Learn the key areas of responsibility in the office of the CFO through the Ten Pillars of Finance framework.
Leading the Office of the CFO™ (LOCFO) is 2-day program which provides executive level finance professionals with a foundation for building and broadening their knowledge of the office of the CFO.
Designed and taught by successful CFOs, LOCFO lays out a clear framework from which all CFOs operate. This framework is called the Ten Pillars of Finance. Understanding and navigating these foundations of the office is the catalyst for strong financial leadership.
If you are a professional with anticipated or current needs to better understand the role and responsibilities of the CFO, then you can benefit greatly from attending the next LOCFO program.
Whatever your role is in finance, knowing the many duties of the CFO will give you a more complete context on how your contributions impact the organization. If you aspire for higher level roles in finance, you will need to understand the functional areas of responsibility inherent in the office of the CFO. Modern CFOs have a wide skill-set that allows them to manage diverse responsibilities and drive value creation for the organization.
Whether you are new to the CFO role or you are a seasoned veteran, LOCFO can provide a modern perspective on how the office is run by others in your industry and the market at large. Many CFOs who plan to use the program to groom their next generation leaders will first take the program themselves before nominating individuals for future programs.
If you are a CEO that does not come from a background in finance and accounting, LOCFO can help elevate your understanding of the crucial role you heavily rely on. LOCFO will give you a new toolbelt to better speak the language of your CFO, untapping creativity and enhancing your strategic partnership with the CFO.
If you are a professional that interacts cross-functionally with finance, LOCFO can give you insight on how your efforts affect the finance function and vice versa. Better understanding finance can unleash strategic synergies that were otherwise invisible to your organization.
The intro session sets the stage for the next two days, giving participants a clear picture of what is to come and how to get the most out of the program. The session introduces participants to the core responsibilities and evolving demands of the modern CFO role, going beyond traditional financial management. Participants will gain an understanding of key leadership frameworks and how financial executives shape organizational strategy and performance. The session lays the foundation for developing a strategic CFO mindset that balances operational excellence with innovation and growth.
A member of McCracken leadership who will facilitate the entirety of the program including Q&As, dinners, etc.
This session explores how business models create value within specific industry contexts, key elements of managing enterprise-wide financial operations, and strategies for effective collaboration across functions. Participants will examine the interconnections between financial decisions and organizational performance while developing practical approaches for cross-functional leadership. Topics include industry analysis frameworks, enterprise resource optimization, and methods for aligning financial objectives with operational goals.
A proven CFO with experience consulting across many industries and company complexities.
This session explores the CFO's role in evaluating, structuring, and executing strategic transactions including mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Participants will examine key considerations from valuation and due diligence to post-merger integration and value capture. The session focuses on practical frameworks for assessing strategic fit, managing transaction risks, and driving successful outcomes.
An experienced investment banking executive who has led complex transactions across multiple industries, with a track record of advising CFOs and boards through transformative deals.
This session examines modern treasury management strategies and the evolving landscape of corporate financing options. Participants will explore approaches to capital structure, liquidity management, and financing decisions in different market conditions. The session addresses both traditional and emerging funding sources while considering risk management and stakeholder communication.
A seasoned treasury executive who has managed corporate financing strategy across market cycles, with experience implementing innovative funding solutions for companies of varying sizes and complexities.
This session explores advanced FP&A practices that drive strategic decision-making and business performance. Participants will examine modern approaches to planning, forecasting, and analysis that link financial insights to operational execution. The session focuses on transforming FP&A from a reporting function to a strategic business partner.
A senior FP&A leader who has modernized planning and analysis functions across multiple organizations, with experience building high-performing teams that influence strategic decisions at the executive level.
This session examines how CFOs partner with legal counsel to navigate corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management. Participants will explore frameworks for evaluating legal and operational risks while balancing growth objectives with risk mitigation. The session emphasizes practical approaches to managing the increasing complexities of corporate legal strategy.
A partner from a prestigious law firm specializing in corporate strategy and risk management, with extensive experience advising CFOs and boards on complex legal matters across multiple industries.
This session further discusses the Ten Pillars of Finance, a comprehensive framework for understanding and executing the modern CFO mandate. Participants will explore how these interconnected pillars form the foundation of effective finance leadership and organizational value creation. The session provides a structured approach to evaluating and strengthening finance function capabilities.
A McCracken leadership team member who helped develop the Ten Pillars framework and has guided finance leaders in implementing these principles across diverse organizations and industries.
This session examines leadership principles through the lens of high-stakes decision-making environments outside traditional corporate settings. Participants will explore how lessons from critical leadership moments translate to finance executive roles. The session challenges conventional thinking about team dynamics, communication, and decision-making under pressure.
A distinguished leader from a high-stakes field (such as federal law enforcement, emergency response, or military operations) who brings unique perspectives on building trust, leading through crisis, and maintaining team excellence under pressure.
This session covers the foundational elements of finance leadership, from capital allocation and performance metrics to business partnering and talent development. Participants will examine proven approaches to building and maintaining strong finance capabilities that support organizational growth. The session emphasizes practical strategies for establishing a high-performing finance function.
A CFO who has built and transformed multiple finance organizations, with experience scaling finance capabilities across different business life cycles and complexity levels.
This session explores the mindset shifts required to lead at the enterprise level and navigate complex global organizations. Participants will examine approaches to influencing across cultures, managing diverse stakeholders, and driving change in multinational environments. The session focuses on developing the strategic perspective needed for senior finance leadership roles.
A CFO with extensive international experience who has led global finance organizations and driven strategic initiatives across multiple regions and business cultures.
This short and final session synthesizes key learnings across the program and provides a framework for implementing these insights in participants' organizations. Participants will leave with action plans for applying the Ten Pillars of Finance and other program frameworks to their specific challenges. The session connects program concepts to practical leadership approaches that drive meaningful organizational change.
A member of McCracken leadership who will facilitate the entirety of the program including Q&As, dinners, etc.
Participants should expect to learn more about the role of the CFO than just the functional responsibilities of finance. The role of the CFO is ever-evolving, having more emphasis placed on strategic insights than historical record keeping.
Value creation is more than just a return on capital that exceeds cost; value is also created through intangible drivers like innovation, people, and brand. Finance plays a pivotal role in the value-creation strategies central to the objectives of all key stakeholders. LOCFO's core emphasis is on how the CFO best creates value in an organization through alignment with the CEO and broader leadership team. Breaking down the siloed stigma surrounding finance and fostering a cross-functional support arm that every part of the organization can rely on.
The LOCFO program was designed and is taught by proven industry CFOs. The program is based on a framework of the common areas of responsibility inherent in the office of the CFO. This framework is called The Ten Pillars of Finance. Each pillar represents a core function of the CFO's role, and the LOCFO program is designed to expand upon each of those pillars in experiential detail.
Many companies have incorporated the LOCFO program into their broader leadership development initiatives in a variety of ways. It is not uncommon for a CFO to take the program first before preparing their direct reports for future programs. The LOCFO program is designed with leadership in mind, placing focus on how finance leaders can best collaborate across their teams and with the rest of the organization.
McCracken is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.NASBARegistry.org.
We cap the participants in each program to groups of 12 professionals. We do this to facilitate an environment that allows for more active involvement from each participant.
The program is held over 2 days and broken into sessions throughout each day. Each session is centered around one or more of the Ten Pillars of Finance and taught by an expert of each pillar respectively.
The 2-day immersion program is held in Atlanta. Please reach out to us to inquire about the dates of upcoming programs.
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