The runaway metrics CFOs should track
Imagine you’re a CFO, holding the financial reins of your company. The spreadsheets are neatly organized, the numbers crunched to perfection. But what if there was more to the story than just the digits on the screen? What if the key to unlocking your organization’s true potential lay hidden in the very fabric of your workforce, the beating heart of your operations?
In the modern business landscape, savvy CFOs are recognizing that their role extends far beyond the realm of traditional financial metrics. They’re embracing a new perspective, one that acknowledges the intrinsic value of intangible assets – the human element that drives innovation, fosters loyalty, and ultimately shapes the bottom line.
One often overlooked, yet crucial metric for CFOs is the Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS). This insightful tool provides a window into the heart and mind of a company’s most valuable asset – its people. By gauging employee engagement, happiness, and their willingness to recommend the organisation as a great place to work, eNPS offers CFOs a powerful barometer of workforce morale and commitment.
After all, a company’s growth and success are intrinsically linked to the dedication and enthusiasm of its employees. By monitoring eNPS on a regular basis, CFOs can identify areas for improvement, address employee concerns, and foster a positive, productive work environment – all of which have a direct impact on the bottom line.
Another metric that deserves the CFO’s attention is the cost of employee attrition. While high turnover rates are often viewed as an HR challenge, the financial implications can be staggering. From the direct costs of recruitment and onboarding to the indirect impact on productivity and institutional knowledge, employee churn can quickly erode a company’s profitability.
By calculating the true cost of attrition, CFOs can gain a clear understanding of the financial burden and make informed decisions to retain top talent and minimise costly employee turnover.
EBITDA, or Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization, is a widely-used metric for measuring a company’s profitability. However, to truly gauge a business’s financial health, CFOs should focus on the EBITDA margin – a metric that provides a more accurate representation of operational efficiency and cash flow.
By tracking EBITDA margin, CFOs can identify areas for cost optimisation, make informed investment decisions, and benchmark their company’s performance against industry peers. This metric is particularly valuable in times of economic uncertainty, as it allows CFOs to pinpoint operational vulnerabilities and make data-driven decisions to safeguard the organisation’s financial resilience.
For CFOs, particularly in high-growth or start-up environments, the cash runway metric is a critical tool for managing liquidity and ensuring long-term sustainability. Cash runway measures the number of months a company can operate before exhausting its available cash reserves, enabling CFOs to proactively address potential cash flow issues and make strategic decisions about investments, financing, and cost-cutting measures.
By closely monitoring cash runway, CFOs can identify cash problems early, communicate more effectively with investors and leadership, and position the organisation for continued growth and success.
Closely related to cash runway is the Net Operating Cash Flow (NOCF) metric, which provides CFOs with invaluable insights into a company’s ability to generate cash from its operations. NOCF serves as a leading indicator of future cash flows, allowing CFOs to make informed decisions about investments, vendor payments, and other operational expenses.
By regularly tracking NOCF, CFOs can evaluate the company’s overall financial health, identify potential cash flow challenges, and implement strategies to optimise working capital and improve the organisation’s liquidity position.
By adopting a holistic approach that embraces both tangible and intangible metrics, CFOs can redefine their role, transcending the boundaries of pure financial management. They become architects of organizational wellbeing, catalysts for positive change, and guardians of long-term sustainability.
Today, success is measured not just by numbers but by the ability to adapt and thrive, the CFO who dares to think differently will emerge as a true changemaker. By looking beyond traditional metrics, they’ll uncover untapped potential, where the happiness of employees, the efficiency of operations, and the resilience of cash flow converge to create a harmonious symphony of growth and profitability.