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simpler rather than giving complex solutions to issues.
The Heart of wolf to elevate himself as an individual,
socialising with all functions but when times comes,
knows to fight for what is right, many a times alone,
against all odds. The real test is staying committed to
honest and integrity all the time, while the battle goes on.
The fourth comer: CFO Beyond

As I was preparing myself to embrace future, I am
seeking out & researching about “what’s beyond?”
An interesting perspective from a report on evolution of
CFO role, recently published outlines,
The role of the modern-day CFO role is more like a like
a T-shape where you have got that depth of knowledge
from an accounting perspective, but then you have got
the bar along the top with a broader understanding of
different parts of the business.

the integrity of the financial information that underpins Consider the skills for a CFO as the vertical stem of a
these. The individual who discharges this role should ‘T-shape’ with the recipients of value (the stakeholder
have a high level of ethical standards as the member of groups) as the crossbar (refer pic below) 1
a professional body and that inspires a degree of trust. The CFO role in the future is defined by two trends:
Elephants are intelligent species with utmost empathy one of increasing automation and one of a broadening
amongst animals, resonating that a CFO while playing range of external and internal reporting requirements.
the role of a controller should just not throw problems Automation will continue to provide the finance team,
at other functions in the name of process and procedure with the opportunity to streamline data processing
but should be empathetical enough to understand and and improve the accuracy of data capture. Trends such
trust that every individual of an organisation is equally as open accounting may simplify data flows for many,
willing to safeguard organisations interest and must creating transparency across organisations. The use of
provide participative solutions. blockchain to record transactions, both of a financial
and non-financial nature, will also serve the same end.
An Eye of an eagle to catch early warning signals The effort required in the processes and performance
and issues sitting high above in complex and big management across the finance function (the stem)
organisations. With so many laws, complex reporting will decrease over time with the progressive adoption
and regulations, CFOs must possess the quality of feel of automation. This will enable the CFO’s focus to shift
of numbers and getting the right people/resources to towards engaging with the stakeholders across the top
fix the issue. He /Should make complex environment bar the ‘T’.

1 Joint report published by BDO and ACCA- “Chief Value office -The important evolution of CFO”. | 25