The 80/20 CFO: How to Make Strategic Transformations in Your Company

by Janice Berthold, Suzy Taherian

It is not a massive treatise on everything you should know as a CFO. But the book contains shortcuts a CFO can use to earn credibility and trust. This will help create change within the organization. One of the biggest challenges for a new CFO is often there’s not a job description. It’s usually something vague like “Make the CEO look good and help the company succeed”. How do you do that, exactly? This book is unlike any other of its kind. We’ve cut to the chase and shared with the CFO what they need to do and how to do it. It’s said CFOs hold one of the loneliest positions in the executive suite. This is by design because the CFO is the counterbalance in an organization. They are the police and steward of the organization, so the role pits them against others. Often there isn’t a lot of time to be successful. CFOs must make significant changes and impact in the first 90 days, which means you must hit the ground running. Where can CFOs go for support and actionable insights to? That’s where this book comes in. This book helps CFOs get alignment and build relationships with key stakeholders. In this way, they are seen as a guiding force for transformation.

Genres: Business, Management, Finance

76 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 9, 2019

Reviews

[Misael Bazan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tips (reminders) for a current CFO moving to a new company

The interview mode writing of this literature makes it easy to read and easily relatable. Even though there are some correct thoughts and tips and meaningful ideas, this is not a literature for someone aiming to become CFO, but for a current CFO moving to a new company. Under this concept, definitely is not a useful literature if you are already a seasoned CFO. Just a summary of what every highly experienced CFO does in any company.

Unfortunately the risk assessment part is clearly a sales speech and promotion for a broker company. Sadly this is, in my opinion, remarkably unethical from the writer that expects readers to buy the book. If you are marketing an enterprise don’t expect someone to pay for your flyer.

I had high expectations from this book but would not recommend it. Even more, I would not label this as a book, but rather as an article, an expensive article to my taste.

[Brian Nwokedi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book's main flaw lies in its failure to provide clear and compelling guidance. The interview format/back and forth between author and interviewer doesn't do much to help this. The content tends to be repetitive, with key concepts being reiterated without adding significant depth or nuance.

This isn't a practical guide for CFOs, and the execution in this book leaves much to be desired. Readers seeking actionable advice would be better served looking elsewhere for insights into effective CFO strategies.

One such place is CFO Secrets newsletter written by the Secret CFO.

[Mark Chanatry · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the most basic, unimpressive books I’ve ever come across.

[Francesco · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short book written in interview format, not particularly interesting. There are some good key messages but these are not expanded so look elsewhere if you are really trying to educate yourself on about the CFO role.

[Matthew Torvik · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received some helpful insight from this book but overall left with a bad taste in my mouth after the risk assessment chapter which is just a sales pitch. There is not a guiding theme in this book or good summary, but again, a few helpful points. NOTHING to do with the 80/20 Pareto principle.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay

Book had some good content, but ended feeling like a sales pitch for a risk assessment by an insurance company.

[K Munoz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible read, lacks substance. Disappointing to say the least.

[Matt McLain · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a lot of specific practicality, more general than I would have liked.

[Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didactic back-and-forth. Nothing spectacular about it but helpful nonetheless. Glad to keep chipping away at this type of thing.

[AT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good mindset and case study examples, very helpful to establish my interaction with my CEO as a first timer CFO. Would have appreciated more advice on technicalities and further reading. Well written and concise.

[Mickell]

So so

Kind of felt like an infomercial. Very high-level with a sales pitch at the end. At the end of the day, I felt like I read a long pamphlet on an insurance risk provider.