As a CFO, you'll need to interpret complex financial information into easy-to-understand data and present it to company management. You'll also need to have excellent interpersonal skills to deal with different levels of management, as well as the ability to evaluate employees. In addition to being an analytical thinker, you should be able to foresee a company's future and perform accurate analyses. And, if you can lead others, you're already halfway there. Work-life balance While work-life balance is often viewed as counterproductive by some employers, studies show that it can benefit the bottom line. According to a recent study by the Federal Reserve Bank, work-life balance improves employee productivity by 10.6 percent and reduces absenceeeism. Employees who prioritize work-life balance are more productive and engaged, which leads to better innovation and advocacy for the company. Work-life balance can help employers retain talented employees. The importance of a work-life balance cannot be overstated. Not only does it lead to higher job satisfaction and a better performance, but it also reduces the risk of burnout. A person who lacks work-life harmony is more likely to suffer from physical and emotional exhaustion. Burnout symptoms include moodiness, fatigue, and reduced performance. Working too hard may lead to feelings of isolation and reduce the quality of relationships. In order to achieve work-life harmony, you must learn to say no to work-related events and invitations. To improve your Work-Life Balance, try keeping a diary. By doing so, you can track how much time you spend on different activities, from work to personal life. If you want to find the perfect balance, start by choosing a job that you enjoy. This way, you can separate your work and personal activities and ensure that you have enough time for everything. You can even consider establishing a family-friendly schedule. But be realistic about your goals and make sure you do not overextend yourself - it is worth it in the end. If you can't find the perfect job for you, it's time to start planning your work-life balance. Begin by asking yourself how much time you need for your family and your leisure. After all, if you have a child, you may be happier in a lower-paying job near the daycare. You'll be surprised at how much time you can save by getting work-life balance. Consider your priorities and decide what you can do to achieve a good balance. Communication skills The CFO role has evolved over the years from purely budgeting, compliance, and number crunching to being a strategic, data-driven leader. The CFO must be able to influence operational decisions based on financial data. In addition to leveraging financial data, this role also requires CFOs to listen to and understand other people's concerns. Here are some tips to help you improve your communication skills: A CFO's role is a highly visible one, and he or she must be able to influence others to make decisions. A CFO must be able to present data and insights in a manner that can be understood by executives. He or she should also have an eye for detail and a keen eye for detail. As a CFO, it's also critical to develop a talent pipeline. Technology skills The role of the CFO is changing. More than ever, technology is required to keep operations running and generate cash. As a result, it is critical for finance leaders to learn digital skills. According to research, 82 percent of CFOs are planning to invest more in their digital skills by the year 2021. Increasing your finance tech skills will boost your career and add value to your team. Learn to use structured query language (SQL), a programming language that communicates with databases. While CFOs have traditionally been experts in financial statements, the 21st century CFO must be able to embrace change and be a digital wizard. This new role demands that the CFO is a technology evangelist and can assess and calculate the return on technology investments. With the growth of big data and artificial intelligence (AI), the role of the CFO is changing dramatically. It is crucial that the new CFO be well versed in technology and can work with data scientists. Today's CFO is required to use real-time data insights to make informed decisions. Technology expertise is essential for a CFO to stay on top of the ever-changing business landscape and to ensure the financial health of the company. A CFO who understands AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics can make better decisions. While these skills are necessary for every CFO, they are not sufficient on their own. If the CFO has the ambition to become CEO, they can leverage their tech expertise to help the company achieve its goals. As the CFO, you need to embrace new technologies that make the role more efficient. Investing in technology will make your job easier, reduce manual work, and provide greater access to data and insights. Using new technology within an organization will not only help you grow as an executive, but it will also help you stay competitive. In addition, it will also help you to make the most of the business opportunities. Technology skills for CFOs will help you to grow your business faster and more effectively. Compliance mandates One of the chief responsibilities of the CFO is ensuring compliance. Not only does he sign financial statements, he also ensures the integrity of all corporate records. But recent changes in federal law have made snitching a powerful incentive. The Dodd-Frank Act now awards whistleblowers bonuses that can amount to up to 30 percent of the fine. That means crafting a policy that encourages employees to report suspicious activity is critical. Since the financial crisis in 2008, compliance functions have expanded significantly. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has put significant strain on compliance functions, which are now being assessed and embraced by firms as the new reality of COVID-19 looms. Ultimately, firms are realising the need for greater effectiveness and efficiency in compliance. Here are four key areas for compliance functions to focus on: The Sarbanes-Oxley Act enacted by Congress in 2002 includes operational compliance requirements. These include whistleblower reporting, records management, and code of ethics compliance. These mandates are important to CFOs, but they're not limited to them. CFOs must also report material incidents of noncompliance, if they occur, and if they are part of a pattern. The CFO should ensure compliance of all these measures, and make sure they communicate with the board and UDP directly. As a CFO, you must have your finger on the pulse of every aspect of the company. Your knowledge of business processes is crucial for your success, and your ability to collaborate with senior management is essential. A solid understanding of technology is necessary for maintaining internal controls and addressing hotspots. This can also help prevent ballooning costs and operational inefficiencies. You can find a detailed analysis of the impact of new federal and state regulations in the KPMG global network. Global perspective For decades, the CFO's main focus has been cost control, operating budgets, and internal auditing. But globalization has changed that. Today's CFO must deal with the globalization of finance and the broader challenges of internationalization. For example, capital budgeting decisions must take into account differences between divisions and country-specific operating models, and incentive systems must be adjusted to reward managers in different economic settings. Developing this global perspective of the CFO can be a critical step in the evolution of the business. By understanding the business drivers and tangibly making money, the CFO can make better investment decisions. The CFO's role as a business builder can help finance and marketing teams work toward shared business objectives. With a common goal, the teams can respond more quickly to shifting markets and consumer demands. The CFO plays a crucial role in the organization. As businesses become more complex, CFOs' roles will expand. Not only will CFOs need to adapt to new business models, but they will need to be able to challenge commercial teams and manage a global perspective. CFOs must also develop good leadership skills - people and business sensitivity - to be able to manage these new responsibilities. The new role of the CFO will require new relationships within the company, and he or she may even have to take on a more strategic role. CEOs ranked four areas of experience as most important when selecting a CFO for their organization. Nearly half of CEOs ranked global experience as the top attribute. For this, a CFO should have lived in the regions and have a substantial work experience in these regions. Almost half of CEOs also noted that nonfinancial experience is crucial in advancing business transformation and innovation. But what's the CFO's role?