What makes a game-changing, industry-leading CFO?

As we come to grips with our new reality, we acquire a better understanding of what it takes to continue moving forward. This includes having a qualified leader who does not simply go with the flow, but leads. A courageous and competent leader able to navigate uncharted territories and bring the team to new heights.

Chief Finance Officers today, in particular, stand at a crossroads. Either remain tunnel-visioned in handling a company’s financial performance, or broaden one’s horizons and step up to the evolving demands of the job. From a support role to a leader driving strategic relevance. From number-cruncher to multifaceted game-changer.

Here are three qualities that define a game-changing CFO leading the new game:

● Champion of sustainability
These uncertain times underscore the value of sustainability. A company or organization may achieve tremendous success, but can it last well into the future?

Is today’s win still a win tomorrow? Is your company pandemic-proof? Is it ready to take on the digital space?

A CFO must ensure that his or her strategies, along with the positive results these deliver, can be sustained over a long period of time with astuteness and diligence.

● People’s leader
In the words of ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu: “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”

Today’s times call for leaders who truly understand the needs of the people. CFOs must establish genuine connections and team play with his or her colleagues to boost morale and maximize performance and productivity amid these challenging times.

● Discerning, strong, adaptable
At the end of the day, CFOs are still evaluated based on performance. They need to possess the necessary knowledge, skills and adaptability to deliver on the bottom line.

Next month, the most outstanding finance chief who possess these qualities will join the ranks of ING-FINEX CFO of the Year Awardees. The country’s most prestigious and longest-running search for top CFOs returns for the 15th year on November 17.

The ING-FINEX CFO of the Year Award is presented through a permanent partnership between Dutch financial giant ING Bank N.V. and the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), the country’s premier organization for finance and business professionals. The search began in 2006 and continues today on its mission to recognize the country’s top chief officers and inspire the next generation of Philippine financial leaders.

The ING-FINEX CFO of the Year Award honors outstanding CFOs of any company operating in the Philippines, whether local or foreign-owned and privately held or publicly listed. The search uses clearly defined qualitative and quantitative criteria designed by FINEX Foundation, together with the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.

The selection process gives equal weight to the CFO’s performance in various roles as the company’s strategist, catalyst, steward, and operator. The search involves a stringent endorsement and nomination process, followed by a rigorous set of panel interviews to determine the new awardee.