How to get ahead in finance

1. 9 LESSONS FROM
CFOS WHO LEAD
HOW TO GET AHEAD IN FINANCE
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2. To get ahead in finance, the best advice
is from those who are already there. Read
on for 9 big lessons from talented CFOs.
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3. LEADERSHIP .STRATEGY . BUSINESS

4. Many people think finance is the domain
of the bean-counters, but finance is really
everybody’s business. It’s about leadership,
bringing people on a journey and all
contributing to that one outcome.
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Lily Viertmann FCPA
CFO, Department of the Environment, Australia Finance
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5. You have to be motivated, passionate
and persistent to get where you want
to go. Once you’re there, you have to
be patient, focused and engaged with
stakeholders. If you don’t do both,
you might get there, but you’ll fall
over pretty quickly.
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Wayne Stokes FCPA
CFO, Carnival Australia
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6. Make sure you understand what’s going
on across the business, outside of finance,
then use the numbers to tell that story. You
add value by providing insight around the
future implications of what’s happening
and its impact on performance.
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Kylie Archer CPA
CFO, Seafolly
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7. Have a positive mindset and
attitude – and never wait for your
boss to give you instructions.
Be proactive as it’s always easier
to set the pace rather than run
after another person. Never be
insecure or defensive. Be sincere,
gracious, patient and confident.
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Tan Wee Ko FCPA
CFO, Challenger
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8. Most good things are harder than they
might appear at the outset; there will
always be hard yards ahead. Show trust and
let good people do good things. Also, you
have to connect the story to the numbers.
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Scott Dilley FCPA
CFO, Department of Social Services
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9. Take on the challenges others won’t.
Don’t be put off because it’s hard or
dirty – it will become an opportunity.
If you get bored, get out.
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Andrew Clark FCPA
CFO, Airservices Australia
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10. Be bold. Have the courage to
change industries because skills
are transferable. You’ll learn
about a whole new world.
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Nicole Peck CPA
CFO, Barwon Health
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11. You need a great team. How to build a
great team, with diversity of thinking –
you don’t want a bunch of “yes” people
– is one of the most important things to
learn as a leader.
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Laura Lillas FCPA
CFO, Partners in Performance
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12. One of the worst things you can do as
a senior leader is not be approachable.
You become like the emperor with
no clothes – no one tells you what
the problems are, they only tell you
the good news or what they think
you want to hear.
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David Spong FCPA
CFO, Ericsson
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