Ready to throw away the assumptions?

I was having lunch the other day with some people from a company that specialises in human resources (I'll leave it vague...). Great bunch, really smart guys, and had plenty of experience with FDs and FCs - but mainly in quite big companies.

I was talking about the financial controller post - and arguing that in the same way that the FD is now really the general manager of "the services that allow a business to function", so the FC is increasingly a person who, in order to put his skills to best use, or ought to have experiences outside the finance function. One of the guys demurred - in his experience, the controller is the numbers guy. End of. But I think he's just not looked at enough growing businesses where you can't afford anyone to have that narrow a view.

Evidence? Well, it's all around, but this news item caught my eye today: "Israel-based food importer G. Willi-Food International Ltd. on Tuesday named Albert Israeli as its chief financial officer, effective immediately. Israeli replaces Gil Hochboin, who served as CFO since August 2000. Israeli previously served as financial controller and sales and operations manager of Golf & Co. Group Ltd."

Our first exclusive EquityFC.com feature is about making the move from FC to FD. In it, we argue that experience outside the finance function is getting increasingly important. A financial controller can do those jobs - and I'm not just talking in IT or HR, areas that are functionally close to finance. Sales and ops manager? That's what I call gaining non-financial experience...