2010 User Conference Financial Panel

The 2010 FBS User Conference drew a record number of participants to Moline, Illinois, to hear financial and technology experts describe how to leverage data generated by FBS into effective and profitable management decisions.



Panel members Jim Marzolf, John McNutt and Steve McWilliams offering financial guidelines.

The featured panel--Do You Need a Controller/Are You Ready for a CFO?--brought together three financial professionals with in-depth experience in production agricultural and FBS software.

Jim Marzolf, M.B.A.,
LarsonAllen, New Ulm, Minnesota

John McNutt, M.B.A.,
Latta, Harris, Hanon & Penningroth, Tipton, Iowa













Steve McWilliams, M.S.,
McWilliams Agribusiness, Inc.

More and more farming operations have grown to the scale where they need the services of either a controller or a chief financial officer, but most are hesitant to commit to full-time positions. It was estimated that operations with $3-5 million in sales could justify a controller, while $15-20 million in sales would be required to put a CFO on staff.

The practical alternative, then, is to outsource these services, which not only reduces employment risks, but also enables a more objective view and relationship with management. As panelist John McNutt cautions, "Sometimes the CFO has got to deliver bad news."

Jim Marzolf adds, "The big decisions is not whether to hire or outsource, but whether to do anything."