What the CFO Wants You to Know

Book excerpt: Unless a business provides value, it will fail. We all know this, and yet many of us, whether employees or business leaders, do not have a clear idea of who creates value and how. What the CFO Wants You to Know is an indispensable guide to creating value in an enterprise, drawing on the extensive experience of serial CFO and author Charles Asubonten. While many books focus on the CFO as a financial engineer, Asubonten's compelling thesis is that the CFO is a catalyst who inspires employees to get on board in the value-creation process and that every employee needs to be cognizant of and committed to their role in value-creation. When employees know what the CFO must do to create value and how each employee affects that process, a more lasting, resonant, and energized workforce is the exciting result. Focused not only on value-creation, this book also shows how value is sustained. From the novice who has always wondered about the CFO's role to the seasoned CFO who needs a refresher in today's changing business climate, What the CFO Wants You to Know is a resource for business leadership, employees, shareholders, the Board of Directors, and the community.