The Best Books To Read For Aspiring CFOs

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Every business needs someone to keep an eye on their finances, and this job usually lands with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

However, the modern CFO is more than just a financial guardian. They are partners to the entire C-Suite, helping to guide, grow and shape the business towards success.

 

What Does A CFO’s Job Entail?

 

The CFO role is usually one of the most important roles in a business, second only to the CEO.

A CFO will be in charge of elements like:

• Budgeting and deciding where to cut costs and where to invest.
• Financial forecasting, including targets for the business and planning for any unforeseen issues that may arise.
• Allocating capital, including payrises, office spaces, new hires and tech.
• Financial compliance, making sure the company is adhering to local finance laws.
• Tracking key performance metrics to keep an eye on the company’s success and making sure everyone stays accountable.
• Making sure all financial data is secure from cyberthreats.
• Fundraising (if needed) and managing investment capital, regularly updating investors on how their money is being spent and what the ROI is.

If this sounds like the job for you, you might be wondering where you could learn the ropes.

Luckily, a whole host of CFOs have put pen to paper to share everything they learnt on the journey. Let’s take a look at some of the best:

 

Reinventing the CFO: How Financial Managers Can Transform Their Roles And Add Greater Value

 

 

Nowadays, the role of the CFO is so much more than just keeping an eye on the numbers. It’s a role that includes decision making, performance insights and driving the company forwards.

Author Jeremy Hope talks about the new CFO, a role that is less in the numbers and more in the strategy, helping them to focus on the bigger picture.

Buy the book here.

 

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

 

 

This book is perfect for CFOs looking to make a real impact in their companies. It talks about how to build credibility and hit the ground running in a new role, showing real results within the first 90 days.

This book is a full guide for incoming CFOs, helping them succeed from day 1.

Buy the book here.

 

 

CFO Techniques: A Hands-on Guide to Keeping Your Business Solvent and Successful

 

A must-read for future CFOs, this book helps them learn best practice and stay on top of elements like cash flow, budgeting and financial reporting.

It talks through the importance of laws and regulations, helping CFOs manage their time and steer their businesses to financial success.

Buy the book here.

 

The Art of Profitability

 

 

Profitability is at the heart of a CFO’s job role.

This book is slightly more metaphorical, with 23 lessons lived out by fictitious characters. From here, aspiring CFOs can take a step back and look at how to gain new perspectives and learnings when it comes to profitability.

Buy the book here.

 

The New CFO Financial Leadership Manual

 

 

Steven Bragg gives aspiring CFOs a run down of everything they need to know. Including relationship building, financial reporting and risk management.

The book is a great guide for anyone looking to play a strategic role in their business, leading it towards success.

Buy the book here.

 

The Chief Financial Officer: What CFOs Do, the Influence They Have, and Why it Matters

 

 

CFOs have access to every part of the business. This book explains how CFOs grew to be what they are today, and how the role might evolve in the future.

It contains tons of insights from current and former CFOs, helping them learn from the best and stay at the top of their game.

Buy the book here.

 

60 Minute CFO: Bridging the Gap Between Business Owner, Banker, and CPA

 

 

This book makes complex financial words and concepts more simple. It compresses everything you need to know into one 60 minute book, allowing every business owner, banker and CPA to understand eachother.

Buy the book here.