CFO.University

Join our Community of Member Scholars for tools, courses and exclusive content to develop your skills as a Chief Financial Officer.

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5 Tips for Better Board Reporting: As a finance leader, you’re intimately familiar with your company’s data and KPIs. But guess what? Most of your board members aren’t—and they don’t want or need that level of detail. What do they want? Like your CEO, board members are searching for trusted, strategic deputies who can provide high-level, holistic insight that helps them navigate the swirling currents of today’s business world. Luckily, top finance executives have a great vantage point from which to fill this role. Here are five tips to ensure you make the most of your time at the front of the room.
Workday Adaptive Planning

The Importance of Training and Coaching Your Finance Leaders: There is never a bad time for you to focus on the professional development of your team. Finding the time is another matter. It’s easy to defer the investment until “it’s more convenient” or the “new version is released”. By the time you reach those timelines, it may be too late. Your team has left or isn’t capable of performing to the standards you expect. It’s not on them. It’s on you.
Steve Rosvold
Founder and Chief Learning Officer at CFO.University

CFO Talk: Data-Driven Decisions: Unlocking the Power of Analytics in FP&A Part 1 of 2

If you thought the wildest thing to happen to a finance department was a spreadsheet with color-coded tabs, think again. On the latest episode of CFO Talk: Data-Driven Decisions: Unlocking the Power of Analytics in FP&A” host Steve Rosvold and guests Brian Lapidus (Director of FP&A Practice at AFP) and Prashanth Southekal (Founder, DBP Institute) embark on a lively expedition into the jungle of digital transformation in finance.

Prashanth Southekal
PhD, MBA

Steve Rosvold
Founder and Chief Learning Officer at CFO.University

John O’Dore
Co-Founder at Chinook Capital Advisors

John has been a trusted advisor working with business owners and shareholders of privately held businesses for more than 25 years with leading investment banking firms such as Seattle-based Meridian Capital and global investment banking firms Credit Suisse First Boston, Merrill Lynch and Bank of America. He has developed a successful track record by helping owners work through complex business transitions, recapitalization and company sale transactions. John has closed more than 100 company sale, recapitalization, financing and M&A transactions across multiple industries ranging from branded consumer to food and beverage, manufacturing, aerospace, business services and more.

For 20+ years, John lived and worked across Asia in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. During his time abroad he picked up two Chinese dialects as well as global insight which enables him to bring both local and global perspective to transactions today.

In 2010 John returned to his native Seattle and continued his work in investment banking with Seattle-based Meridian Capital. In 2017 he co-founded Chinook Capital Advisors with Ed Kirk.

A graduate of Seattle University’s Albers School of Business, John currently serves as a board member for the Albers Alumni Association as well as the Association for Corporate Growth, Seattle Chapter. He and his wife, Candy, have three grown children and a grandchild. When he’s not helping his clients, John often dreams of his next fishing and crabbing boat or helps cheer on the Mariners to the next World Series.

Bryan Ducharme
Co-Founder of Venture 7 Advisors

A career in small business ownership and big business consulting has given me unique perspectives on launching, acquiring, growing and exiting businesses. I’ve advised scores of companies from technology start-ups to global powerhouses, in diverse industries including industrial and consumer product manufacturing, healthcare, professional services, pharmaceuticals, and information technology.

One of the things I’ve learned is how hard it is for small business owners to find experienced, big-picture advice. There are many specialists (e.g. consultants, lawyers, accountants) who play important roles, but advisors who truly understand the whole business ownership experience are rare.

Venture 7 Advisors is my seventh venture (hence the name). My partners and I created Venture 7 so we could help other business owners build and exit their companies with confidence. At this point in our careers, it’s not just “what we do”, it’s who we are.

Governance & Controls – structure and controls.

Transaction Recording – systems, transaction processing and closing the books.

Reporting - efficient, timely and accurate information for decision making and meeting compliance requirements.

Business Planning - provide the financial roadmap for the company with supporting analytics.

Financial Forecasting - integrate the company’s current performance relative to budget with the real-time business environment.

Investment Analysis - the framework to analyze new opportunities as they present themselves.

Cash Management - the discipline to ensure cash is available to operate the business normally.

Funding - Planning for and raising funds to meet the needs of the business.

Risk Management – Identification and mitigation of key business risks.

Self-Awareness - Internal.

Team Building - External.

Strategy & Culture – Motivate people to follow you.

Four Pillars of Executive Expertise

CFO.University is built around the Four Pillars of CFO Success. These Pillars are supported with Core Competencies. Our framework allows you to master your role as a senior financial officer. The Four Pillars are made up of:

Accounting – Governance & Controls, Transaction Recording and Reporting

Finance – Business Planning, Financial Forecasting and Investment Analysis

Treasury – Cash Management, Funding (Capital Raising) and Risk Management

Leadership – Self Awareness, Team Building and Strategy & Culture

Take Assessment

Join our Community of Member Scholars for tools, courses and exclusive content to develop your skills as a Chief Financial Officer.

John O’Dore
Co-Founder at Chinook Capital Advisors

Bryan Ducharme
Co-Founder of Venture 7 Advisors

Accounting

Finance

Treasury

Leadership

Four Pillars of Executive Expertise

Accounting – Governance & Controls, Transaction Recording and Reporting

Finance – Business Planning, Financial Forecasting and Investment Analysis

Treasury – Cash Management, Funding (Capital Raising) and Risk Management

Leadership – Self Awareness, Team Building and Strategy & Culture

Departments

Library

Members

About

Join our Community of Member Scholars for tools, courses and exclusive content to develop your skills as a Chief Financial Officer.

John O’DoreCo-Founder at Chinook Capital Advisors

Bryan DucharmeCo-Founder of Venture 7 Advisors

Accounting

Finance

Treasury

Leadership

Four Pillars of Executive Expertise

Accounting – Governance & Controls, Transaction Recording and Reporting Finance – Business Planning, Financial Forecasting and Investment Analysis Treasury – Cash Management, Funding (Capital Raising) and Risk Management Leadership – Self Awareness, Team Building and Strategy & Culture

Departments

Library

Members

About

John O’Dore
Co-Founder at Chinook Capital Advisors

Bryan Ducharme
Co-Founder of Venture 7 Advisors

Accounting – Governance & Controls, Transaction Recording and Reporting

Finance – Business Planning, Financial Forecasting and Investment Analysis

Treasury – Cash Management, Funding (Capital Raising) and Risk Management

Leadership – Self Awareness, Team Building and Strategy & Culture