What does a 132042finance6.01investment banking2.48private equity2.27investment2.16chief investment officer2.146760501528000.00149724.17368000.00YEARLY3913222025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Chief Investment Officer do?

A Chief Investment Officer has a major impact on the financial success of a company. When they perform well in Chief Investment Officer job duties, they can allow a company to maximize the growth of their investments. Their decisions determine how much financial risk exposure a company has and whether it can accomplish its strategic goals. Because of the close ties between their job performance and the financial health of the company, a successful Chief Investment Officer benefits shareholders by adding to the value of the company and employees by strengthening job security.

Chief Investment Officer Officer skills and qualifications

To proficiently perform 132042finance6.01investment banking2.48private equity2.27investment2.16chief investment officer2.146760501528000.00149724.17368000.00YEARLY3913222025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Chief Investment Officer job duties, a person needs a strong relevant skill set. Some qualifications that indicate a quality candidate for Chief Investment Officer careers include:

• Excellent decision-making skills to select the right investments 
• Forecasting ability to make predictions about future investment performance 
• Demonstrated analytical skills to interpret complex financial data 
• Oral and written communication skills to conduct meetings, give presentations and write reports 
• Strong research skills to explore new investments 
• Extensive knowledge of finance and the markets 
• Ability to use accounting, spreadsheet and investing software programs 
• Management skills to lead the company’s investment team 

Chief Investment Officer experience requirements

Most people advance into Chief Investment Officer careers after working in finance in other roles. Many employers prefer to hire candidates with 5 to 10 years of experience managing portfolios for companies of a similar size. In addition, you may wish to prioritize candidates with 3 or more years of management or supervisory experience to ensure you fill your open position with someone who can motivate, coach and lead the investment team.

Chief Investment Officer education and training requirements

A bachelor’s degree in finance or a closely related field is usually the minimum education required for Chief Investment Officer careers. However, the largest companies typically focus only on candidates who have a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in finance. Individuals who hold Certified Financial Advisor (CFA) status may make high-quality candidates for Chief Investment Officer positions. The CFA Institute awards this certification to individuals who pass a series of three exams, meet experience requirements and submit two to three letters of recommendation.

Job description samples for similar positions

If the outlined Chief Investment Officer job duties don’t fully describe those of your open position, review the descriptions for these closely related job titles:

• CFO Chief Financial Officer 
• Director of Finance 
• Finance Manager 
• Financial Advisor 

Chief Investment Officer job description FAQs

Who reports to a Chief Investment Officer?

Who reports to a Chief Investment Officer depends on the organizational structure of the company. Often, the Deputy Director of Finance, Deputy Chief Investment Officer or Vice-President of Finance is immediately below the CIO. The deputy supervises a team of Portfolio Managers who recommend investments and make trades on behalf of the company in accordance with the strategic plan created by the Chief Investment Officer. In some cases, the Vice-President or Director of Operations also reports to the Chief Investment Officer. They typically head a team of accountants, financial managers and operations managers. Usually, a Chief Investment Officer will also directly supervise one or more Administrative Assistants.

What is the difference between a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and a Chief Investment Officer?

Both the Chief Investment Officer and the Chief Financial Officer are members of the company’s executive team who impact a company’s financial performance, but they have different focuses. The CFO oversees accounting, budgeting and forecasting, while the CIO deals with the company’s investment portfolio.

What is the difference between a Chief Information Officer and a Chief Investment Officer?

Although people often abbreviate both 132042finance6.01investment banking2.48private equity2.27investment2.16chief investment officer2.146760501528000.00149724.17368000.00YEARLY3913222025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Chief Investment Officer and Chief Investment Officer as CIO, these two executive positions are very different. The Chief Information Officer makes decisions about the technological future of the company, guiding research and development and determining what new technologies to invest in. They deal with applications, such as computer systems, artificial intelligence and wireless communications. A Chief Investment Officer decides where a company should put its money to help it grow.