New CFO: Haversine Funding's Jeff Whaley Shares First 90 Days Advice

Jeff Whaley, Chief Financial Officer at Haversine Funding, has shared strategic advice for financial services leaders stepping into new roles, emphasizing the critical nature of the first 90 days for establishing long-term success.

Whaley advocates for mastering fundamental processes, regardless of prior experience. "In financial services, basic accounting is never unimportant, especially in smaller organizations operating lean," he stated. He advised building credibility through action, focusing on core functions, team rapport, and consistent delivery.

Modernizing the company's financial infrastructure was also a priority. Whaley's team streamlined the general ledger, implemented dimensional reporting, and automated manual processes to support future growth. "Everything was done with scalability in mind," Whaley noted, considering how the company could handle tenfold growth with the same headcount.

Regarding technology, such as AI, Whaley adopts a measured approach, differentiating between automation and AI, with the former being essential. "AI's most valuable application currently is data extraction from unstructured documents, but accuracy is critical there too," he observed. He encourages new CFOs to focus on long-term objectives, build strong leadership relationships, and create value.