10 Questions Every CFO Asks (+ Scripts)

10 Questions Every CFO Asks (+ Scripts)
Free Cheat Sheet for High-Stakes Finance Presentations

💼 The Moment That Matters

You’ve prepared for weeks.
Your slides are polished. Your data is solid.

Then the CFO asks a question you weren’t ready for —
and your proposal stalls.

After 24 years in corporate banking (JPMorgan, PwC, RBS, Commerzbank) and hundreds of CFO presentations, I’ve found they ask variations of the same 10 questions.

Prepare for these, and you’ll handle 90% of what comes your way.

📄 What’s Inside

You get a concise, no-fluff cheat sheet with:

✅ The 10 questions every CFO asks
    Organised by category:
    • The Ask
    • The Return
    • The Risk
    • Execution

✅ Word-for-word scripts
    Use these as your base answers or adapt them to your style.

✅ Pro tips on CFO psychology
    What they’re really thinking when they ask each question.

✅ BONUS: The “stall breaker” question
    The one question you can ask when a CFO says:
    “Let’s revisit next quarter…”

👤 This Is for You If…

This cheat sheet is designed for you if:

• You’re presenting a budget request, investment proposal, or business case to finance leadership
• You’ve had proposals delayed or rejected and aren’t fully sure why
• You want to walk into your next CFO meeting feeling prepared, not anxious
• You’re serious about speaking the CFO’s language – not just showing more slides

💬 What People Say

“Got my £180K budget approved in the first meeting. Knowing exactly what questions were coming made all the difference.”
— James T., Head of Operations

🧠 The Framework Behind It

This cheat sheet is based on the Finance-First Framework I’ve used to help clients secure over £250 million in funding.

You’re not just getting “nice phrases” – you’re getting language that:

• respects how CFOs think
• addresses risk, return, and execution
• makes it easier for them to say yes (or at least “yes, with conditions”)

⚡ How to Use It

1. Print it or keep it open next to your deck.
2. Highlight the questions most likely to come up for your proposal.
3. Practise the scripts out loud once or twice.
4. Walk into your CFO meeting knowing you’re ready for the real conversation, not just the slides.

📥 Instant, Free Download

• Format: PDF cheat sheet
• Price: £0 (Free)
• Length: Short, focused, easy to scan right before a meeting

No fluff. No theory.
Just the exact questions and scripts you’ll wish you’d had before your last CFO meeting.