When Sandeep Aujla arrived at Intuit in 2015, he had already invested seven career-building years as a senior finance executive at Visa, and the path to the CFO office was presumably getting shorter. Still, it would be another eight years before Aujla would be appointed Intuit CFO.

While there’s little question that during those eight years Aujla could have likely nabbed CFO appointments elsewhere, his decision to stay and complete yet another journey within Intuit reminds us that the shortest path is not always the best.

Sandeep’s journey at Intuit began with a dual mandate: to build a forward-thinking finance team and to deeply engage in business operations. Initially, he took on the role of acting Chief Risk Officer for Intuit’s payments business, demonstrating his versatility and strategic thinking. This early experience laid the foundation for his future contributions, as he helped transition Intuit from a primarily accounting software provider to a broader platform offering services such as payments, payroll, and Mailchimp.

Sandeep played a pivotal role in this transformation, co-leading the small business group and driving the strategy that shifted Intuit’s revenue base from accounting software to a diverse array of services. His ability to adapt and innovate was crucial as Intuit evolved into a high-growth, high-margin company.

Despite opportunities to join other companies, Sandeep remained at Intuit, benefiting from the company’s deliberate investment in his growth. Working closely with current CEO Sasan Goodarzi and former executive chairman Brad Smith, Sandeep received mentorship and leadership development that prepared him for the CFO role. This investment, coupled with his extensive involvement in strategic initiatives, ensured that he was not only ready for the role but also deeply aligned with Intuit’s vision and culture.

As CFO, Sandeep focuses on unlocking potential within the finance team and the broader organization. He emphasizes the importance of talent development, spending significant time recruiting, coaching, and nurturing top performers. His strategic mindset, honed through years of navigating Intuit’s complex business landscape, positions him to lead the company through its next chapter of growth.

1,016: When Career Years Are Investment Years | Sandeep Aujla, CFO, Intuit

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