The Path To CFO

The Path To CFO

Becoming a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a major accomplishment. It requires extensive knowledge of the financial industry, along with a strong business acumen and excellent leadership skills. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the steps necessary to become a CFO, outlining key qualifications, fundamental requirements and critical skills that are essential for success in this role. Additionally, it provides guidance on how to develop the necessary expertise, navigate the job market and make an effective transition into the CFO role. With the right knowledge and preparation, aspiring CFOs can move confidently into the role.

Overview of the CFO Role

As an executive role, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) manages all financial aspects of a business. They oversee a range of activities including financial analysis, budgeting, risk management and corporate strategy. They also manage the finance team and act as an advisor to the CEO and executive team.

Becoming a CFO is a challenging and prestigious career path. CFOs are responsible for managing the company’s finances and business operations, business partnering, focusing on all commercial aspects of the business and growth, decision support (particularly FP&A) and change & transformation - and not just financially-speaking. They are key members of the executive team and collaborate with other departments to set strategic direction. They also provide advice and insight into the financial aspects of the business. As a member of the C-suite, they play an important role in the company’s financial health and performance. In this role, CFOs are responsible for both the short- and long-term financial goals of the organization.

Key Qualifications and Skills Required to Become a CFO

To excel in this role, CFO candidates must have a strong understanding of the financial industry and be able to lead and manage others. The following are key requirements for success:

• Strong financial skills: CFOs must have deep expertise in finance and accounting, including knowledge of financial statements, tax implications, investment strategies and risk management. They must understand the drivers behind the company’s financial performance. This includes the impact of the economy, market conditions, competition and other external factors.
• Strong business acumen: CFOs must be able to understand the enterprise’s business model and long-term strategy. They must have a comprehensive understanding of the industry and competitive landscape, along with the firm’s competitive advantage and value proposition.
• Business Partnering: Effective CFOs find the right partners — COO, CHRO, CLO — to enhance their organization’s offerings, with each partner contributing and collaborating on key projects to grow the business and add value.
• Decision Support: Rapidly becoming one of the most important tools in the modern CFO's arsenal, this technology-driven approach to business planning and analysis can help CFOs make better decisions, increase efficiency, and drive company growth. The impact of decision support in this data-driven approach on company growth can be instrumental in helping organizations make more informed decisions and improve their decision-making processes.
• Excellent communication skills: CFOs must be able to clearly understand their stakeholders’ needs and expectations. They must be able to translate their financial findings and insights into language that is easy to understand. This includes how the financial performance impacts the organization and its stakeholders.
• Strong leadership skills: CFOs must be able to lead their finance team and be able to manage and motivate employees. They must be able to lead strategy meetings, provide clear direction and make sound decisions that are aligned with the organization’s goals.
• Strong organizational skills: CFOs must be able to manage multiple tasks and prioritize their workload. They must be able to manage budgets, timelines and deliverables while staying true to their commitments.
• Strong risk management skills: CFOs must be able to identify risks and vulnerabilities to the organization and implement strategies to mitigate these risks. They must also be able to implement policies and procedures to identify and control risk at all levels in the organization.

Identifying and Developing Your Expertise

In order to be competitive for a CFO role, aspiring candidates must be able to demonstrate they possess the necessary expertise. This may require you to develop new skills, gain expertise in new areas or further develop your current knowledge. It is important to identify your strengths and weaknesses and then work on developing the skills required for the job.

Think about the following questions:

1. What do you enjoy doing most? What are you skilled at? What have you done in the past that you are proud of?
2. What areas of finance do you know a lot about? Are there specific skills you excel at?
3. What professional experiences do you have that are relevant for the CFO role?
4. What skills do you already have that will help you be successful as a CFO? What are some areas where you have room for growth?
5. Where do you need to improve to be successful in this role? What are some ways you can develop your skills?

