Thomson Reuters
Growth-savvy CFO is well-placed at streaking Shopify (CFO.com)
Shopify became a publicly traded company in May. The e-commerce software company is now focused more than ever on growth and building new revenue streams.
Leading the charge for Shopify's financial future is tech and finance veteran Russ Jones, who joined the company in 2011.
With more than 30 years experience in the finance space, CFO.com says Jones is the perfect person to guide the company towards responsible and quick growth.
From several high-profile acquisitions to launching the company's IPO, Jones brings a wealth of knowledge and business sense to the table. The 56-year-old was "brought in partly to provide some 'adult' supervision to the team," according to CFO.com.
"I get to work every day with people who are pretty much my kids' age, which is kind of interesting," Jones tells the publication.
Read the full article to learn why his job is about far more than just babysitting a bunch of young techies.
CFO skills prove critical to M&A success post-merger (Wall Street Journal)
The success of a merger or acquisition depends on the "skillful integration of disparate finances and work processes," according to The Wall Street Journal.
CFOs are asked to ensure that the proper "cost synergies" are met, and they are often put in the driver's seat to ensure a smooth transition for all parties involved.
"No one else in the organization is going to put that emphasis behind [the integration]," Mary Henry, CFO of Foley Carrier Services LLC tells The Journal.
Here's why executives at unicorns are closely watching IPOs at other companies (Business Insider)
A recent panel of CFOs at the MIT Sloan CFO Summit highlighted why understanding the private and public markets is crucial for the success of a startup.
SimpliVity CFO Tom Beaudoin said finance chiefs need to watch the IPO market to "gain a sense of what you aspire to do and to learn what it will take to find a similar level of success."
Meanwhile, Thumbtack CFO Servase Tholen warned business owners to pay attention to the markets but to avoid news reports that sensationalize the facts.
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