World's Largest Networking Group of Senior Financial Executives

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The Financial Executives Networking Group (The FENG)

Connect

Build meaningful relationships with 25,000+ CFOs, Controllers, and Treasurers (and other top financial executives) across all industries.

Learn

Access expert tactical insights through peer networking, editorials, and thought leadership content from financial leaders sharing real-world experience.

Grow

Attend one of 400+ annual events hosted by 80+ U.S. and International Chapters, plus 40+ Special Interest Groups; access Job Leads, Career/Job Clubs, peer referrals, and insider opportunities.

Give Back

Share your knowledge and experience by guiding and mentoring other members. Take on a chapter, club, or committee leadership role. Donate to our 501(c)(3) to support our operations.

Upcoming Events

Connect with peers, learn from industry leaders, and stay engaged. View the full event calendar.

The Evolving AI Landscape for Senior Financial Executives

Mon, Oct 19, 6:00 PM - EST

The Evolving AI Landscape for Senior Financial Executives
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Construction Industry SIG Relaunch

Mon, Oct 19, 6:00 PM - EST

Construction Industry SIG Relaunch
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Harnessing Data, AI, and Automation

Tue, Oct 20, 2:00 PM - EST

Harnessing Data, AI, and Automation
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Beyond the Ledger: Scaling Tech Infrastructure & System-Enforced Controls Post-IPO

Tue, Oct 20, 6:30 PM - EST

Beyond the Ledger: Scaling Tech Infrastructure & System-Enforced Controls Post-IPO
Register Now

Read, Listen, and Watch

The Financial Executives Journal (FEJ), The Financial Executives Edge (FEE) Podcast, and our YouTube Channel (@TheFENGorg) provide a continuous stream of practical, peer-driven thought leadership for today’s financial executive.

About Us
Double-Edged-Shield

SPOTLIGHT: AI and Cybersecurity

The Financial Executives Journal

Cybersecurity is evolving faster than ever, powered by artificial intelligence. AI is transforming how organizations detect threats, predict vulnerabilities, and respond in real time—turning cybersecurity from a reactive necessity into a strategic business advantage.

I invite forward-thinking leaders, AI innovators, and cybersecurity experts to share insights on how AI is reshaping the security landscape, driving enterprise resilience, and unlocking new growth opportunities.

Read the Spotlight Articles
Ep-11-The-Illusion-of-Control-Wide-720x480

PODCAST: The Illusion of Control: Cybersecurity, AI and the Risks Beneath the Surface

The Financial Executives Edge

The conversation around cybersecurity and AI is often dominated by visible threats: ransomware, phishing attacks, data breaches, and the race to deploy more advanced tools. But some of the most significant risks organizations face today are not the ones making headlines. They are the hidden structural weaknesses quietly building beneath the surface of modern enterprises.

In this episode, we explore cybersecurity through a lens that is often overlooked: the growing disconnects between where organizations believe risk exists and where exposure is actually building.

Listen to the Podcast
World-Class CFO

Top 5 Lessons to Become a World Class CFO & Beyond

Unlock Leadership, Influence & Career Acceleration

Are you operating like a top-tier CFO or just keeping up? What separates world-class CFOs from the rest? What skills will elevate you to the next level of leadership and influence? And what’s holding you back that you don’t even realize?

Many financial executives hit a plateau because they rely on the same skills that got them here. But as the saying goes: “What got you here won’t get you there.” In this exclusive FENG session, Julie Jackle, Founder & CEO of Growth Axis, will share the 5 key lessons she’s learned from 17 years of coaching elite CFOs and CEOs. 

