Top 14 Characteristics of a "Strategic Business Partner" Finance Organization - Blog Post
Archetype 5 - The Strategic Business Partner
In your best Southern Drawl, say "you might be a Strategic Business Partner if..." before each of these:
Your boss frequently meets with you before key meetings to "vet ideas" and get your point of view...and sometimes changes his or her message afterwards...
Your peers often come to you for advice on various topics, and on how best to message something to "the boss"...
You get asked for help by people outside your organization because they've heard you are a "good guy or gal" and are "knowledgable" and "helpful"...
When action items come out of your meetings, people follow through and get things done...
Most of what you are asked has nothing to do with tax, accounting, financial ratios, etc. - and is more general business oriented (perhaps with an analytical or financial angle)...
Your team are frequently "poached" throughout the organization because they are so good...and that is OK because your team can easily handle the disruption...
You and your people get to lead important projects and join interesting cross-business and cross-functional teams...
You are the keeper of the Strategy Plan, Business Plan and most other super-critical processes for your business...
People outside your organization frequently want to meet with you and it is obvious they are "managing key stakeholders" and want to make sure you will say "yes," "no," or whatever else they want to get to from your business...
There are no topics in your business that are "off limits" or for which you have no information...you can contribute to just about anything, as needed...
You can claim that accounting is not your sole focus (clearly "reporting" is a focus too)...
You can claim that simple reporting without detailed analysis is not good enough...
You can claim that you sit in all the key meetings and "have the ear of the boss"...
You can claim that you are a full-fledged, value-adding, card-carrying, member of the group of people who make great business happen in your organization!