Author: inersec
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The Accidental CFO — The CFO’s unofficial job description in one sentence
“Stories and lessons from an unexpected journey in finance.” If I had to sum up the CFO role in one sentence, it would be this: “Keep the company alive long enough for the strategy to work.” That’s it. That’s the job. Behind the spreadsheets, board decks, and forecasts — that’s the real assignment. You’re the…
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The Accidental CFO – You Don’t Need to Be a CFO to Read Financials Like One
“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…
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The Accidental CFO — Servant Leadership in Action
“Stories and lessons from an unexpected journey in finance.” Servant leadership is a philosophy where leaders prioritize serving others first, putting the needs of their team and organization ahead of their own, to empower individuals and foster growth. Coined by Robert Greenleaf, it inverts the traditional hierarchy, positioning the leader as a facilitator who removes…
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The Accidental CFO: Why CEOs Need CFOs Who Build
“Stories and lessons from an unexpected journey in finance.” When I first stepped into the CFO seat, I quickly realized something: too many people expected me to be the “no.” No to new ideas. No to bold moves. No to anything that carried risk. The CFO was supposed to guard the numbers, protect the balance…
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The Accidental CFO: What is Cash Flow?
“Stories and lessons from an unexpected journey in finance.” Last month in this series, I wrote about EBITDA and used the lemonade stand analogy to explain why it’s a helpful measure of operating performance. (Quick refresher: EBITDA is like asking, “How good am I at selling lemonade, before worrying about taxes, loans, or the juicer wearing out?”) But…
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