Blurred lines: Why some CFOs grapple with conflicting expectations

Financial Management (FM) magazine

Paul Thambar, FCMA, CGMA, Ph.D., associate professor of accounting at Monash University in Australia, explains the obstacles CFOs face when transitioning to a business partner role and where organisations are setting ambiguous and conflicting expectations for finance leaders.

A recent AICPA & CIMA report on the role of the CFO was informed by Thambar’s research.

Thambar also discusses the challenges and opportunities for CFOs grappling with digitilisation and how aspiring CFOs can adopt a “progressive” approach to career development. Thambar also was a guest on a 2019 FM podcast episode.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

§ Why CFOs sometimes struggle to transition into a business partner role.

§ Some ways organisations are setting ambiguous and conflicting expectations.

§ How relationship building can help CFOs grow in their roles.

§ The importance of understanding digitilisation at “two levels”.

§ What it means to be a “progressive” CFO.