With all the March Madness going on right now, a basketball analogy seems in order (or at least some pics from my local court).  Like hockey, basketball is a great example of a team sport that benefits from the guys on the bench as well as the guys on the court.  Even though it’s usually not given a real solid acknowledgment in the sports media, all the bench guys are still an integral part of the team and all contribute to the team’s success (when they do succeed).

It’s about the program.  It’s about scrimmage.  It’s about strategy.  It’s about training.  It’s a team.

That said, do you think there’s even one bench warrior who wouldn’t rather be in the game?

To a man, I think the answer is no.

Business isn’t much different, is it?  There are the star players and then there are the guys who “ride the pine”.  You may know them by another name, “Cost Center”.  In Accounting and Finance, we hear that term a lot.  Usually it comes up around budget time.  It comes up around bonus time.  You want headcount?  But, you’re a Cost Center!

So, how does one go from being viewed as a Cost Center to being viewed as a Revenue Center?  From being a Beancounter to being a Strategic CFO?

The distance between the two can seem broad:

Finding actionable business intelligence that will enhance sales and cash flow while hammering down inefficiency and expenses is the mark of The Strategic CFO and it’s the key for getting in the game.

To go from being an observer:

To driving the hoop:

Here’s some resources to get you going:

A High Value CFO is… (CFO Coach)

Strategy on the Morph (Harvard Business Review)

Midsized Companies Need Strategic CFOs, Not Beancounters (Ventana Research)

Can Technology Make CFO’s and Controller’s Jobs More Strategic? (Technology Evaluation Centers Blog)

What does Get in the Game mean to you?

Enjoy!