Creating Value in a Regulated World: CFO Perspectives

This book is about championing a move away from simply evaluating physical assets to understanding and evaluating the intangible value of an entity. It means moving beyond economic theory to reprioritise and change the organisation so that further value can be created via processes, systems, measures, skills, knowledge and strategy. It is also about mapping the intangible value chain.

The book looks at value networks and, using real-life projects asks questions such as:

• What do company value networks look like
• How are they used to create value
• How can one ‘value’ the value chain
• What lessons can be learnt from companies with high value networks as opposed to companies with low value networks
• What is the impact on finance disciplines, processes, measures, systems and skills.

These answers to these questions as provided by the case studies and interviews with CFOs from the companies involved will help to improve focus, improve shareholder value, improve transparency – both internally and externally – cut waste in the current decision support structure and prevent inadequate decision making and lost opportunity.

Cedric Read currently leads his own consultancy, CCR Partners Ltd, providing specialized consulting advice to CFOs in leading companies. CCR partners maintains a worldwide network of CFOs, known as the Value Network Initiative (VNI). VNI members meet regularly in London, Frankfurt, and New York to share best practice in the finance function.

Cedric Read served as a senior partner and consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for 25 years. In his position as Global Leader of PwC’s Financial Management Consultancy, he wrote two books, CFO: Architect of the Corporation’s Future and eCFO: Sustaining Value in the New Corporation.

Subsequently, with SAP AG, Cedric wrote the book The CFO as Business Integrator, and High Performance through Finance Business Process Outsourcing.