Rollover, being a journalist, would never describe himself as being highly numerate and so acknowledges his deep suspicion of bean-counters and their ilk.
Thus, he is suitably cynical about “extensive new research” from recruitment outfit, Robert Half, which suggests that a bean-counting background can be handy if you aspire to being a chief executive officer.
Looking at the background and experience of every current ASX 200 CEO, Robert Half research found that 50 per cent of them had a professional background in finance, accounting or financial services.
Rollover reflects that given the need for CEOs to be able to read, explain and then deliver plausible excuses about a balance sheet, the Robert Half findings are not all that surprising.
However, he suggests that perhaps these bean-counting, financial types might not necessarily be best-placed to make engineering or medical decisions lest their manipulation of the bottom line leads to physical collapse.
Counting, after all, does not necessarily equate to building.
