In the high-performing enterprise, Finance must drive extraordinary execution.

As companies move from the start-up to

the expansion stage, financial leadership

may be the missing link for efficient growth.

No other role has as comprehensive a view

of the entire enterprise. Finance serves as

the vital connection between daily operations

and the ultimate results executives and

shareholders want to see.

The problem? Too many high-potential

enterprises are hobbled by a financial

organization fixated on minimum require-

ments for transactions, budgets and

reporting. The Capability Maturity Model

(CMM) for Finance guides CFOs and other

leaders responsible for Finance in a rigorous,

yet practical program for assessing current

capabilities, identifying gaps, establishing

priorities and, most importantly, aligning

financial initiatives with their companies’

strategic interests.

Building a Roadmap for High-Performance Financial Leadership:

Capability Maturity Model for Finance Workshop

With the CMM for Finance, OpenView

Venture Partners integrates much of the best

thinking regarding financial performance into

an actionable process appropriate, in scale

and content, to expansion-stage enterprise.

Participating companies gain:

A tool for organizing a step-by-step improvement

process

Self-assessment analytics that establish a base-

line for future progress

Techniques for aligning finance priorities with the

company’s strategic objectives

A time for reflection that leads to meaningful action.

As a four-year veteran of Arthur Anderson, AtTask

CFO, Mike Olson appreciates “the importance of

repeatable processes for error-free reporting and

controls.” Since his Anderson stint, more stringent

regulatory obligations, such as Sarbanes-Oxley, have

made financial accountability even more urgent.

When he joined AtTask, Mike found a situation

common to many expansion-stage companies.

“Our processes were all ad hoc,” he says.

“We needed to build a foundation of standard

procedures.” In October 2009, Mike participated

in the CMM for Finance two-day workshop.

“It helped me establish a baseline for improving

processes and moving to the next level,” he

explains. “The workshop exposed our deficiencies

and identified target areas

to prioritize. It has saved

us tremendous time in

evaluation and assessment.

With CMM and OpenView’s

support, AtTask has been

able to make tremendous

improvements in a matter

of months.”

“We’ve all seen too many

great start-ups fumble as

they move into the expan-

sion stage. Finance is at the

heart of a successful transi-

tion. My colleagues and I

have designed the CMM

for Finance to give CFOs

and other financial leaders a chance to step back

from the day-to-day to take a deep look at the big

picture: Where is the company now? Where does

it need to go? What financial infrastructure and

skills must be in place to fulfill enterprise strate-

gies, now and two-to-five years from now? CMM

for Finance helps participants blaze a trail for

their companies’ futures.”

Cynthia Mignogna, Financial Principal,

OpenView Venture Partners

OpenView Partners provides a structure for performanceThe Capability Maturity Model for Finance is

a comprehensive program that includes both

immediate exercises and activities, and guidance

for long-term success and continual improvement.

Participating companies receive:

An in-depth two-day workshop, under OpenView’s guidance, that establishes the fundamentals of the program and serves as its launch point

A 12–18 month development outline that sets objectives, prioritizes initiatives and guides progress

Individualized check-ins and assessments to help CFOs over-come obstacles, monitor results and make adjustments, as needed.

AtTask CFO accelerates improvements through CMM for Finance

Expect an intensive program to kick-start improvementThe initial two-day CMM for Finance workshop includes presentations and hands-on exercises

that help participants:

CrEATE an overall plan for improving finance Establish reference point of current state Identify gaps that need improvement Prioritize actions Design roadmap for future efforts Set criteria for reviews and appraisals

COnnECT financial capabilities to company strategy

Define priorities consistent with key strategic themes Financial perspective Economic model perspective Customer/market perspective Company output experienced by market participants Internal methodologies and information capital People

People and organizational methodologies

FulFIll a thorough self-assessment of current functional strengths and weaknesses Prioritize gaps between financial capabilities and strategy by Risk Value-add Cost Effort Alignment Target key initiatives for each gap Identify initiatives Time frame SMART goal

Dependencies

With more than 2,600

customers—and several

hundred thousand users—

on its collaborative workplace

platform, Central Desktop is

well on its way to growth. But,

notes Steve Anderson, Director

of Finance and Operations,

“our financial systems need

to be prepared for two years, three years out. We’re

asking ourselves, ‘What do we need to do to be a

$10, $20 or $30 million company?’”

OpenView’s CMM for Finance is helping Central

Desktop build a foundation for continued success.

“After the workshop,” Steve says, “we completed

our first independent audit. Then we had a follow-up

analysis with Cynthia Mignogna, the OpenView

Finance Principal, who walked us through a fifty-point

diagnostics spreadsheet.” Working through the CMM

model, Steve has identified three important target

issues for 2010: appropriate analytics, reliable metrics

and KPI dashboards. “Now that we’ve completed

our assessments, we know where the gaps are,”

Steve says. “We’re ready to focus on this year’s

most critical issues, and match our efforts to key

departmental goals.”

CMM for Finance helps Central Desktop through growing pains

To learn more about the Capability Maturity

Model for Finance—and how OpenView Venture

Partners can accelerate your success—contact

OpenView directly at (617) 478-7500 or email

info@openviewpartners.com.