CFO Corner: Glenn L. Friedman, Managing Partner’s Advice to CFOs

What was the biggest challenge your company faced over the last 12 months and how were you able to overcome it with financial leadership? The greatest challenges we have faced in this industry during the past few years include pricing competition, rising costs, and increased regulation. Strong leadership and timely information from people close to the action have made it possible for us to compete during very difficult economic times.

What is the most important thing you have learned in your position? One cannot wait in making a decision.  You must gather all the information that is available, ask the right questions, and then make a decision based on good, timely information and with an eye on the future. Then you should work hard to build consensus around your decision.

What advice do you have for CFOs tasked with communicating to the CEO or board of directors regularly? As I am a CEO I would suggest that a good CFO should bring accurate and timely information to the CEO. Likewise share your business acumen based on that information and knowledge of the organization, so that the CEO can make well-informed decisions based on the input of one key team member, you.

Glenn L. Friedman has over 30 years of accounting experience. As Managing Partner of Metis Group Certified Public Accountants LLC, he provides leadership to the 18 partners and over 60 staff members working at the six Metis office locations. In 1987, Mr. Friedman and his partner merged with another partnership to form what is now Metis Group. Prior to Metis, Mr. Friedman started his career at an international law firm that specialized in foreign tax havens. He then moved on to a regional accounting firm with a general practice and later joined the tax department of an international accounting firm where he was responsible for several national and multinational accounts.