Nine Things to Ask Your Future CEO - PhoenixCEOCFO.com

Nine Things to Ask Your Future CEO

Marshal Krantz of CFO.com compiled a list of questions that a CFO should consider asking the CEO when he or she is interviewing:

1. What were the strengths and weaknesses, or what did you like and not like, about the former CFO, both in your working and personal relationships, and what are you hoping to change with a new hire?

2. What critical business decision, or two, did you make over the past few years, and what role did finance and the CFO play?

3. Which financial statements do you focus on and how often do you read financial reports?

4. Tell me about a conflict within the organization and how you handled it.

5. Who are the key outside advisors influencing major decisions? And what's the role of any outside accounting firms what functions do they perform?.

6. What are the company's top business goals, what's the strategy to achieve them, and how are you adjusting your strategy in light of current market conditions?

7. How many new SKUs (stock-keeping units) have you launched in the past year or two, and what new stuff in the pipeline?

8. What are board and investor meetings like? Smooth sailing, or rough? And what pressures do you face from major shareholders?

9. May I speak with the former CFO?

To see the full article, go to http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/12074951


1. "Nine Things to Ask Your Future Boss, the CEO." Marshall Krantz, CFO.com.
September 4, 2008.