Ross McLelland’s Post

Who needs to hear this today!? "The first minute of action is worth more than a year of perfect planning." - James Clear (I can recommend subscribing to his weekly newsletter for more of these!)

When Sean, Ross and I sat down back in January to plan our vision and values for 4D, we quickly identified #community as an integral part of what we wanted to build together. What does that mean in real life? I think it means that we want to be someone you call when you want some career advice, an introduction or referral, or maybe even just to sound something out or seek another perspective. We are here for recruitment, sure, but relationships mean more to us than coming in to fill a vacancy and then disappearing again until the next time we can transact. #community #recruitment #careers

How to work your own network more effectively? 💡 I appreciate that networking doesn’t always come naturally, but in recruitment we say "good people know good people". So it's a key method for job hunting that shouldn’t be overlooked. In a city like Sydney it's also a smaller place than you might think, especially once you get into industry niches and the unique geographies. LinkedIn has some simple features that help here, you can filter your person searches by your university or school, and you can also see what mutual connections you have with people. These two features are both under-utilised! If you are searching for a new opportunity, make sure you spend some time digging through school alumni and mutual connections to ask for help. 90% of the time people want to help, and even moreso when you have a mutual connection or shared history. Also, if someone says they can't help you, ask the follow up question; do they know anyone that could? This simple request for a referral is also an excellent way to get some more wins. #networking #recruitment #financejobs #careeradvice

A conversation with a candidate this morning has reminded me of something powerful! There are two sides to every coin and we can focus on the downside and forget about the upside. This individual talked themselves down a little, due to their lack of skills in PowerBI, a tool their previous business hadn't implemented. But, if you don't have a tool like this, you need to be pretty damn good at manipulating data in Excel and generating your reporting, dashboards and analysis the old-fashioned way - and this is a selling point for them. I explained many businesses are in need of these more advanced excel skills, so let's look to target those roles, rather than ones with a PowerBI set up! In simple terms, remember to focus on what you have, and not what you are missing! #Careeradvice #jobhunting #Financejobs

Aspiring CFO's Part III; Stay Ahead With Technology Taking a closer look here at key areas of leadership that you may want to get exposure to on your pathway to CFO. 🔸 Data & Analytics; Excel, SQL, and Power BI - how much do you know? Understanding key concepts like data visualisation, predictive analytics, and financial modelling is crucial. Additionally you need to be leading the charge on developing capacity in the team for interpreting data insights to inform strategic decisions and learning to communicate effectively with stakeholders. 🔸 Partnering with IT: Never before has this relationship been so important. As an aspiring CFO, building strong relationships with IT leaders is essential. Get familiar with their field, particularly around cloud infrastructure and cyber security, and make an effort to build bridges and ensure close collaboration between functions. 🔸 Keep up to date; understanding IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital transformation is going to be critical for a future CFO. Being involved in data governance, fraud prevention and risk management across these areas will be unavoidable. Please share any other ideas in the comments! #Leadership #CFO #Networking #ProfessionalDevelopment #FinanceLeadership

Aspiring CFOs – Follow up part II: LEADERSHIP   Taking a closer look here at key areas of leadership that you may want to get exposure to on your pathway to CFO. 🔸 Mentorship and Coaching:   A CFO can seek out a mentor who has extensive experience in executive leadership, ideally another CFO or a senior executive within the business or within their industry. Regular catch ups can provide insights, advice and feedback. Additionally, hiring an executive coach can help identify and develop specific competencies, such as strategic thinking or conflict resolution. An executive coach can also provide tailored guidance and accountability. 🔸 Leadership Courses and Certifications   Enrolling in development programs can equip a CFO with essential skills for board governance and strategic decision-making. In addition to the AICD course, other reputable programs include the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) Executive Education programs, and the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership (IECL) courses. These programs often include practical case studies, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities with other senior executives, which can enhance a CFO's ability to lead effectively.   🔸 Seeking Feedback and Building a Supportive Network:   A CFO can garner structured feedback from peers, managers, and team members to gain insights into their performance. This could involve 360-degree feedback surveys, regular one-on-one meetings, or other psychometric profiling assessments. Additionally, actively participating in executive forums, leadership groups, or industry associations can provide a platform for sharing experiences, discussing challenges, and learning best practices from others.   By engaging in these activities, a CFO can develop and refine the critical leadership skills needed to influence the entire business and effectively work with the board. Is there anything I've missed!? #CFO #Mentoring #coaching #CFOjobs #Leadership

