Is It Time to Bring a CGO Into Your C-Suite?
By Chris Stock, Percipient
In today’s fast-moving marketplace, traditional growth models no longer cut it. Growth used to be a slow, steady climb, driven primarily by repeating what had worked in the past. But the landscape has shifted. Now, disruption is the norm, not the exception.
The New Reality: Complexity, Competition & Change
Customers expect more, markets shift faster, and global forces —ranging from regulation to geopolitics —reshuffle the rules overnight. In this environment, businesses can’t afford to maintain the status quo; they must evolve in real time.
That’s why growth is no longer a side effect; it’s a discipline.
The Expanding Role of the CFO
The CFO role has evolved. No longer just the guardian of financial reporting, today’s finance leader is expected to act as a strategic partner: one who delivers insight, innovation, and real-time value across the business.
But ask a CFO to also be the growth architect, and you’re asking for overload. Too many competing priorities, too little bandwidth.
Enter the Chief Growth Officer
A Chief Growth Officer (CGO) bridges the gap. The CGO:
- Monitors macro and micro trends that affect performance
- Prioritises where growth investment should land
- Analyses anomalies, spotting opportunities or threats
- Works with finance and commercial teams to translate insight into action
Recent data suggests that around 14% of organisations already include a CGO in their executive team, evidence that the role is no longer niche, but strategic.
Tools Fit for the Job
To drive growth at scale, leadership needs modern systems, not legacy tools. Basic accounting software and spreadsheets tell you what happened. They do little to tell you why or what’s next.
That’s where platforms like Sage Intacct shine, enabling:
- Deep, multi-dimensional financial analysis
- Dynamic dashboards that adapt to emerging trends
- Agile decision-making through real-time visibility
With the right tools, a CGO can pivot strategies as the data signals demand.
Beyond the Title: A Growth Mindset
Even if adding a CGO role isn’t in your current plan, you can embed the mindset:
- Reassign growth-related responsibilities across teams
- Equip your finance function with analytics tools
- Foster a culture of experimentation, rapid feedback, and course correction
These steps deliver both short-term momentum and long-term resilience.
How Percipient Can Help
At Percipient, we specialise in transforming finance functions with modern systems and strategic guidance. Whether you’re exploring the CGO route or simply want to embed growth intelligence into your operations, we’re here to support you.
Ready to accelerate smarter growth?
- Take a Sage Intacct tour and see how visibility and agility can reshape performance
- Or book your free consultation with our team, and let’s map your growth roadmap together
Let’s make growth intentional. Contact us today.