CFO Research released a study showing that CFO influence was on the rise. And by a pretty wide margin with 17% indicating their influence was “greatly” enhanced and 55% weighing in at “somewhat” enhanced. Here’s the quote:
... finance chiefs say their positions were enhanced by the turmoil of the economic downturn, as everyone from the CEO to junior staffers looked to finance for guidance on how to cope with volatility on both the micro and macro levels.
There is no question that CFOs are needed and that great CFOs are in high demand. Top-notch CFOs remain high-value targets for companies and recruiters. And, I’ll really go out on a limb and say that the demand for top-notch CFOs isn’t going to diminish anytime in the foreseeable future.
But then there’s this from a Wall Street Journal article:
… about 4.4 million Americans have been looking for jobs for at least a year—and that doesn’t include the ones who have given up.
The cold, hard facts are truly cold and cruel. But it is a reality in the world today. Here’s another one … all things being equal (your skill set and your contributions), the moment you walk out the door with a big, fat severance package – but unemployed – you just made finding that next CFO role, among the limited opportunities, that much more difficult on yourself.
You can’t be a top-notch influencer when you aren’t in a position to influence. The new year is rapidly approaching and with more economic uncertainly expected, there has never been a better time to make sure you are visibly positioned as a passive, in-demand, A-player.