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A good CFO is constantly trying to improve. Not only will you evaluate what you’re doing right, but also areas of improvement. You’ll always keep a critical eye and adjust when your performance is subpar.

As you’re considering improvements, look towards the best of the best. Check in with CFOs who have gone before and note what they do differently. Here are some things you can work on, but keep in mind that you and your company are unique, so you may have to adapt their advice to meet your needs.

1. They know high-quality talent when they see it.

You know better than anyone that good talent is hard to come by, and when you find it, your company can flourish. It’s far easier to keep an employee than to find someone new.

For some CFOs, retaining high-quality talent is their biggest challenge, and keeping them will require some important changes.

“If your top talent is starting to eye the door, the reasons could range from salary issues to company culture to lack of challenges and opportunities for development,” says Bob Smith of Bridgepoint Consulting, a management consulting firm. “Take the opportunity to look beyond financial incentives and into company culture as well….Creating a culture in which people are valued and engaged will keep them excited about coming to work and helping your company achieve its business objectives.”

2. They get deep into the analytical side of things.

Traditionally, CFOs have spent much of their time handling transactions. They help to manage expenses, make budgets, and other high-level accounting tasks along with managing a team. However, the landscape of executive finance management is changing. More corporations are hiring other individuals to take care of the transactional side of things so that the CFO can take a look at the bigger picture.

“We should only be spending about 10 percent of our efforts and time on transactional and 90 percent of our time on analytics,” says Ash Noah, vice president of CGMA External Relations at the American Institute of CPAs. “…The more time you spend on analytics the more you help the business and enable effective business partnering.”

Noah also said that only about three percent of CFOs spend the majority of their time on analytics while the rest are closer to the 50/50 range. He notes that strong companies are trying to get closer to that 90 percent area, and you should too.

3. They build a strong, talented team.

In January of 2015, the Atlanta CFO Leadership Council held a very successful networking event for CFOs, including a forum with a panel of highly respected individuals in the industry. One of the most memorable moments from this event is when Sean Barry, the CEO of Bridgevine Inc. told the audience, “Hire smarter people than yourself.”

Barry went on to discuss how everyone has talents and experience, and even though you’re in charge, you can’t possibly know everything. He encouraged the panel to recognize what they don’t know and surround themselves with people who can fill the knowledge and talent gaps.

4. They know their objectives and how to get their team there.

Don’t be a leader with high expectations but no clear objectives.

Sodexo VP Global Finance Services, Florence Rocle, told MichaelPage: “It is very important for the CFO to define strategy and needs clearly. If you define too many objectives, or the strategy is vague, you can go in so many different directions and end up doing nothing.”

Achieving this goes back to looking at the big picture and working with your top talent. Using tools, training, and other resources is also essential. Become familiar with the latest technologies on the market. This is especially important as more Millennials join your workforce. They’ll be able to work with your goals more efficiently if you’re communicating to them with digital tools and resources.

A CFO should constantly be seeking ways to improve and hone their skills. You have what it takes to be incredible as long, as you’re willing to adjust and adapt to be the leader your team needs.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Its applications and implications are far-reaching. While many organizations realize the importance of adopting an AI strategy, the technology is often too complicated for their current staffs to handle on their own. Hiring a freelance consultant who is skilled in AI implementation is becoming an enticing option for businesses seeking to improve their operations.

Factors Impacting AI Adoption

There are a few common factors that are slowing AI adoption for any given organization. Most companies do not fully understand how AI can help their business. They may know that the technology is highly valued, but how it applies to their own operations escapes them. Organizations that lack the awareness of how AI can directly benefit their operations are not likely to have the talent on their payrolls to implement a viable strategy. Each of these factors can slow the adoption of AI on their own. Taken together, they represent a very significant hurdle that impedes the growth of the AI industry.

How an Independent Consultant can help with AI Implementation

There are seemingly endless companies that can benefit from AI technology if they only knew how to implement it. However, developing a successful strategy with their support staff on hand is an immense undertaking for non-tech savvy companies. Hiring an independent consultant can be a cost-effective solution to help bridge the technology gap.

Traditionally, organizations who wished to adopt AI turned to large consulting firms. However, this can be a costly enterprise and a business may not get all the attention that it requires to maximize their returns on their AI investment. This is where an independent consultant comes in. They can fully leverage AI technology for a company’s budget. From developing a strategy to identifying the best use cases, knowledgeable consultants can guide a company through the process and deliver the ideal personal touch for their organization.

Specific Examples of How AI can Improve an Organization

There are real benefits to AI. Take a business’ customers for example. Routine customer queries can be automated using AI technology. Through a combination of machine learning and cognitive semantic analysis, the right AI can automate voice calls and webchats. Additionally, machine learning can help drive customer acquisition. An AI consultant knows how customer data can be analyzed to predict their lifetime value.

Most organizations wishing to employ AI will need some understanding of its value. A qualified freelance consultant will help with this, as well as, how to employ the data. Computer scientists will be needed at some level, as will functional specialists. A consultant will also be capable of guiding a company through the process of setting up a fully functional AI support staff.

