-Workers Is Critical to
  the Survival of Your Organization.

3
Learning Objectives

• Have a Clearer Understanding of your Role in the
  Survival of your Business and Identify New
  Competencies and Skills.
• Learn How to Sustain the Life of your
  Organization by Working through your People.
• Become a Leader Who Really Counts.

4
Background

• Complexity/More Transparency
• Hierarchies are Becoming Flat
• Organizational Changes
• Turnover
• Loss of Faith in Corporate Leaders
• Perception of Finance/Accounting's Role

5
What is Your Role in the Survival of Your
Business?

• Part of Management Team
• Leadership is Situational
• Authentic Leader
• What is Your Workplace Environment?
• Relationship Management

6
Skills and Competencies

• Become an Authentic Leader
• Focus on the Values and Principles that Matter to
  You
• Discover What Motivates You
• Build Interdependent Relationships
• Build a Support Team
• Empower the People Around You

7
Techniques

• Take Command
• Lead by Example
• Listen Aggressively
• Communicate Purpose and Meaning
• Create a Climate of Trust
• Look for Results, not Salutes
• Take Calculated Risks
• Build Up Your People
• Generate Unity

8
Summary

• Become an Authentic Leader
• Focus on Values and Principles
• Have a Clearer Understanding of your Role
• Relationship Management
• Build a Strong Support Team
• Empower the People Around You
• Take Command

9
Where to get more details

• Why Should Anyone Be Led By You? Robert Goffee
  and Gareth Jones
• CFO Survival Guide Plotting the Course to
  Financial Leadership, Catherine and Joe Stenzel
• It's Your Ship Management Techniques from the
  Best Damn Ship in the Navy, Captain D. Michael
  Abrashoff
• Don't Just Survive-Thrive!, George Hutchinson