The Treasury Career Corner From Treasurer to CFO: The Journey of Success with Chris Wikoff
In this compelling revisited episode, we reconnect with Chris Wikoff, now the Executive Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer at Werner Enterprises. Returning to our podcast after his initial appearance in 2020, Chris shares his remarkable journey from Treasurer to CFO, providing valuable insights and experiences along the way.
Chris boasts a rich career spanning over two decades in financial leadership and business transformation, with Fortune 1000 public and private multinational corporations.
Before joining Werner Enterprises, he served as the Executive VP of Finance and Treasurer at West Technology Group, formerly known as Intrado Corporation, a global technology powerhouse. During his tenure from 2016 onwards, Chris held strategic responsibilities encompassing finance, accounting, treasury, tax, investor and lender relations, and oversaw multiple finance shared service centers spanning the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Beyond his corporate achievements, Chris is actively engaged in community service, notably through faith-based ministries and outreach programs. His involvement includes support for a clothing Care Center, which provides new clothing to foster and under-resourced children, as well as refugee families.
Chris's academic credentials are equally impressive, having graduated with honors, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business, with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in International Business. Additionally, he holds the esteemed Certified Treasury Professional ("CTP") designation by the Association of Finance Professionals (AFP) in the US, and he's Certified in International Cash Management (Cert ICM) by the UK-based Association of Corporate Treasurers.
During this episode, listeners can expect to gain insights into the career journey from treasury to the C-suite, learn about the challenges and opportunities in treasury transformations, and understand the skills and mindset needed to transition to a CFO role.
On the podcast we discuss…
- Chris's path into the world of treasury.
- Strategies for excelling in rapidly growing companies.
- Pros and cons of entering the treasury field from a senior standpoint
- The key factors contributing to his career advancement.
- Adjusting planning strategies when facing heavy workloads and high-demand scenarios.
- Chris's treasury to CFO journey
- The transferability of treasury skills to broader finance and accounting functions
- Embracing leadership, challenging and nurturing connections.
- Exploring other areas as a treasury professional i.e tax, risk management and tech.
- The shift from hands-on work to leading and empowering your team as you progress.
- The impact of hybrid working and the importance of balancing this with in-office collaboration.
You can connect with Chris Wikoff on LinkedIn.
Are you interested in pursuing a career within Treasury?
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