A chief financial officer provides critical financial leadership, insight, and guidance to your firm.
A chief financial officer is a key executive in any organization. In an AEC firm, they play an integral role in providing strategic financial leadership to the company, working closely with the CEO and other top leaders to ensure the financial health and success of the business. In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business environment, having a CFO on your team is now more important than ever.
Some of the most important responsibilities of a CFO include:
- Driving the company’s financial planning. This means developing and implementing a financial strategy that aligns with the firm’s overall business goals. CFOs must ensure that the firm’s financial planning is accurate, up-to-date, and reflective of the current economic climate. They must also work closely with firm leadership to ensure that financial planning is integrated with other business functions, such as marketing, operations, and human resources.
- Performing risk management by analyzing the organization’s liabilities and investments. CFOs must identify and assess risks that could impact the company’s overall financial health by identifying market uncertainty, operational exposures, and other potential hazards that could impact the firm’s bottom line. By conducting regular risk assessments, CFOs can make informed decisions that help the firm minimize risk and maximize profitability.
- Deciding on investment strategies by considering cash and liquidity risks. CFOs assess and determine the best way to invest the company’s financial resources to achieve the firm’s monetary goals. They must also ensure that the company has sufficient liquidity to meet its financial obligations. By effectively managing investment strategies and liquidity risks, CFOs can help ensure the long-term stability and success of the company.
What do you risk by not having a CFO on your team? What is the cost of making decisions without the “right” or complete information? Without a strong financial strategy, AEC firms run the risk of making costly mistakes. Additionally, not understanding the financial needs of your best clients could result in lost opportunities for growth.
While having a full-time CFO on your team is ideal, not all firms have the resources to support this role. Fortunately, fractional or part-time CFOs can provide expert financial guidance at a fraction of the cost of a full-time resource. These professionals can be can be hired for a specific period or project, which is a great option for small and mid-size firms that need financial strategy assistance, but may not be ready to have someone in a full-time position.
Strategic financial management can help you be the best steward of your resources, driving financial performance and return on investment. Zweig Group is excited to announce that it is now offering fractional and project-based advisory options to get you the strategic guidance you need. Our fractional CFOs can engage at the operational, strategic, or board level – or a combination of levels, depending on your business needs. We take a data-driven approach to financial management and can show you where the positive dollar ROI comes from based on an analysis of your numbers. To learn more about this new service, click here!
Dathan Gaskill is managing director of Zweig Group Risk Solutions. Contact him at dgaskill@zweiggroup.com.
