Anyone who suspects that finance typescan't rock and roll should talk to Jared Poff. The treasurer andvice president of Big Lots, a $4.9 billion closeout retailer, has aside gig playing keyboards and auxiliary percussion with theDebits, a rock and roll cover band composed of long-time friendswith whom he used to work in finance at another retailer, LimitedBrands.

Jamming on the piano is “a good release,” Poff says, from therigors of his day job, not to mention those involved in raisingfour young sons with his wife. Still, playing in the band has itsparallels to a treasurer's role. Wrong notes stand out, while trueones blend to make the group even better.

Poff has hit several sweet notes for Big Lots since joining theColumbus, Ohio-based company seven years ago. When he arrived, BigLots had debt outstanding, no share repurchase program, and cashtied up in the accounts payable line of the balance sheet.