Finance function leaders: are you running too hard to stand still?

Are you stressed out? This blog is a call to those of you who run finance functions that are struggling to call for help. You are not alone.

Asking for help is a sign of strength not failure. As has been shown in Dunn & Bradstreet research, many finance functions are finding it hard to cope with the demands placed on them.

Many finance leaders are working so hard to stand still that they never find the time to work with their teams to make improvements. A combination of being over-stretched, ever increasing demands from the board and a feeling that calling in outside help would be an admission of failure can mean that they never get themselves out of the spiral of worsening financial management.

The stress this causes only gets worse and eventually the music will stop either on you or your organisation if you don't make a change.

A first step is realising that you need to pause and give yourself some time to think. You may want help in doing this by taking on a professional coach. They can help you evaluate how things are going and find ways to move forward.

They can assist you in making an honest and methodical analysis of how things stand: asking those who rely on and work in the finance function - how well is it performing? In this dialogue the steps that can be taken to improve performance can be found.

Introducing an experienced and independent voice can often be the right move.

If you would like to find out how Bellevue Partners maybe able to help you please get in touch.