Tactical CFO is a four-part series that answers the how and execution aspects of our strategies and financials. The titles include: Tactical Budgeting – Moving Beyond Traditional Budgets to Manage Performance Description – Traditional budgets often consume significant time while delivering limited operational value. This session reframes budgeting as a tactical management tool rather than a once-a-year accounting exercise. Participants will explore how to redesign the budget process to improve communication, accountability, and decision-making across the organization. The session emphasizes output-based metrics, flexible budgeting approaches, benchmarking, and educating non-financial managers so budgets become a tool for managing performance, not just controlling spending. Tactical Business Systems – Getting the Most from Information Systems and ERP Description – CFOs are increasingly accountable for the effectiveness of information systems, even if IT does not formally report to them. This session focuses on the tactical role finance leaders play in evaluating, selecting, implementing, and managing information systems. Participants will gain a practical framework for understanding IT, ERP systems, security, and emerging technologies such as AI. The session emphasizes asking the right questions, aligning systems with strategy, and avoiding common pitfalls that cause system implementations to fail. Tactical Data Management – Turning Data into Actionable Information Description – Organizations collect massive amounts of data, but far less information that actually improves decisions. This session focuses on how CFOs and CPAs can tactically manage data to generate insight, improve performance, and reduce risk. Participants will explore financial and non-financial data, data organization, and the role of analytics in understanding customers, operations, and employees. The session emphasizes clarity, simplicity, and storytelling so data supports better decisions rather than overwhelming stakeholders. Tactical Finance Leadership – Building the Finance Team of Tomorrow Description – The finance function is changing rapidly, driven by technology, demographics, and evolving business expectations. This session focuses on the tactical leadership skills CFOs and CPAs need to build and lead high-performing finance teams in the years ahead. Participants will explore how roles, skills, and expectations are shifting, and how leaders can prepare their teams for increased automation, real-time reporting, and greater strategic involvement. The session blends practical leadership guidance with forward-looking insights.
Learning Objectives
Tactical Budgeting – Moving Beyond Traditional Budgets to Manage Performance Explain how to reframe budgeting as a tactical tool rather than a once-a-year exercise. Apply flexible budgeting approaches and output-based metrics to enhance decision-making. Redesign the budget process to improve communication and accountability across the organization. Educate non-financial managers to use budgets as a performance management tool. Tactical Finance Leadership – Building the Finance Team of Tomorrow Identify the changing roles, skills, and expectations in modern finance teams. Develop tactical leadership skills to build and lead high-performing finance teams. Prepare finance teams for increased automation, real-time reporting, and strategic involvement. Integrate practical leadership strategies with forward-looking insights to drive team success. Tactical Data Management – Turning Data into Actionable Information Organize and manage financial and non-financial data to improve decision-making. Translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for stakeholders. Apply data analytics to understand customer behavior, operations, and workforce performance. Use storytelling techniques to communicate data in a way that supports organizational goals Tactical Business Systems – Getting the Most from Information Systems and ERP Evaluate and select information systems and ERP solutions that align with organizational strategy. Apply best practices for implementing and managing IT and ERP systems effectively. Identify emerging technologies, including AI, and understand their impact on finance operations. Ask the right questions to avoid common pitfalls in system implementation and management.
Major Topics
Tactical Budgeting – Moving Beyond Traditional Budgets to Manage Performance Major Subject: Budgeting as a tactical management tool to improve organizational performance. Tactical Business Systems – Getting the Most from Information Systems and ERP Major Subject: Strategic and tactical use of information systems and ERP in finance leadership. Tactical Data Management – Turning Data into Actionable Information Major Subject: Transforming organizational data into actionable insights for better decision-making. Tactical Finance Leadership – Building the Finance Team of Tomorrow Major Subject: Developing tactical leadership skills to build and lead high-performing finance teams.
