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Chief Financial Officer

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Indeed’s Employer Guide helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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8 min read

A chief financial officer (CFO) helps manage a company’s finances. Duties you may want to include in your CFO job description are: monitoring cash flow, developing financial forecasts and managing assets.

In this article on CFOs, you can pinpoint the duties, responsibilities and background required for your open position to craft your job description. 

CFO duties and responsibilities

CFOs oversee financial planning, recordkeeping and risk management. They may prepare income statements, balance sheets and other financial reports. As a member of the executive team, a CFO also manages a company’s finance and accounting departments.

Common duties include:

  • Executing the company’s financial strategy
  • Developing plans for growth to increase company profit while reducing expenses
  • Identifying investment opportunities, such as emerging technology or market niches
  • Managing mergers and acquisitions
  • Overseeing accounting procedures, including compliance with financial reporting, budgeting and forecasts
  • Analyzing data and creating financial models, such as the sum of the parts (SOTP) or option pricing models 

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Chief Financial Officer Job Description Examples

Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Guide helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines
Job Description Best Practices
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What does a CFO do?

A CFO can help a company improve its financial stability. They typically create financial forecasts to help other executives make informed decisions based on projected revenue and expenses.

CFOs also oversee a company’s assets and investments. This may help a company preserve its value and minimize financial risk. In some companies, the CFO serves as a point of contact for bankers, investors and other external financial partners, which requires customer service and analytic reasoning skills.

CFO skills and qualifications

Strong candidates often demonstrate negotiation, data analysis and risk management skills, which may be important for success in this role. Leadership and verbal and written communication skills are also valuable competencies that set top candidates apart.

Skills commonly listed in CFO job description templates include:

  • Proficiency in using Microsoft Excel, NetSuite and other financial reporting software
  • Competence in leading finance and accounting teams
  • Ability to make accurate calculations when developing financial projections
  • Knowledge of financial principles and practices, such as cash flow or the time value of money (TVM)
  • Excellent organizational skills, including time management

CFO experience requirements

If your company uses skills-first hiring, consider searching for candidates who have relevant soft skills, such as strong verbal communication and a systematic approach to problem-solving. 

You may want to emphasize these transferable skills in your CFO job descriptions. For example, a candidate may have problem-solving experience after working as a finance manager or financial analyst.

CFO education and training requirements

CFOs can generally gain experience in related roles that involve risk management and budgeting skills. For example, your business might promote a quality employee who’s held several accounting and finance roles during their tenure. Other candidates may have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting, finance or a related discipline.

Workers can learn your company’s software through online courses or work experience. For example, CFO candidates may have used Microsoft Excel in previous bookkeeping positions. You might also prioritize candidates with voluntary financial credentials, such as Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or Certified Finance Manager (CFM). 

CFO salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a CFO is $165,842 per year. Salary may vary according to location, candidate experience and employer size.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this CFO job description doesn’t align with your needs, check out these other sample job descriptions for similar positions:

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CFO job description FAQs

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

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Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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