Most CFOs start their careers in accounting, public accounting (specifically Big Four firms), or financial planning and analysis (FP&A) roles. Common entry-level positions include staff accountant, auditor, or financial analyst. These roles build the necessary technical foundation in financial reporting, auditing, and analysis before moving into management roles like Controller.
Final thoughts. While the professionals we analyzed took various paths to reach CFO, the data says that the most straightforward path to the CFO seat is: Go to a top 100 school, get a bachelor's degree in finance, and then get an MBA. Get your first role in accounting, investment banking, or corporate finance.
Globally, the average appointment age for CFOs sits in the early 50s, suggesting that financial leadership is often seen as a culmination of long-term executive development.
The majority of CFOs will understandably have an educational background in finance, business, economics or management. A typical path would be a bachelor's and master's degree in accounting or other finance-related studies, alongside the ACCA qualification.
While both credentials offer specialized expertise, the best fit for a CFO position typically depends on your company's needs: a CPA brings a strong foundation in accounting and compliance, while a CFA delivers deep insights about investment management and financial strategy.
CFA is considered more rigorous and specialized, requiring you to complete 3 comprehensive exams focused on investment analysis, portfolio management, and financial markets.
A typical CFO salary varies significantly, with U.S. averages often cited around $200k-$400k+ in base pay, but reaching $500k+ total compensation for public companies, plus substantial bonuses and equity, heavily depending on company size, industry (tech & finance pay more), location (NYC, SF high), and experience, with top earners exceeding $1M.
CFOs increasingly face challenges across business functions, from cyber risk to talent gaps to maintaining rigorous finance and accounting controls. How much does all that weigh on their mental health? As a C-Suite executive, the CFO is in a position of immense responsibility and, typically, stress.
A New CFO Checklist: Your First 90 Days
Retirement. 54% of outgoing CFOs either retired or transitioned into board roles. Now, 56.6 is the average age when they do so, marking the lowest average in six years, per the report.
Poor Performance: 34% of CEOs Ousted for Consistent Underachievement. According to Harvard Business Review, financial underperformance remains the top reason for CEO turnover globally.
Many organizations will require CFO candidates to have an MBA. This degree program in particular helps fully prepare students for leadership roles in the workplace.
Yes, a CFO (Chief Financial Officer) is a higher-level executive role than a CPA (Certified Public Accountant), as a CFO focuses on overall financial strategy and leadership, while a CPA is a licensed professional specializing in accounting, auditing, and compliance; many CFOs are CPAs, but they add business strategy and operations to their accounting expertise, making the CFO position a more senior, big-picture role.
Becoming a CFO is an ambition that comes with immense rewards and equally significant challenges. It is a career that offers financial security, leadership authority, and the opportunity to shape corporate strategy at the highest level.
If their vision doesn't align with ownership or the CEO, frustration can set in quickly. Career progression: Many CFOs view their role as a springboard to CEO or COO positions. If there isn't a clear growth path, they may leave for a broader leadership opportunity.
The framework segments the four critical roles CFOs play today—Strategist, Catalyst, Steward and Operator—and organizes each role by the areas of focus, functions and competencies CFOs need to bring to the table.
In recent years, the pay gap between CEOs and CFOs has widened. Looking at the different salaries on average, CEOs earn two to five times more than CFOs in terms of total compensation, depending on company size and sector.
Annual Bonus: CFOs typically receive an average bonus of 20% of their base salary, ranging from zero to 45%, with some reporting bonuses of up to 100% of their base salary. Sign-on bonuses and car allowances are also a consideration for CFOs when comparing opportunities.
They make high-level financial decisions, manage company growth, and act as a bridge between executives, investors, and shareholders. While other finance roles handle day-to-day operations, a CFO is responsible for long-term strategy and ensuring the company remains profitable.
What Are The Essential CFO Personality Traits and Soft Skills?
The CFA may be down, but it's not out, financial advisors say. A total of 116,727 people sat for all three levels of the CFA exam in the first eight months of 2024, down 2,735 from the same period in 2023, according to the CFA Institute.
To become a charter holder, it's necessary to pass three exams and is an equivalent of a master's degree. The CFA designation is reputed to be the most difficult certification to obtain, which works to the benefit of those who succeed.