“Stories and lessons from an unexpected journey in finance.”

I still remember the first time I watched a leadership team glaze over during a P&L review.
Revenue lines, margin percentages, acronyms flying everywhere — and half the room pretending to nod along.

Here’s the thing: you don’t need to be a CFO to read financials like one.
You just need to know what to look for.

Most leaders focus on what looks big — revenue, profit, growth.
But the sharp ones?
They focus on what moves — the why behind the change.

Let me explain.

If your revenue’s growing steadily, great — that’s expansion.
If it’s flat, start digging: Is pricing too low? Has demand softened? Are competitors taking share?

And when that revenue comes in, ask where it comes from.
Recurring subscriptions mean stability.
One-time sales mean volatility.
Know which one drives your business — and your predictability.

Then look at gross profit — revenue minus cost of goods sold.
That number tells you how efficiently you turn sales into value.
If it’s shrinking, either your costs are creeping or your pricing’s leaking.

I’ve seen companies celebrate higher sales only to discover margins quietly disappearing in the background.
That’s the slow bleed most leaders miss.

And those “great results” that suddenly appear out of nowhere?
Always check for one-time gains or losses.
They dress up (or down) the story — but they’re not the story.

One of my favorite moments as a finance leader is when someone realizes:
👉 Profit doesn’t equal cash.
You can look great on paper and still be gasping for air in reality.

Operating cash flow is the real heartbeat.
If that’s weak, even the best P&L can’t save you.

And finally — look at interest expense.
High interest means you’re playing with leverage.
It can accelerate growth… or risk.
Either way, it deserves your attention.

At the end of the day, financials aren’t about accounting.
They’re about cause and effect — action and consequence.

When you start looking for why things move, not just what moved,
you start thinking like a CFO.
Even if it’s by accident.

Question for you:
What’s the one number in your business that tells the real story?

#TheAccidentalCFO #FinanceMadeSimple #CFOInsights #inersec