The saying goes, “you’re only as good as the company you keep.” Donald “Don” Shoff, the CFO and Senior Vice President of Finance for INDUS Corporation, must be very good then, surrounded by talented people at a rapidly growing company.
A graduate ofPennsylvaniaStateUniversity, Don went on to obtain his C.P.A. in 1979. He then began his career in D.C., working at local public accounting firms where he conducted compilation, review and tax engagement for privately and publicly held corporations.
After gathering more experience and expertise within his field, Don went to work for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC): a large technology products and professional services corporation. At SAIC, Don was responsible for the corporate cost accounting functions and was controller of a high technology services operation group.
His career shifted after he left SAIC and he became an independent consultant and senior manager at Grant Thornton, a major accounting firm. It was here that Don developed a significant relationship with Shiv Krishnan, the future founder of INDUS Corporation. INDUS is an information technology services company operating mainly in the Federal Government marketplace.
When the CFO position at INDUS Corporation became available, Don’s ability to understand his clients and create solutions helped Don to stand out among the competition.
What differentiates Don from the majority of other CFOs is that he understands that it’s about more than just the numbers. Applying the “patient people-person” approach accumulated through experience, Don possesses the people skills that every CFO should strive for. As the role of the CFO has matured over the years, Don has easily adapted to maintain his stature as one of the area’s best. Although working with the numbers will always be a part of the job, he understands the need to align himself with his Company’s organizational goals and management structure.
Don excels at directing finance and administration activities, including bidding strategies, mergers and acquisitions, and working capital finance. He also thoroughly enjoys working with the operational managers. His knowledge of their clients’ organizational goals and missions allows him to assist the INDUS team solve their problems leading to winning new work and new clients.
At ACG, Don is able to share his best practices and exchange new ideas with other corporate finance professionals and service providers in the area. As treasurer, Don helps maintain the financial stability of the organization. As the organization grows through programs and well-rounded membership, Don hopes to see more corporate “C” level executives join.
For Don, ACG is more than just a place to network; the environment and the comradery is unique to the organization.