We owe a sincere vote of thanks to Ian Carruthers and his CIPFA panel for its hard work in producing the Statement on the role of the finance director (‘When the going gets tough’, January 30—February 5).
The best vote of thanks would be a massive response from all of us to that statement.
In responding, I hope we will keep in mind where this journey began. It began with the straightforward statement that: ‘The finance director should report to the chief executive.’ That remains the heart of the issue.
In the current economic climate, there is no place for ambiguities such as ‘being a core member’, ‘being actively involved’, ‘being able to influence’ — this is not what it’s about.
Coincidentally, the headline on page eight, ‘Finance directors would be second in command under the Tories’, hits this particular nail on the head.
We mustn’t duck the issue. I doubt there will be a better time and a better opportunity to start to re-establish the position of finance director.
Courages mes braves.
Philip Sellers, Gerrards Cross
