“Strength in Numbers: Building a Financial Foundation for the Future” by Chief Financial Officer Stephen Lieberman

Thoughtful & Deliberate Growth

When we look at the global business landscape, we see ample opportunity for continued growth and expansion. The industries we serve are vast, and the entrepreneurial mindset of our team has been key in identifying client pain points and developing unique solutions to address those needs.

As a business, our focus is to make sure we are thoughtful and deliberate with our growth – evaluating which verticals, geographies, and regulatory environments we want to be working in – to ensure we are well-positioned to deliver the highest level of quality and service to our clients, while maximizing the impact of our investments and internal efforts as well.

Helping Ourselves Help Others

One of the big conversations my team is engaged in at present concerns a simple question: “What can we do to help the firm?” More specifically, how can we look at our company with eyes on the path ahead as opposed to the rearview mirror?

We want to be more proactive with our reporting and remain focused on what comes next, developing forecasts, thinking about where the industry is heading, and concurrently examining our performance. It is important for us to do this considering both opportunities and challenges in the marketplace.

We’ve also undertaken a much more comprehensive strategic planning process focused on bringing further clarity and alignment on where we are and where we’re going – to ensure we are making the right investments to drive revenue and profitability.

People, Process & Technology

From a technology standpoint, one of the initiatives our Finance Team is very passionate about is advancing our business intelligence and reporting to help guide decision-making. We have made great strides addressing this objective and feel there is still a lot more we can accomplish.

Another area of focus has been implementing new processes and policies, including improvements to time and expense entries and invoice approvals, with further enhancements on our road map. This work represents significant internal movements targeting efficiency that will support long-term, sustainable growth. Continuing to dedicate time and effort to both process and policy, we believe, is going to have a significant impact on our operational excellence, scalability, and resource management.

That brings us to the most important aspect – people. Our team is the backbone of our success. We’ve been fortunate to assemble the best and brightest in their respective areas, complementing each other’s skillsets, and fostering a culture built on shared values.

Looking Forward

Ultimately, the goal of the Finance Team is to evolve skillfully and responsively with the needs of the firm and our clients. J.S. Held is already a great place to work; by making the lives of our practitioners as easy as possible, so they can focus on solving our client’s needs and opportunities, we are able to ensure a positive experience for all. At the same time, keeping a keen perspective on change and industry realities is paramount. It is a simple set of goals on paper but a much more nuanced feat to continuously achieve.

We are focused on striking the right balance—understanding where we stand day-to-day and year-to-year, analyzing where improvements are needed next, anticipating and adapting to change, and sustaining a healthy business.

I am thrilled with the team we have carefully and conscientiously assembled, and I am greatly encouraged and inspired by the talented individuals I work alongside. We have achieved much together, we have a clear vision for the way forward, we get to help cultivate a unique company culture, and each day brings new opportunities to deliver on our collective mission.

Join Us as We Celebrate 50 Years

Throughout 2024, leaders from across J.S. Held are sharing stories of their experiences over the past 50 years and how the industry and different departments have evolved. We look forward to sharing more of our company’s journey, how we have reached this milestone, and how we are preparing for the future.