The Startup CFO : The Shared CFO

Who is a start up CFO? Is he a CFO who is starting his career or a CFO of a start up? Well both are the same. As a CFO for a start up you need to learn everything new. If you were a CFO earlier you need to unlearn what you learnt earlier. What makes a start up different from any other organisation?

• Entrepreneurial (read no processes)
• Passionate (read no bottom line focus)
• Committed (read no Job descriptions)
• Flexible (read delays in salary payments)
• Value creation (read the ESOPS are worth the paper now)
• Building the foundation (read you have no secretarial or admn help)

The list can go on.....From a large global organisation to the start up. The ride is all the way down hill into the gorge. The turbulent river will teach you to swim, dodge the boulders, face the crocodiles and if lucky get rescued or reach the other side.

Having tasted this adventure you will not go back to the glass house on the cliff top for the beautiful view except to go up again to para glide down....

The journey of a start up CFO is not one that all individuals can perform. It is one which requires passion. stretch, commitment, thinking out of the box, hands on, so on and so forth. Most of all ability to work in uncertainty and a 'can-do' attitude.

At the same time the start up CFO is still the conscious keeper, moral and ethical officer, a good book-keeper, protector assets, devils advocate and most importantly after having done all of above, a trusted friend.

Does a start up need a CFO? It jolly well does as much as it needs money.

Can it afford one? Most often not.

Can it keep one? (motivated, charged up and occupied)? Most often not

Can a few start ups share a CFO? I think they can.

India has hundreds of start ups and many without a CFO. I think it is time for a shared CFO for the start ups.