The CFO’s Guide to Building a Tax Function That Actually Drives Value
Most CFOs didn’t build their tax department. They inherited it from a predecessor, a transaction, or a period of growth that added complexity faster than it added capability. The team may be competent. The outside advisors may be excellent. The filings go out on time. And still, something nags: is this function actually doing what
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The Modern CFO Mandate: What Boards, PE Sponsors, and CEOs Now Demand from the Finance Chief
By Shawn Cole, President & Founder — Shawn Cole is a nationally recognized authority on CEO recruiting. His insights regularly appear in Forbes, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, and other leading publications, delivering nuanced and critical analysis on executive recruitment, succession planning, enterprise transformation, and the evolving demands of
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Interim CFO Portland
Portland’s Financial Leadership Gap & How Interim CFOs Fill It In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, organizations in Portland face more complexity than ever before: navigating capital constraints, accelerating growth, responding to market volatility, and aligning finance with long-term strategic priorities. Whether you’re scaling operations, preparing for a capital raise, stabilizing after disruption, or transitioning
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Case Study in Strategic Leadership Acquisition: Securing Global Sales Excellence for a Technology Pioneer in Autonomous Mobility
MicroVision had a problem. The NASDAQ-listed pioneer in MEMS-based laser beam scanning technology had world-class technology but couldn’t convert it into sustainable revenue growth. Their previous executive search firm had struck out completely. They needed someone who could walk into the autonomous vehicle and industrial automation markets and immediately start opening doors—specifically, doors at Tier-1 automotive
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From Number Crunchers to Crisis Managers: Why CFO Tenure Is Shrinking
By Shawn Cole, President & Founder — Shawn Cole is a nationally recognized authority on CFO recruiting. His insights regularly appear in Forbes, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, CFO Dive, Entrepreneur, and other leading publications, delivering nuanced and critical analysis on executive recruitment, succession planning, enterprise transformation, and the evolving
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Why PE-Backed Companies Should Obsess Over the CFO Seat
All private equity executives know that the most important aspect of any PE-backed venture is value creation. While all of the members of the C-suite and board play a vital role in actively improving portfolio companies, there is one role that is particularly critical to achieving higher returns: the CFO. A portfolio company’s CFO takes
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Why Companies Are Internalizing Tax Functions to Drive Profitability
Tax strategy is no longer just about compliance—it’s a core business function that can drive profitability, improve cash flow, and create a lasting competitive advantage. While many companies still rely on external accounting firms for tax filing and regulatory compliance, industry leaders have realized that internalizing tax functions enables them to maximize savings and proactively
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CFOs as CEOs: Higher Margins, Lower Growth & an Inward Focus on Business Strategy
The corporate landscape has witnessed a notable trend: Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) ascending to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) positions. This shift brings a unique financial acumen to the helm of companies, often resulting in enhanced profit margins. However, this focus on internal financial metrics can sometimes lead to conservative revenue growth strategies. This article delves
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CFO Profiles: Navigating the Transition Between Reporting & Operating Leadership
By Shawn Cole, President & Founder — Shawn Cole is a nationally recognized authority on CFO recruiting. His insights regularly appear in Forbes, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, CFO Dive, Entrepreneur, and other leading publications, delivering nuanced and critical analysis on executive recruitment, succession planning, enterprise transformation, and the evolving
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How the CFO Role Has Evolved to Become a Strategic Business Partner
Once regarded as the financial gatekeeper, today’s chief financial officer has become the CEO’s indispensable strategic partner. No longer confined to balancing books and ensuring compliance, the modern CFO plays a pivotal role in shaping business strategy, driving innovation, and navigating economic complexities. This evolution is not just a natural progression—it’s a necessity. In a
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