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Overview of the CFO Program

The CFO program is designed to equip financial leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to drive business success. The program is composed of four modules, each focusing on a different aspect of the CFO role.

Module 1: CFO Team & Cockpit

This module covers the finance organization, risk management, information technology, and the CFO's role in maintaining the organization's moral compass. Participants will learn how to optimize their team's performance, manage risk, and leverage technology to drive business strategy.

• Dagdeel 1 - Finance organisatie: Participants will learn how to optimize their team's performance and function effectively in the stakeholder landscape.
• Dagdeel 2 - Risk management: This session will provide a practical understanding of balancing entrepreneurship and risk management, tailored to the organization's development phase.
• Dagdeel 3 - Information Technology (IT): Participants will gain insights into how to successfully operate the IT organization as a driver of business strategy.
• Dagdeel 4 - CFO en het moreel kompas: This session will focus on the CFO's role in maintaining the organization's moral compass and ensuring ethical decision-making.

Module 2: Drive Strategy to Success

This module delves into corporate strategy development and realization, performance management, the integration of sustainability into performance management, and the impact of datafication and digitalization on strategy realization.

• Dagdeel 1 - Corporate Strategy: Participants will learn how to develop and implement corporate strategies that drive long-term value creation.
• Dagdeel 2 - Performance Management: This session will cover the latest developments in performance management necessary for strategy realization, including financial distress scenarios.
• Dagdeel 3 - Integratie van duurzaamheid in prestatiemanagement: Participants will learn how to operationalize long-term value creation through concepts like ESG, IR, CSR, and IPMS.
• Dagdeel 4 - Datafication & Digitalization: This session will provide insights into the data analytics competencies required for creating new business models and feeding performance management systems with relevant information.

Module 3: Governance, Reporting & Tax

This module focuses on corporate governance, financial reporting, ESG reporting, and the impact of tax on the CFO agenda.

• Dagdeel 1 - Corporate Governance & samenwerking van de CFO: Participants will learn how to strengthen collaboration within the governance framework.
• Dagdeel 2 - Financiële verslaggeving en financiële bedrijfsanalyse: This session will cover how to improve the quality, transparency, and integrity of financial information and reporting.
• Dagdeel 3 - ESG & ESG reporting: Participants will learn how to implement ESG reporting and ensure the quality of information used for formulating ambitions and goals.
• Dagdeel 4 - Impact van Tax op de CFO agenda: This session will update participants on developments affecting the strategic CFO agenda, including political developments, financing, tax control frameworks, and technological impacts.

Module 4: Corporate Finance, Valuation & M&A

This final module explores financing, enterprise value and value creation, mergers and acquisitions, and debt finance.

• Dagdeel 1 - Financiering: Participants will learn how to structure financing and understand the impact of monetary developments on the organization.
• Dagdeel 2 - Enterprise value en Value Creation: This session will delve into the concept of value creation, valuing enterprises, and understanding credit rating agencies.
• Dagdeel 3 - Mergers & Acquisitions en desinvesteringen: Participants will learn how to set up and manage the M&A agenda and guide M&A/integration projects.
• Dagdeel 4 - Debt Finance: This session will cover how to manage risks with the treasurer, negotiate the best deal with banks, and leverage FinTech developments.

Program Leadership and Faculty

The program is led by a team of experienced professors and CFOs, including Prof.drs. Egbert Eeftink, Prof.dr. Bert Steens RC MCM, Drs. Arnout Traas RA, and Prof.dr.ir. Herbert Rijken. The faculty includes a range of experts from academia and industry, ensuring a comprehensive and practical learning experience.

Conclusion

The CFO program at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is designed to equip financial leaders with the knowledge, skills, and network necessary to drive business success in today's complex and rapidly changing environment. Through its four modules, participants will gain a deep understanding of the CFO role and how to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the modern business landscape.