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FMI
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IGF JOURNAL
VOLUME 25, NO. 2
FROM BEHIND THE GREEN EYE SHADE – 2.0
result of scandal, perseverance and just
plain competence. While I once told a
minister that we finance people were
eternal –
like cockroaches
– it was said with
utmost respect for my profession and my
community and with a hard-won insight
that what we do in our organizations
should be eternal – and well respected.
We are often the conscience of an
organization and we know how we
humans love our conscience – we hate
it because it keeps us honest. So do
cockroaches! Enough said!
I would like to give a shout-out to my
former community in audit. If ever there
was a necessary evil, you are it. Again,
this is said with respect and more than
a little knowledge of the art of auditing.
I always used to relish the times in my
audit career when I could say to some
poor regional manager “I’m here from
Ottawa, I am going to audit you and I
am here to help you.” I was serious! I
don’t think that anyone that I said that
to actually ever believed the last part,
but I meant it. What important changes
have come over the audit profession over
the past thirty years. I believe that it is
stronger and more rigorous than it has
ever been. Therein lies its greatest risk.
The risk of taking itself too seriously
and losing sight of its primary purpose:
to support management. I always hated
‘gotcha’ auditors and always loved
letting them know when they were
off-base. A little (audit) knowledge
can actually be a dangerous thing –
especially for auditors.
So what do we face now - continued
pressure on costs; strange and new
partnering and service delivery
arrangements; and, the threat of shared
services and totally common financial
processes and platforms. I see all of these
as opportunities for us finance folk.
These things will put our organizations
into uncharted territory and, as most
of you already know, our institutions
aren’t great at jumping into the abyss.
They will continue to need sage and
competent counsel.… and sometimes a
conscience. We have many miles before
we sleep. Well you folks do.… because I
plan on doing some real celebrating this
Canada Day. Then I plan to build a boat
and sail to Jamaica.
I have been called arrogant and cocky
by more than one or two individuals over
the past thirty years. If I may remain
true to form for my last 400 words, I
would like to offer some friendly advice
to all aspiring finance officers out there,
young and old.
First, you have to know
your organization’s business and not
just finance.
I always found that it was
much easier to engage my clients when
they thought that I not only knew what
they were about but actually cared.
Second, always ask why someone
wants something.
It is the only
question that really matters when you
want to deliver a quality product that
totally meets your clients’ needs. The
what, how and when matter, but not as
much as the why.
Third, be bigger than your job
description.
Seek out information
about your organization, its programs
and what is happening in your
environment. Just like in hockey, keep
your head up and looking around.
Fourth, get to know the people you
work with as real people.
Where do
they come from? What do they do when
they aren’t working? Do they have kids,
dogs, cats, fish? It is amazing how, when
the going gets tough, a close group of
teammates can help you through even
very dark times. Along with that, you
need to be able to know what you don’t
know – and ask for help when you need
it!
Fifth, have mentors and confessors
outside of the organization
to help
you grow and learn about your craft and
yourself.
Last and certainly not least, have
fun doing what you are doing.
Yours is a noble profession and it has
some very serious implications for any
organization. You need to be serious
about it but not so much about yourself.
A little humour goes a very long way.
This column has been living proof of
that.
That is all that I have. It has truly
been a pleasure writing this column
and receiving feedback from readers of
this Journal, good and bad. I enjoyed
it because it allowed me to stir the pot.
I only hope that someone will step
forward and take up their own pen to
further the cause of heresy and radical
thinking in our amazing community – it
simply deserves no less. One last hint:
if you got what this column’s title is
all about, you are probably too old to
be a young revolutionary. So back off
Mick!!!!
I will miss this community and
its incredible people and endless
challenges. But, as we all know, time and
tide wait for no one.
Adios, Au revoir and Amen. Thus endeth
the lessons.
About the Author
Bruce Manion is a native Ottawan and graduate of
the University of Ottawa. He has nearly three decades
of experience in all aspects of financial and resource
management in the Federal Public Service and has been
the CFO in two federal departments. Bruce is currently
the Federal Public Servant in Residence at the School
of Public Administration at Dalhousie University. He has
a real passion for public sector management and has
been involved in many significant change initiatives over
his career. In past lives, he has been an actor, musician,
stand-up comic and grave-digger. He certainly isn’t your
average accountant!
