{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"You May be Making Decisions in the Dark - Jacques Santucci on Financially Preparing your Business for the Future","description":" The Enlightened Family Business Podcast Ep. 162: You May Be Making Decisions in the Dark \u2014 Jacques Santucci on Financially Preparing Your Business for the Future   In this episode of the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker sits down with Jacques Santucci, President of Opus Consulting, for a grounded, practical conversation about one of the most underutilized levers in family business: financial leadership. Jacques brings a rare combination of international business experience \u2014 from Ernst & Young in France to CFO roles in the US \u2014 and 17 years of consulting to privately held and family-owned businesses across New England and beyond. Together, Chris and Jacques break down the critical differences between a bookkeeper, controller, and CFO; why so many family businesses are making major decisions with months-old data; what the early warning signs of financial trouble actually look like before an owner recognizes them; and why the fractional CFO model has become one of the most accessible and high-impact resources available to growing family firms. They also explore what a meaningful financial education pathway looks like for the rising generation \u2014 not to make them accountants, but to ensure they can read a P&L, understand a balance sheet, talk to a banker, and make decisions grounded in fact rather than gut feeling. Episode Chapters \u00b7       4:10   Meet Jacques Santucci \u00b7       7:12   From France to Maine: A CFO\u2019s Unlikely Journey \u00b7       11:04  Bookkeeper, Controller, CFO \u2014 What\u2019s the Difference and Why It Matters \u00b7       17:12  The CFO\u2019s Real Job: Looking at the Future, Not the Past \u00b7       19:25  When Is It Time to Bring In a CFO? \u00b7       21:33  Financial Reporting: What to Measure, How Often, and Why \u00b7       25:31  Early Warning Signs Your Business Is Heading for Trouble \u00b7       29:16  Customer Mix, Profit Margins, and Strategic Decision-Making \u00b7       30:16  A Real-World Case Study: Seasonal Business, Six-Week-Old Data, and What Changed \u00b7       31:47  Clean Data: Why Accuracy Is the Foundation of Every Good Decision \u00b7       35:20  Developing the Rising Generation\u2019s Financial Acumen \u00b7       40:08  What Every Next-Gen Leader Needs to Understand About the Numbers \u00b7       42:16  The Fractional CFO Model: Full Expertise at a Fraction of the Cost \u00b7       46:05  Resources and Farewell   Websites \u00b7       opuscg.com \u00b7       chrisyonker.com   About Jacques Santucci Jacques Santucci is the President and Founder of Opus Consulting, a nationally recognized full-service business advisory firm supporting companies from start-up to turnaround, and offering management and fractional C-suite services to unlock performance. Jacques is particularly skilled in helping businesses navigate complex inflection points and difficult industries, with over 20 years of experience in turnarounds and restructurings. He frequently serves as a restructuring officer, court-appointed receiver, or turnaround advisor \u2014 bringing disciplined execution and a practical, hands-on approach to each engagement. In his capacity as a fractional CFO, Jacques utilizes his strategic and financial expertise to help companies improve fiscal controls, cash flow, and align financial operations with long-term goals. From his frontline perspective in restructuring and turnarounds, he is keenly aware of the financial decisions and factors that lead companies into distress \u2014 and works with business leaders to avoid those pitfalls earlier in the business lifecycle. Jacques built his career as a strategic finance leader, holding senior roles at Ernst & Young and Universal Pictures in Paris, France, before bringing his expertise to privately held and family-owned businesses across the United States. ","author_name":"The Enlightened Family Business Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/thesecretthoughtsofceospodcast.libsyn.com\/website","html":"