Editor’s note: In today’s A Day in the Life, Aaron Levine (pictured), CFO at Prophix shares with FutureCFO audiences not only his workday but also how he was inspired by a CFO—when he was a VP in another company—to learn how to craft a narrative that drives an organisation’s strategy.
FutureCFO: What does a typical day look like for you?
Aaron Levine (AL): I begin my day around 6:30 AM, with a quick check of my email to catch up on any overnight messages. After that I help the kids get ready and, on their way to school.
My wife and I typically take an hour-long walk which helps us reconnect, get some fresh air, and prepare for the workday.
After our walk, I have a coffee, check out the top stories in the Wall Street Journal, and then head upstairs to my office to kick off the workday. I prefer to schedule most of my meetings in the mornings and keep my afternoons free to concentrate on specific tasks.
Throughout the day, I try to stay informally connected with my finance team and I join meetings on Microsoft Teams wherever I'm needed—whether it's finance-related or not.
I believe that addressing issues in real time and collaborating on an as-needed basis is often more effective than relying solely on email or waiting for scheduled meetings.
FutureCFO: What excites you the most in your work?
AL: At the end of the day, most executive leaders are problem solvers and I like the challenge that comes with facing a roadblock and finding a way around it.
In finance, there isn’t necessarily the same room for creative problem solving the way it might be for some other offices.
Even though there’s so much advanced strategy and meticulous planning that goes into finance, circumstances often change on a dime so that, as a CFO, you need to be prepared to pivot at a moment’s notice.
So, while you certainly want things relatively predictable and calm in the office of finance, I do enjoy the part of the role that requires us to safely steer the organization through a bit of chaos.
Effective CFOs do more than just manage numbers—they use them to tell a story.
FutureCFO: Can you share an experience which was key to your professional growth?
AL: A core experience in my professional journey came during my time working under Steve Vintz, who was the CFO of Vocus.
I served as a VP managing accounting and finance. During my time at Vocus, Steve’s mentorship was instrumental in helping shape my understanding of financial leadership.
Steve had a strong external focus which helped him expertly navigate the public company landscape, from investor relations to quarterly earnings calls.
His ability to craft compelling narratives that resonated with stakeholders was something that really stood out to me.
This experience was instrumental in teaching me that effective CFOs do more than just manage numbers—they use them to tell a story. This insight has helped change the way I think as a CFO.
Since becoming CFO at Prophix this past January, my focus has been on refining our go-to-market metrics and integrating technology to streamline operations.
Throughout my career, I’ve learned that a CFO’s role includes more than just financial oversight but also working with others to create a vision that drives business growth.
It’s important to me as a CFO to be able to anticipate financial outcomes and craft a narrative that drives the company’s strategy.
FutureCFO: Is there anything outside work—such as a travel experience, a book, participation in a sport event or any volunteering experience—that serves as an important inspiration to your work or life? Can you tell us more about it?
AL: I strongly recommend reading Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss for insights into the art of negotiation.
This book really opened my eyes to the constant negotiations, big and small, we encounter as a part of everyday life, whether at home or in business.
The book focuses on understanding the counterparty’s perspective and showing genuine empathy for people.
In life and at work, it is important to understand all sides and views on a particular issue. Everyone needs to feel heard and respected.
