Chathuranga Witharana (MAAT)(ACPM)(CBA)(MBA (UK)’s Post

Think You Know What It Takes to Be a CFO? Many executives aspire to the CFO role, but few realize what it's truly like. Here are 10 things that don't get enough discussion: 1️⃣ You'll need to say "no" more often than you’re comfortable with. 2️⃣ Building relationships with the board can be both rewarding and challenging. 3️⃣ You must learn to balance short-term wins with long-term financial health. 4️⃣ Your strategic advice might be met with resistance—be prepared to advocate. 5️⃣ Understanding the business beyond finance is a must. 6️⃣ Data storytelling is a core skill—not just presenting numbers. 7️⃣ Emotional intelligence is as critical as technical know-how. 8️⃣ You'll need to set the tone for the culture within the finance team. 9️⃣ Your actions influence not only profitability but company culture. 🔟 Maintaining work-life balance is harder than it sounds, but crucial for sustainability. ♻️ Reach out to me if you are willing to be coached for a CFO position

Mastering the Art of Influence: Top 5 Tips for Finance Managers 💼✨ In the dynamic world of finance, technical expertise alone isn’t enough. Influencing skills are essential to drive decisions, align stakeholders, and steer your team towards success. Here are my top 5 tips to enhance your influencing ability as a finance manager. 1. Build Credibility Through Expertise - Leverage your deep financial knowledge to earn the trust of your peers. When you consistently provide accurate and insightful analysis, people are more likely to value your opinions. 2. Communicate Clearly and Concisely - Financial jargon can be intimidating. Simplify complex data and present it in a way that is accessible to non-finance stakeholders. Use visuals and storytelling to make your message compelling. 3. Foster Strong Relationships - Influence is built on relationships. Take the time to understand the goals and concerns of your colleagues. By showing genuine interest and empathy, you can create allies who support your initiatives. 4. Demonstrate Strategic Thinking - Go beyond the numbers. Show how financial insights can drive strategic decisions and long-term value. Position yourself as a partner in shaping the company’s future, not just a numbers person. 5. Lead by Example - Your behavior sets the tone. Exhibit the values and work ethic you wish to see in others. When you lead with integrity and passion, your influence extends naturally. Mastering these influencing skills can transform your role from a traditional finance manager to a strategic leader. Start applying these tips today and watch your impact grow! #FinanceLeadership #InfluencingSkills #ProfessionalGrowth #FinanceManager #LeadershipTips

Exciting News for All Aspiring Finance Leaders! Unlock your full potential in Finance Business Partnering with a 50% discount on our exclusive Finance Business Partnering Development Program! If you’re looking to elevate your career, sharpen your business acumen, or develop your leadership and communication skills, this program is designed to give you the edge you need. Now is the perfect time to invest in your future and stand out in the finance industry. 🧠 What You’ll Gain: 1️⃣ Mindset Shift: From number cruncher to business strategist. Learn how to think like a business leader and drive real outcomes. 2️⃣ Business Partnering: Build strong relationships across the business and integrate financial insights with operational goals. 3️⃣ Strategic Business Acumen: Understand markets, identify growth opportunities, and align finance with business objectives. 4️⃣ Networking & Relationships: Leverage your personal brand and professional relationships for career growth. 5️⃣ Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Lead with empathy, resolve conflicts, and build trust within your teams. 6️⃣ Business Models: Evaluate and create disruptive business models that drive long-term value. 7️⃣ The Art of Storytelling: Present financial data in compelling ways that influence key decisions. 8️⃣ Communication Skills: Master the art of communicating complex financial insights clearly and persuasively. Limited Time Offer - 50% off! Apply promo code: DISCOUNT50 Don’t miss out! Secure your spot today and take the next big step toward a promising career. 👉 Click here to enroll: https://lnkd.in/di6_KWrP #FinanceBusinessPartnering #CareerGrowth #FinanceLeaders #FinanceTraining #Discount #ProfessionalDevelopment

I remember sitting at the dinner table, listening to my dad talk about his day. As a controller and CFO, he was deeply involved in every facet of the businesses he worked for. At the time, I thought, 'Why is he worrying about that? He’s an accountant.' What I didn’t realize then is that my dad was more than just the numbers guy. He was the CEO’s right hand, ensuring the financial health of the company by guiding strategic decisions and operational efficiency. Over the years, I’ve seen how crucial this role is. It’s not just about managing the books; it’s about driving growth, mitigating risks, and ensuring the business thrives for the long haul. Here’s how a seasoned CFO does just that: ➡️ 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨-𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩. ➡️ 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲: 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥. ➡️ 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 & 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨. ➡️ 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. ➡️ 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. When a CFO takes a holistic approach, it’s not just about survival—it’s about 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭, weathering both the ups and downs of the market. If you’re ready to explore how our fractional CFO services can help you navigate these challenges and position your business for long-term success, drop a 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 '𝐂𝐅𝐎' 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰, and I’ll reach out." #fractionalcfo #strategicplanning #businessgrowth

