CFO Corner: Angie MacPhee’s Managing Finances and Operations
What was the biggest challenge your organization faced over the last 12 months, and how were you able to overcome it with financial leadership? Given the economic conditions globally, we needed a clear picture of what was driving our profitability. I created an operational snapshot that highlights the 5 main factors of profitability – cash management, business development, talent management, productivity, and operational expense management. This gave us the ability to see what makes one office perform at a greater level than another, and how those lessons and attributes can be incorporated in all offices. It also highlights potential issues coming up in high performing offices, such as lack of business development.
What has made your organization stand out and be successful financially? Our professionals are the life blood of our business and directly help us stand out and be successful financially. The wide breadth of the industries we have worked in, as well as the varied experiences and accreditation of our professionals allow us to consistently deliver the highest quality services possible to our clients. This can be seen through our company being the only forensic accounting firm listed in Accounting Today’s Top 100 list. These incredible professional have allowed us to explore new market opportunities and be responsive to changes in the market, particularly during this challenging global economic period.
What is the most important thing you have learned in your position? Being a CFO has taught me how to utilize financial information to effectively drive and execute corporate strategy.
How do you prepare for board meetings and what information is most important for you to present? I meet with all the functional teams, create an agenda and elicit feedback from the Partner group, and provide an electronic binder of information that aids the board in making the necessary strategic decisions. Every quarter there are a few key pieces of information we go through including the worldwide operational snapshot, functional team progress reports, additional specific information related to key strategic initiatives, and a recap of where we are in executing specific initiatives.
What advice do you have for other CFOs? I meet with all the functional teams, create an agenda and elicit feedback from the Partner group, and provide an electronic binder of information that aids the board in making the necessary strategic decisions. Every quarter there are a few key pieces of information we go through including the worldwide operational snapshot, functional team progress reports, additional specific information related to key strategic initiatives, and a recap of where we are in executing specific initiatives.
Angie MacPhee joined RGL Forensics as CFO in 2010. Since then she was selected as a non-voting member of the Board of Directors and promoted to Chief Operating Officer. She oversees accounting, operations, marketing, and information technology for RGL’s 17 US offices. In addition to running the daily operations of the company, she is a key player in creating worldwide strategy. RGL’s international locations include the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Japan and Germany.
MacPhee brings a deep understanding of large markets, experience in key verticals and the management of office financial performance across multiple domestic and international locations. Prior to joining RGL, MacPhee was Vice President of the Timberline Region for O’Neal Steel, a $2.6 billion company based out of Birmingham, Ala. Included in her tenure at O’Neal Steel, MacPhee was CFO of Timberline Steel where she was responsible for sales, operations, purchasing, finance and human resources. She began her career in the Denver office of Arthur Andersen, where she gained experience working with public and private companies in manufacturing, high technology, health care, advertising and higher education.
Angie is a Certified Public Accountant, holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Colorado, and has extensive experience guiding strategic teams. She is a Colorado native and loves to ski, bike, hike, read, and travel.