Founder & CEO Jim Wong was interviewed for the June 2011 CFO Magazine article Making the Leap. The article takes an in-depth look at how more midsize companies are exploring overseas M&A options, and how a little caution and patience can go a long way toward ensuring success. Below is an excerpt:

Patience has its rewards, including a nice résumé boost for the CFO who can pull off an international acquisition. Companies looking for a new finance chief, particularly in the middle-market revenue range, consider such experience a big plus, says Jim Wong, an executive recruiter with Chicago-based Clear Focus Financial Search. Even if the deal doesn't go perfectly, "if the candidate can communicate his analysis of what to do the next time around, that's just as important as the net result."

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Published in the June 2011 issue of CFO Magazine, Jim Wong, Founder and CEO comments on the value of being prepared for the future.

Your article "Let It Roll" (May) is right on point. The companies that we work for have really changed their view and philosophy on the annual budgeting-and-planning exercise. As a result, demand for finance professionals who can provide an accurate, real-time view of future scenarios is increasing.

Today's finance professionals must understand their companies' business and underlying challenges, constraints, and variables outside of the finance department. As stated in the article, the finance professional most in demand today is able to stand on the bridge of the ship looking forward and make adjustments.

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Why Do Employees Leave?

Clear Focus founder Jim Wong is quoted in the Illinois CPA Socieity Insight Magazine article Will They Stay or Will They Go? Jim lends his comments on the reasons why an employee leaves their position for greener pastures.

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What Happens in Vegas Stays on FaceBook

Jim Wong is quoted in this Illinois CPA Socieity Insight Magazine article Six Reasons You Won't Get The Job. Jim contributes his ideas on the topic of Social Media and that people do not connect the dots with regards to the information they place in the online public domain can be viewed by current and future employers.

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Letter to the Editor of Chicago Business Powered By Crains, Published in the May 23, 2011 Opinion Section

With respect to keeping Sears Holdings Corp. in Illinois, we need to look at the financial impact of it moving on — which I'm not too confident Gov. Pat Quinn and his team are able to analyze ("Caterpillar CEO tells industry to lobby Quinn on biz agenda," ChicagoBusiness.com, May 11). This will be another test for him: Can he strike a deal with Sears that also benefits the state?

As a business owner, I fully agree that Illinois needs to be much more business-friendly. The first step, though, is for Mr. Quinn and his team to have a real plan for addressing the deficit issue and executing. The business community will have much more confidence in Illinois and will be more open to staying for the long term. The confidence will lead to more investing and hiring.

James F. Wong
Founder & CEO - Clear Focus Financial Search LLC