Jens Ropers from the CA controller akademie in an interview with Trusted Decisions
The transformation of finance and controlling is one of the key challenges facing companies today. Different perspectives, uncertainties in implementation and the lack of clearly defined guiding principles often lead to transformations coming to a standstill. In an exclusive interview, Jens Ropers from the CA controller akademie talks to Philipp Wicke, Managing Director of TD Trusted Decisions GmbH, about the typical stumbling blocks and how they can be successfully overcome.
The importance of a clear mission statement for finance and controlling
Jens Ropers shares his experience from numerous projects and explains that companies often lack a clear mission statement for finance and controlling (FICO). “Do I even need this?” – according to Jens Ropers, this question arises in many companies. His clear answer: yes. A mission statement is crucial in order to clearly define the role of FICO in the transformation, to make it transparent for stakeholders and, above all, to create the necessary acceptance and framework for action.
The three steps of a successful CFO agenda
In the interview, Jens Ropers presents three key steps of a successful CFO agenda:
- The mission statement or vision: the first and most important step. It is crucial to develop a mission statement that is precisely tailored to the context, describes the strategic direction of the finance and controlling department and is supported by the employees.
- The CA controller akademie analysis tool: A specially developed analysis tool consisting of seven fields of action can be used to analyze the current status quo of a company. This comprehensive analysis forms the basis for the transformation.
- The roadmap: Based on the analysis, a roadmap is created that clearly structures the path of the transformation. It defines which steps are necessary for implementation, in which order, and which resources are required.
Implementation challenges and the role of business intelligence
“Many companies fail due to the lack of a mission statement and an unstructured analysis,” says Jens Ropers. However, the biggest challenges often lie in implementation. A lack of time and a lack of prioritization are frequent stumbling blocks.
The topic of business intelligence (BI) and decision-making is also addressed in the interview. Jens Ropers emphasizes: “Anyone who declares BI to be an end in itself is completely wrong in my view. It’s all about using data to support decisions.” The correct use of data is crucial in order to improve the decision-making process in the company without neglecting the human factor.
Insights and solutions for the transformation in finance and controlling
The interview with Jens Ropers offers valuable insights into the current challenges and solutions for transformation in finance and controlling. From the development of a clear mission statement and comprehensive analysis to the implementation of the roadmap – find out more about the three steps of a successful CFO agenda and how business intelligence contributes to well-founded decisions.
The interview
Watch the full interview to find out how you can successfully shape the transformation in your company.