[ Why I Do What I Do ] As I reflect on my journey, I realize that my experiences have shaped me into the professional I am today. Graduated from the School of Accountancy in 1989, I quickly rose through the ranks to become Regional Finance Director of an American MNC in just 8 years. However, the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 hit me hard, and I was retrenched from my company. That difficult year of unemployment forced me to do some soul searching. I realized that in my previous role, I had been so focused on meeting deadlines that I neglected to add value to my work. I didn't take the time to analyze financial reports or provide insights that could improve business performances. When I finally landed another job as a Finance Director, I made a conscious decision to change my approach - I prioritized staff development, thorough business analysis, and identifying opportunities for growth. This new approach served me well, even when I became Group CEO of a local SME. In early 2016, I took a leap of faith and left my comfortable corporate life to start my own corporate services firm. I continued to prioritize my team's development and our unique service delivery: reliable accounting services paired with comprehensive business analysis and commentary. This journey has taught me that it's not just about crunching numbers, but about adding value to our clients' businesses. I'm proud of what we've built, and I'm grateful for the experiences that have led me here. ********** I am Kelvin Loh I am a thinking accountant who have helped over 200 business owners to not only sustain in their businesses during the covid pandemic period, but also scale their businesses via various financial and business strategies. #accounting #business #leadership #mentorship

🤔 Ever wonder why some companies soar while others struggle to keep their finances afloat? The secret often lies in three letters: CFO (Chief Financial Officer). Let me share a story that changed my perspective on financial leadership... Last year, I met a brilliant founder with an incredible product. Their tech was revolutionary, but they were burning cash faster than a rocket burning fuel. Then they hired a CFO. In just 18 months, she: • Optimized cash flow by renegotiating vendor contracts • Secured strategic funding at better terms • Built a financial roadmap that turned their burn rate into profit • Transformed financial data into strategic insights That's when I realized: A CFO isn't just a number cruncher. They're the: ✅ Strategic Partner to the CEO ✅ Guardian of company resources ✅ Architect of financial growth ✅ Navigator through economic storms ✅ Translator of complex financial data into actionable insights 🎯 The modern CFO combines financial expertise with business strategy, technology understanding, and leadership skills to drive sustainable growth. 💡 Question for my network: What role has your CFO played in transforming your business? Share your experiences below! #FinancialLeadership #CFO #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #StrategicFinance

Driving Transformation Through Financial Leadership In one of my previous roles, I had the opportunity to lead a financial and operational transformation across three regions, overseeing budgeting, profit & loss, and consolidated financials. This was no small feat, with a team of 52 employees across service, consolidation, and warehouse functions, plus 22 payment centers and central offices spanning three states. Here’s what I’m most proud of during my tenure: Turning Around Performance: When I joined, the region ranked last (#9 out of 9). Through collaboration, strategic changes, and relentless focus on problem-solving, we climbed to #3 in just three years. Achieving Operational Excellence: Our efforts led to a perfect score on an external audit—a 50% improvement from prior ratings. We also reached full Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, a critical milestone for the company. Driving Innovation and Savings: By introducing new procedures and leading accounting system upgrades, including training users, I saved the company 50% in training costs while ensuring a seamless transition. Building a High-Performing Team: I revitalized a struggling department into a top-performing team, earning recognition as Best Turnaround Manager. Being named Best Turnaround Manager was an incredible honor and a testament to the hard work and resilience of the team I was privileged to lead. Transformation isn’t just about numbers—it’s about building a culture of collaboration and accountability to achieve sustainable success. What strategies have you used to turn around struggling teams or improve financial outcomes? Let’s discuss! #FinancialLeadership #CostOptimization #TurnaroundManagement #OperationalExcellence

Understanding finance isn't just for accountants or CFOs. It's an important skill for all professionals, regardless of their role or industry. Here’s why: 1️⃣ Informed Decision Making: Knowing basic financial principles helps you make smarter business decisions, whether you’re evaluating project viability or managing a budget. 2️⃣ Strategic Thinking: Financial literacy enables you to align your initiatives with organizational goals, driving sustainable growth and profitability. 3️⃣ Improved Communication: Understanding finance allows you to better communicate with stakeholders, fostering clearer, more productive conversations. 4️⃣ Career Advancement: Financial acumen is a key differentiator in your career, opening doors to leadership roles and cross-functional opportunities. Don’t let finance intimidate you. Embrace it, and watch your professional impact grow! Click here for more info: https://lnkd.in/gd8qDkKW #FinanceForAll #FinancialLiteracy #CareerGrowth #NonFinanceProfessionals

💡  Should you worry about the current state of a company finances when considering a CFO role? When exploring CFO opportunities with PE-backed or privately held companies, it’s natural to be concerned about the financial health of the organization. After all, you’re stepping into a critical leadership role! Here’s the good news: You don’t have to go in blind. ✅  You can request to view the company’s financials before accepting the role. ✅  They may ask you to sign an NDA—and that’s completely normal. ✅  It gives you an opportunity to diver deeper into the financial health of the company and whether you are comfortable with the current state of affairs. 💡  Why does this matter? Taking this step not only helps you feel more comfortable but also shows the company you’re: - Thoughtful - Diligent - Ready to dive into the numbers with confidence. Making a move to a new business can sometimes make you uneasy, but this simple process can help you make an informed decision—and set the stage for your success. 🚀 What’s your go-to strategy when evaluating the financial health of an organization? #Leadership #CFOJourney #CareerTips #ConfidenceInLeadership #ExecutiveRecruitment