Miaja Design Group
What does Miaja do?
We are an international design firm which provides interior and architectural design services for Luxury Hotels, Resorts , Spas, High-end Residential and Office Development projects around the world. The company’s main focus has been working with hotel operators like ACCOR, TAJ, IHG and Radisson around the globe including the Middle East, India and South East Asia.
What prompted you to take on a CFO Centre CFO?
My business was struggling from a cash flow perspective, leading to a continuous distraction to my team and I from the core business. An “angel” email from CFO Centre popped up in my inbox. Very soon I met Steve Settle, the Regional Director –Asia at CFO Centre. He very quickly understood what we needed, brought in a CFO candidate and in a very short time I had a CFO working part-time for my business.
What specific benefits did you see in taking on a part-time CFO over an additional full-time resource?
In a nutshell, your company gets the best of a seasoned CFO in a very short time. No need to go through the time-consuming process of hiring such a senior professional and making such an investment. No need to wait months to ensure your new hire is fully on board. The CFO Centre CFO was ready to contribute from the very first day.
What was specifically attractive about your CFO’s skillset?
The CFO has brought to my company a palette of skills which a small company is rarely exposed to. Best practices in finance, capabilities to support the business development and operations teams but, primarily, a great dose of business partner’s skills. In addition, a very generous approach to coaching and helping anyone in the organisation
How has having a CFO Centre CFO specifically benefited your business?
The company was geared towards a governance change and it needed to find the right person to guide us in that process, I feel we definitely found that person in our CFO Centre CFO. The Miaja team has found renewed sense of empowerment and confidence and feel we are “headed” in the right direction.
How has it affected your confidence in the future of the business knowing you have a CFO Centre CFO on the team?
Our CFO Centre CFO has learnt with us the pitfalls of our industry and, as much as we were somewhat aware of the difficulties, we never really identified ways to improve or change our methods. He has forced us to look at them individually and find solutions or resolutions. Challenging our steps and looking at better ways together has improved the capacities of growth and awareness in ourselves.
How has having a CFO Centre CFO on your team benefited you personally in terms of your role as CEO?
Having a CFO Centre CFO has been a big eye opener for me as well as the team. It has also helped find within the organisation, existing staff, who started raising to the challenges in ways that changed the company as a whole. We are acquiring maturity and a high sense of responsibility. Each and every person is now involved with their own survival as well as the company’s. The sense of being part of a team has increased and there is no hiding behind poorly managed processes, as these processes are being challenged and changed to increase the financial visibility and give everyone a goal to achieve within their own capabilities.
What message would you have for other growth businesses who are considering taking on a part-time CFO?
Nothing replaces the perseverance and the business instinct of an entrepreneur. However, having a CFO on your side will definitely make the journey more successful and strengthen your company’s resilience to overcome the obstacles.