Conclusion

Qualified and dependable consultants can help new companies bridge the gap between merely knowing about AI and actively incorporating it into their daily operations. The demand for AI consultants will grow with the industry. As one of the fastest growing industries today, AI consulting expects to become a coveted profession very quickly.

Author Bio: Adrian Rubin is a climate change advocate and freelance writer.

If you are a new business owner or you want to enhance your client base, there are various steps that you can take to promote your business to the masses and draw in the demographic you want. Here are five ways to help grow your business.

Networking

One great way to help expand your business is by networking with new and potential clients. Make sure to have a search for networking events in your area where you will be able to engage with new clients, showcase your work and potentially get new leads. Make sure to take business cards with you that clearly display your business motto and mission statement to help give clients an idea on how they can work in partnership with your company.

Get Online

While many businesses are already online, there are still some that are yet to follow suit. Having your own website can be a big factor in attracting traffic to your page and growing your business. There are many specialist programs and free online tools that you can use to ensure your website looks professional and attractive to visitors. Be sure to have examples of your work clearly displayed so potential customers and clients can get a better understanding on how your business operates.

Build Your Brand

You can also build your brand by using social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. With millions of users from across the world logging into social media accounts each day, your business can grow enormously if you promote it in the right places. Also, customers and clients will be able to engage with you and send messages which will help you network and attract deals and business. Make sure that everything you post on your social media is informative and factual.

Understand Your Team

Understanding your retail logistics is an important part of business. Knowing the logistics of your business can help you identify all the information that is passed between the point of origin and consumption to be able to meet your customers’ requirements. You will need to be able to identify what your business is all about and how your services are delivered to the customer. It is vital that your customers are pleased with the products they receive from your business so taking time to work out all the logistics involved will be incredibly beneficial for your business. There are various ways that you can track logistics such as with mobile data capture.

Be Realistic

Success may not come overnight, so it is important that you stay realistic with your expectations. Setting yourself goals and targets can help you keep on track with what you want your business to achieve. Also, have a time frame in mind that is more achievable rather than striving for unrealistic goals.

One of the key attributes that you will need to have is patience. The chances are, your business will not grow enormously overnight, so having a level of perseverance is important. Make sure to network, promote and engage with as many people as possible and you should begin to see results in your business.

New Zealand is a Pacific island paradise, with an amazing landscape that offers both residents and visitors a huge variety of things to do. However, New Zealand has more to offer than just balmy beaches, incredible wildlife encounters and epic mountain terrains. In fact, the business community in some of its major cities has placed the country on the map in the Asia-Pacific market.

For the most part, the Kiwi business landscape has a lot of promise for those looking to venture into the country’s industries. Interestingly, while the country is known for tourism, New Zealand’s government structure almost prime the country for the type of business that can bring all types of industry to the country. While most places offer very little encouragement, navigating New Zealand’s business landscape can be done.

Continue reading for some tips on how best to navigate New Zealand’s business scene.

Office Space

If looking to relocate your business to the country, finding office space is not difficult. In fact, the office landscape is such that those not wanting to traverse the tricky conventional office landscape have other options. The virtual office has long been a favourite of those looking to test markets in other countries as it provides your business with a dedicated address and phone number, IT services and access to conference and meeting rooms. Coworking operates similarly, but it pretty much is shared floor space that offers you the chance to work with a diverse array of professionals. Click on the link at http://www.servcorp.co.nz/en/coworking/ to see how coworking works.

If you must have an office, the serviced office or the executive suite are also viable options. While you might only find businesses in larger cities offering serviced offices, it is another way to temporarily lease space in locations that are attractive to business. Typically, these spaces come furnished and with all of the amenities you might find in a standard office.

Governmental Policy

For those looking to traverse the red tape of setting a business, New Zealand is definitely the place. Sited as one of the easiest places to set up shop, you can find yourself setting out your shingle in a hassle-free and corrupt-free environment. Plus, the country does not have capital gains tax (CGT), so that’s always great for business. The government supports industry and innovation, and this can be seen in the number of grants and incentives for research.

Business Climate

New Zealand’s business climate is one that focuses on a number of industries, and while the government provides its own incentives for industries, start-ups seem to flourish in this area, especially in Wellington. Other industries that make up the country’s economic fabric include large corporations, but there also seems to be an influx of green technologies and businesses, in addition to media entrepreneurs scoping out the economic landscape.

FYI On Business Culture

While Kiwis take care of business, the culture supports a more laid-back environment. Those who work and manage a business in the country will be pleasantly surprised to find that competitiveness is not a popular attribute and that people tend to work cooperatively. In fact, one site suggests that the Maori culture influences a lot of the business practices in the country, so someone looking to open a business should be aware of this nuance in the New Zealand business culture.

Navigating The Kiwi Business Landscape

Opening a business in a new location, much less country can be a daunting prospect. However, New Zealand’s friendly, mostly transparent business climate is the place to start your business if you are leery about opening a business in a foreign country. With government incentive and favourable tax laws, your business can be up and running in no time.