Sharp Electronics CFO Moonsun Park on how to say ‘yes’

Sharp Electronics Corporation USA CFO and SVP of Finance Moonsun Park has been with the electronics company for almost 29 years, starting as an accounting manager and moving through roles such as director of FP&A and controller before becoming CFO in 2018.

In case you need a refresher, Sharp Electronics’ parent company, founded in Japan in 1912, was at the forefront of the electronics revolution, developing, among other products, the world’s first electronic calculator. The US subsidiary’s diverse portfolio now includes office equipment, home appliances, LCD components, and IT services.

Park spoke with CFO Brew about her career experience—moving from controller to CFO, having an influential mentor, and starting a women’s group at Sharp, a project she finds “invigorating.”

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How has the finance function changed over the time that you’ve been with Sharp?

When I joined, we were implementing SAP. We were using a homegrown greenscreen system, and at the time, I’m not even sure if Excel was around. It may have been Lotus 123. The main functions were reconciliations and audits and closing the books. It took us probably 17 days to close, and that was the norm. We had green sheets that were printed, as opposed to saving everything online. Now I would say finance is very much a partner, and we’re part of strategy conversations, and we’re part of technology implementation.

You went from controller to CFO. What was the biggest difference you saw moving between those two roles?

Controller was a great role. You had the opportunity to navigate historical reporting and reconciliations and working with the auditors. The CFO position is a lot more about strategy and what direction is the company going in, and bringing together so many different functions. When I was controller, I didn’t oversee things like tax and treasury, and now having that whole picture inclusive of things like facilities and procurement, it gives you a wide lens into things that are happening within the company and how we can impact it.

What advice would you give somebody who aspires to a CFO role?

I read an article a couple of months ago about a “no CFO,” and how that’s not who you want to be, and I agree with that. I mean, if the answer is always “no,” what is our role? We have to be good listeners. We have to be good partners to the business. I say this many times when I do have to say “no”: We have the same goal in mind. We want the best for the company, our customers, our employees. So we’re not working against each other…Be that partner and figure out ways to be creative and learn. But look for ways that you can say yes.

Have you had any mentors or sponsors who have influenced you in your career?

Right before I became CFO, there was a mentor who was a CFO for a very long time. Making that jump from controller to CFO, I didn’t know exactly what that meant. So she was there for me…

She’s still so heavily invested in me, and it had such a big influence that I actually started a women’s group at Sharp…We’re in our fourth mentorship group. It’s so, I’d say, invigorating, and I love to see the impact that it has on our employees, how it allows different people from different areas to get to know one another and how that also has an impact on the business…

The formal program is a year, and typically they come to Montvale, New Jersey, where our headquarters is, twice a year for a midpoint and a final session. And we’ve had trips to the 9/11 memorial, to West Point, and it’s all in line with mentorship, learning about leadership…People continue to stay in touch after the formal program is over.

Is there anything that we didn’t touch upon that you wanted to make sure you brought up?

CFO is a title, but I feel like there’s almost no limit to what you can get involved in…We do have a lot of insights into different areas, but it’s what you’re passionate about and what you want to see changed or enhanced at your company. Look for those things and look for business partners who are going to support you.