Editor’s note: "A Day in the Life" is a series of interviews with finance leaders and business leaders that aims to inspire FutureCFO’s audiences comprising senior finance and business executives as well as aspiring finance and accounting professionals.
If you—as a finance or business leader—would like to share your typical day as well as insights you’ve gained from your professional experience and activities outside work , please contact Nigel Standley ([email protected] ) or Teresa Leung ([email protected]).
Today we feature Zen Soh (pictured), Manager of Commerce Finance, Robert Walters Singapore, who shares what excites her the most being a seasoned recruitment manager and what she has learnt from working with finance leaders.
FutureCFO: What does a typical day look like for you?
Zen Soh (ZS): A typical day for me as a seasoned recruitment manager involves meeting with finance professionals to understand their career goals and meeting with CFOs to understand the competencies needed in their teams in this ever-changing environment.
Everyone’s wishlist is long and wants a 100% fitting candidate or a perfect job—but it rarely / doesn’t exist.
My job is to provide a realistic and transparent picture of the job market and recommend the best opportunities for both parties. Sometimes, it is to look beyond the price tag or CV and to look at the talent’s potential.
FutureCFO: What excites you the most when you work with CFOs and finance functions?
ZS: When working with CFOs and finance professionals, I get excited when there are individuals who are passionate to challenge traditional ways of how finance functions are perceived and focus on adding value to the business.
Good finance professionals go beyond keeping the books and tallying the numbers.
It is about making a positive impact on the business and growing the business with your analysis of the numbers, for example—are you able to tell a story behind the numbers and make sense to the business? It is also about helping the CEO to make sound business decisions with forward-looking trends.
FutureCFO: Can you share an experience which was key to your professional growth?
ZS: I find that learning something new every day is what I enjoy most about my job.
Meeting with CFOs and finance professionals from various industries and functions allows me to gain insights into logistics, FMCG, manufacturing, pharma, tech startups, and more.
It is fascinating to see how some companies are implementing digitalisation projects successfully while others are struggling to do so.
I also learnt about best practices, values, and management styles that contribute to building successful teams, for example - is understanding how to work with Generation Z employees.
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?
ZS: As for an influential book, I recommend "No Rules Rules" which discusses the culture of reinvention at Netflix and highlights the importance of talent density in a company's success which is something I strongly believe in. Some of the quotes are:
“Adequate employees will get the work done, but they will frustrate exceptional workers, resulting in those high-performing employees seeking alternative employment that will enable them to unleash their highest potentials.”
“Companies that pay well will attract and retain exceptional talent”
