The US Bank report* recapping their annual survey of senior finance leaders, Leading the Return to Growth, concludes CFOs are getting better at,
But the report also states CFOs have a long way to go, and they’ll need new skills to meet their objectives. This is where CFO.University can help.
Today data is no longer used for just operations and compliance; it is the driving force behind company’s strategy and performance. To leverage data for improved business performance, employees must think like a “Data Person” - a Data Scientist or a Decision scientist. But who exactly is a Data Person and how can one become a Data Person? A Data Person is someone who thinks critically, interprets data, and applies insights to drive decisions and results—whether in business, research, or everyday problem-solving. They don’t just collect or analyze data; they ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, transform data into actionable insights, and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to implement and improve business performance. In this regard, here is my 10-step process on how to become a “Data Person”.
As we enter our fourth year of running this poll, the gap between the pillars continues to widen. For the fourth consecutive year, we surveyed the global finance community to uncover whether there have been shifts in the importance of each Pillar of CFO Success. The results tell a compelling story.
Many financial teams spend countless hours getting the past right, when they could make a much more significant contribution getting the future right.
Timely financial statements are the key to creating powerful forecasting tools that build a transparent map for the future. On the other hand, laggard financial statements cloud the future and deny us a clear map to get there.