Aspiring CFOs – Follow up part I: STRATEGY   Taking a closer look here at key areas of strategy that you may want to get exposure to on your pathway to CFO. 🔸 Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): A CFO often will lead the financial due diligence process for a potential acquisition, or at least co-ordinate this with external consultants. Post-acquisition, the CFO will be instrumental in integrating the acquired company's financial systems and aligning its financial strategy with the parent company. 🔸Long-term Financial Planning and Capital Allocation: A CFO will work across major capital expenditure projects, funding strategies and align these to support the company’s growth. This could include investments in new technologies, expanding into new markets, or investments in increasing capacity to meet future demand. 🔸Treasury Management: The CFO will oversee the treasury function and managing liquidity. This includes the capital structure, managing banking relationships, securing financing, and investing cash efficiently. These examples highlight how a CFO's role extends beyond traditional financial management to encompass strategic decision-making that aligns with the company's long-term goals. #CFO #Strategy #M&A

Aspiring CFOs: 3 Steps to Prepare for the Transition from Finance Director 💡 1. Broaden Your Strategic Vision: As a CFO, you’ll be expected to contribute to the overall strategy, not just manage the finance function . Start by getting involved in strategic planning sessions, understanding the broader business objectives, and learning how different departments operate. This holistic view will be crucial in making decisions that align with the long-term goals. 🎯 2. Enhance Your Leadership Skills: Transitioning to a CFO role means you’ll be leading not just the finance team but often influencing the entire business and working directly with the board. Focus on developing your leadership capabilities. Seek out mentorship or coaching opportunities, take leadership courses such as AICD, and get feedback from peers and leaders. Effective communication, team-building, and decision-making skills are vital for a successful CFO. 🏋️ 3. Stay Ahead With Technology: The landscape is constantly evolving. To be effective, you need to stay updated with the latest technologies and partner closely with your in-house IT leaders. This might mean attending relevant seminars and building out your own network of experts in these fields. Areas like financial technology, data analytics and AI are becoming increasingly important for modern CFOs. 👩💻 Embrace these steps and prepare yourself for the exciting challenges ahead! Have I missed anything? Stay tuned for a deeper dive into each step over the coming days. 📝 Link to these in the comments! #cfo #financeleadership #financedirector

Mel Robbin’s 5 Second Rule 💡   I came across this in a podcast about a year ago but given my recent decision to visit an ice bath a couple of times a week I’ve had to practice it quite frequently!   The idea is that when you want to act on a goal, you must physically move within 5 seconds, or your brain will kill the idea.   How It Works: When you feel an instinct to act on a goal or an idea, start counting backward from 5 to 1. This disrupts your thought patterns and helps you focus on taking immediate action. On the count of 1, you HAVE to do it. Simple.   There’s a psychological basis: 🔸 Interrupts Habits: Counting backward disrupts thought patterns and helps you take control 🔸 Reduces Overthinking: By acting quickly, you bypass hesitation. 🔸 Builds Confidence: Repeated action reduces the fear of failure.   Give it a try and see how the 5 Second Rule can help you conquer hesitation and achieve your goals this weekend. (Especially useful for getting out of bed in the morning!)   #Productivity #MentalResilience #5SecondRule #MelRobbins #PersonalDevelopment #GoalSetting

Finance Manager - 6 month contract - Ideally CAs trained at Big 4 or Top 10 Audit firms. Reach out to Ross 2.0! ⚡