Watch on YouTube

Career Management Editorials

Handling compensation negotiations

Money makes the world go around, or so they say. If this is the case, can there be any more delicate subject to bring up with a potential employer than your potential salary? There was a comment I heard on “Streets of San Francisco” many years ago that is applicable here: “First liar never stands a chance.” As applicable to salary negotiations, it is always better to let the potential employer put something on the table before you try to improve upon it. It is just good negotiating to find out the relevant range before saying anything. The danger of presenting your salary demands too early in the process is considerable. The acceptable price of anything someone might want to buy, including your services, is based on perceived value. To put a number out there before you have had a chance to establish your credentials is simply not smart. If you are asked for how much money you are seeking, while it is always better to be honest, you also need to keep in mind that the money you want may be far greater than they can afford. It isn’t that you aren’t worth that much, it’s just that the job may not pay it. I hate to suggest answering a question with a question, but in this case it isn’t a bad idea. When asked how much money you want, before you answer, ask what the salary range is for the job. If they are reluctant to tell you, another strategy is to not actually answer their question. Again, with speaking the truth being the best approach, give them some indication of your recent compensation history. Notice you aren’t exactly telling them that’s how much you want, but you should be able to elicit a gasp or at least a raised eyebrow that will open the door for you to again ask the salary range. Trust me, it is a fair question for you to ask, just as it is a fair question for them to ask you. It is my view that when companies get ready to make an offer to a particular candidate, the existence of other candidates is generally not a factor. It typically isn’t a bidding war. The distance between number one and number two is generally significant. While in truth it may have been a tough choice based on skills and fit, at the time of the decision the perceived differences are great. It is only if you turn down their very kind offer that a number two will be considered. So, don’t let that affect your thinking. If there is a recruiter involved, you should probably let them handle the negotiations as long as you are fairly certain that they will be honest brokers. On the one hand, they work for your potential employer as he/she will be paying their fee. That said, their goal is to get the deal done. Whether they are contingency or retained their motivations are similar. A contingency recruiter won’t get paid. A retained recruiter will have to keep working on the assignment. If a candidate has been selected, it is better to act as an honest broker. Having worked with the company for some period of time, they may know their client’s flexibility and share it with you “off line.” As a general rule, suggest numbers, don’t make demands. Even in salary negotiations, you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Keep in mind that your income for some months ahead is at stake and don’t let any “fish” get away. Regards, Matt
Oct 18, 2026

No steps forward, two steps back

One of the most difficult challenges in a career is being faced with taking a step or two back.
Oct 15, 2026

This is no time to blend

If you haven’t seen the movie “My Cousin Vinny,” you may not really understand where this line comes from. If this is the case, please accept my apology for this reference out of left field. It is an old movie, and it wasn’t a great one.
Oct 14, 2026

Member Testimonials

After being unexpectedly let go from a senior financial leadership role at age 40, Steve found himself navigating a job search he had never prepared for. Without a roadmap, he struggled — until he joined The FENG. Through peer-level support, disciplined networking, and proven career strategies, Steve rebuilt his confidence and approach. Within six months, he landed the best role of his career. Today, he continues to support The FENG so other financial executives can find clarity, connection, and their next great opportunity.

Steve Cary, Inside Out Partners

Marty joined The FENG in 2015 after a prolonged period of financial instability and layoffs at his company finally resulted in his own job loss. Introduced to the organization by a co-worker, he used FENG’s guidance to navigate periods of transition, taking on temporary assignments he may have otherwise overlooked. Through the newsletters and practical job-search discipline he learned, Marty stayed engaged even after landing a role that lasted seven years.
Years later, when his next employer began facing financial trouble, Marty began preparing early — using FENG’s resume approach. That preparation paid off: a recruiter found him, driven by the depth of his full career history, not just recent roles. He secured a new leadership position and started within weeks. Marty credits The FENG for helping him stay ready, visible, and strategically positioned throughout his career.

Marty Kierzek, Director of Finance, Axelent, Inc.

After spending more than two decades building a stable executive career with a global energy company, Steve’s role was eliminated following a major corporate merger at age 46. Suddenly in transition, he joined The FENG and fully committed to the process — attending chapter meetings, refining his resume, and applying disciplined networking strategies from the nightly newsletters.
After nearly a year of searching, Steve discovered a role through a FENG newsletter listing that was not posted anywhere else. He secured the position and went on to spend 16 years with the company, achieving greater professional and financial success than he thought possible. Even in retirement, Steve continues to support The FENG, crediting the organization with changing the trajectory of his career.

Karen Justice, Managing Partner

Membership Benefits:

  • Trusted Job Leads
  • Presentations, Panel Discussions
  • Career/Job Clubs
  • Mentoring and Résumé Reviews
  • Elevate thought leadership through The Financial Executives Journal
  • Elite-Level Executive Networking

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Built by Financial Executives, for Financial Executives

two financial executives telling war stories to each other

The Power of Networking. The Power of Friendships.

Born from one executive’s simple idea, The Financial Executives Networking Group began in 1991 as a small circle of twelve finance leaders who believed in one uncommon principle: generosity first. In the early years, Matt Bud joined the group and soon took on a leadership role, helping nurture the philosophy that would guide its growth into a worldwide community of more than 25,000 senior-level professionals — all still connected by the same spirit that launched it.
At The FENG, our mission is simple and human: to support one another through every chapter of a financial career — working, searching, transitioning, consulting, and even into retirement. We are a community built on lifelong networking, knowledge-sharing, and the understanding that no executive should navigate their career alone.
And at the heart of it all is reciprocity. We have a shared expectation that every member gives as much as they receive. This ethos has guided our community from day one and continues to shape who we are today: a network of leaders lifting one another up, one connection at a time.

Our Story

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