Finanace, Technology, Results!

Posts Tagged ‘Kent Thomas’

Utah’s CFO Solutions becomes Advanced CFO Solutions

December 15, 2010

2010 has been a year of recognition for Kent Thomas, named Utah’s financial guru by Utah Business magazine

The year was 1996 when Kent Thomas started CFO Solutions. Little did he realize then just how successful his new business idea would become — providing outsourced accounting and finance services help to businesses throughout Utah.

Now, at the conclusion of 2010 Thomas’ endeavor, CFO Solutions, has grown to include 15 team members. They have worked for nearly 500 companies, from start-ups to firms with $70 million in annual revenues, and raised more than $500 million in equity, debt and lease financing for their clients.

Kent Thomas was named CFO of the Year in 2009 by the Utah Technology Council, and Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry this year by the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants. He has served in numerous volunteer capacities including executive or advisory roles for the Utah World Trade Center, Grow Utah Ventures, The Wayne Brown Institute, various universities and the Mountain West Capital Network. He functioned as chief executive or chief financial officer/controller of seven different companies between 1984 and 1996 and is a frequent speaker on finance, entrepreneurism, accounting and related topics.

Kent Thomas receiving the CFO of the Year Award from Utah Technology Council

The Advanced CFO Solutions team includes experienced consultants who have more than 300 years of combined experience as controller, CFO, COO or CEO of many companies in a variety of industries including software, software-as-a-service, biotechnology, non-profit, medical device, manufacturing, retail, distribution, franchising, oil and gas, and others. These consultants work with large and small businesses supervising their staff, designing and documenting effective procedures, and accurately recording and forecasting financial information which is then used by management to make informed business decisions.

“We continue to expand our services and staff to meet client needs,” Thomas said. “In light of our progress and all we’re now doing — advising on every aspect of good business fiscal policy and management — we’re revising the name of the firm to Advanced CFO Solutions.”

Can the CFO Really Make a Competitive Difference in a Company?

May 12, 2010

Recently I read a blog posting from Cynthia Mignogna at Openview Venture Partners. It is a good summary of the role that the Chief Financial Officer can and should play in an organization. In all of my speaking engagements, I emphasize that the CFO must think strategically and be able to deliver timely and accurate information that clearly indicates whether or not the business is progressing towards it strategic plan and goals (i.e., is it winning or losing?).

I recently taught a session on Advanced CFO and Controller skills to a group of 23 CFO’s and Controllers. At the beginning of the class I asked how many could give me a concise summary of their company’s strategy – only three raised their hands. Apparently this is not unusual. In a recent study, Right Management Consultants found that less than one-third of employees are fully engaged in and know their employer’s missions. My greatest concern is that if the CFO or Controller does not know the Company’s strategy, what does that say about their ability to provide valuable data to employees and management?

A good CFO must be able to align the internal reporting systems with the Company’s strategy and translate it into key performance indicators (measures of important activities that are quantifiable, measurable and meaningful) that the other managers and employees help to identify and take responsibility for. These metrics must be reported frequently and used to evaluate the employee, team or company’s progress towards achieving the stated goals.

Every CEO needs and deserves to have a strategic financial partner on her or his team to provide valuable and actionable information in order to have confidence in the decisions he or she makes every day. If you do not have or have not experienced this in your business, please call us, we can help – and the good news is that when we act as your outsourced, strategic CFO, the cost is a fraction of what you would have to pay for a full-time CFO!