Unveiling the Versatile CFO’s Strategic Role in Business Growth with Sunny Khosla

From startups to major corporations, Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) play a vital role in guiding the direction of a company by providing financial leadership and strategy to grow the business. Over the past decade, the role of the CFO has evolved and now involves more parts of a company, including forecasting, reporting, leadership, risk management, budgeting, and more.

More than 130,000 Chief Financial Officers are currently employed in the United States. Still, the most successful CFOs participate in much more than just the financial operations of a business. In going beyond the numbers, the CFO is challenged with providing strategies for the future of a business, maintaining overall stability, and sustaining growth. One particular CFO who is mastering all of these components is Sunny Khosla.

With 15 years of experience in finance, Khosla’s role as a CFO has developed over time. Khosla worked in various positions, but his focus shifted to small startups about five or six years ago. The head of Finance needs to wear a few different hats when part of a small team.

“I began my career working for startups, mainly on contract jobs. Small businesses, which are my primary clients, often can’t afford a full-time CFO due to their operational size and budget,” said Khosla. “Therefore, I offer my services on a part-time, contractual basis, helping them with financial matters such as preparing financial statements, tax prep, cash flow management, raising funds, creating investor decks, and establishing KPIs.”

Now, as the CFO at MILLIONS and President at Coin Masters, Khosla is a trusted advisor with a proven track record of raising additional capital through funding, grant programs, and private equity investments. Additionally, Khosla has built financial teams and put internal processes in place for financial reporting. He also keeps business owners and executive teams informed regarding the company’s status and offers recommendations based on his findings. 

While accountants are generally considered more reserved and primarily focused on numbers, Khosla thinks more creatively than the typical person in his position. “What sets me apart is my ability to quickly understand a business,” said Khosla. “While I am an accountant, my personality doesn’t fit the typical mold. I can easily connect with people and comprehend their business needs.”

As for what Khosla finds most rewarding, he says it is helping businesses achieve their goals, which could include raising money or helping businesses establish KPIs. “For instance, I once helped a business establish their KPIs because they were only focused on the amount of money coming in and going out,” explained Khosla. “I encouraged them to consider other factors like the cost to acquire new accounts, repeat orders, and their most successful geographical locations. By establishing these key performance indicators, they could track and make  business decisions more effectively.”

Looking to the future, Khosla hopes to be recognized as someone who can build finance teams that help companies grow from thousands to millions in revenue. He wants to be known as someone who helps businesses scale and become more successful.