Roles to Serve on the Path To CFO

CFO is a highly technical and operational position requiring the experience, knowledge and skillset of a mix of roles in order to be successful. The following are the positions that aspiring CFOs may serve on the Path To CFO:

1. Accountant & Analyst - Staff & Senior
2. Accounting Manager/Assistant Controller
3. Financial Planning & Analysis - Senior/Manager/Director
4. Head of Shared Services
5. Controller in a small organization; Group or Divisional Financial Controller in a large organization
6. Audit & Treasury
7. IT, Legal, Tax
8. Mergers & Acquisition Director/Manager
9. Investor Relations

Preparing for the Job Search

Once you’ve identified the skills and expertise you need to succeed as a CFO, it is time to start preparing for the job search. In this phase, you will want to put together a comprehensive strategy that includes:

• Defining your career goals and desired position: What do you want to do? Where do you want to do it? It is important to know where you want to go and how to get there.
• Assessing the job market: What are the most in-demand roles? What roles have the best outlook for the future? Where are some of the best opportunities for your skill set?
• Gathering information about organizations that interest you: What are the company’s goals and objectives? What business challenges are they facing? What products or services do they offer?
• Developing your job search strategy: What are your long- and short-term goals? What actions will you take to achieve those goals?

Networking and Making Connections

As someone who is new to the industry, you may not have the opportunity to apply for every CFO position that you are interested in. However, networking can be an effective way to expand your reach, make valuable contacts and increase your chances of finding an opportunity that might otherwise be outside of your reach. It is important to remember that networking is more than just reaching out to people and asking: “Can you introduce me to someone?” Instead, it is about truly connecting with people and forming genuine relationships.

To network effectively, be sure to:

• Identify your target audience: Who are the people you would like to meet and connect with? What do they do? What do they care about? Where do they go? Who do they know?
• Research organizations and individuals: What are their current challenges and priorities? What topics are they talking about? What are they reading? What are some questions you could ask them?
• Be a good listener: What do you have in common with your audience? What do they care about? What can you offer that is helpful to them?

Building Your Resume

Before you can start to network and make connections, you first need to build your resume. As a CFO candidate, your resume should be tailored towards the finance industry and highlight your relevant skills, experience and expertise. It is important to clearly communicate what you bring to the table and how your experience can benefit an employer. It is also important to include your contact information and references on your resume. Many organizations will expect you to provide this information during the application process. You should follow standard formatting guidelines and include your resume in a clear and concise manner. When building your resume, you should keep the following in mind: how it looks, how it is organized and what information it includes. It is important to follow industry standards and make sure your resume is easy to read. Avoid using too many colors and make sure you keep your resume to one page. Make sure it is visually appealing and stands out from others.

Interview Strategies

During the interview process, you will have the chance to explain why you are the best candidate for the job. It is important to prepare for every interview and have a clear understanding of the questions that are being asked. It is also important to make sure your body language aligns with your message.

Prepare for your CFO interview by doing the following:

• Review the job description and organization profile: What are the key responsibilities of the role? What are the day-to-day tasks? What are the top challenges facing the organization?
• Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. For questions you might be asked: What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your short-term and long-term goals? What is your vision for the company? What do you know about the company? What are some problems facing the company? What are your past achievements? What are your long-term career goals? What is your greatest strength? What is your biggest weakness? What are your short-term and long-term goals? What is your vision for the company?
• Research. Research. Research. The company, the industry, the challenges facing both, the economy, unemployment rates and more. Your interviewers will be determining how well researched you are as a prediction of how well you’ll do your research if you’re offered their position.
• Prepare questions to ask the interviewers: What’s your vision for the role? What will this role look like in 1-3-5 years? What does succession planning look like in this role? Do you see this role as a highly operational or strategic role, or, perhaps, both? Questions like these go a long way to A) getting to know the company and the role, and B) indicating to the interviewers that you’ve prepared and are interested in the role and hitting the mark.
• Know what is expected of you: Be sure to do your research on the organization and understand the expectations of the role.
• Be prepared to demonstrate your value proposition: How will you add value to the organization? How will you help solve the organization’s challenges? What are your unique skills and expertise? What unique insights do you bring to the table?

Making the Transition to the CFO Role

After you have been offered the CFO position, it is important to make the transition as seamless as possible. This includes preparing for all of the challenges that are associated with the new role. It is important to identify the challenges and have a plan for dealing with them.

Additionally, it is important to be prepared for the change. This includes being prepared to deal with different responsibilities, shifting priorities, and a broader range of issues. It is important to understand that becoming a CFO is a long, challenging journey. It can take several years to achieve this career goal. With the right skills, expertise, and determination, you can excel in the CFO role.

Professional Development and Continuing Education

As a CFO, you will need to be prepared to continually develop your skills and expertise. This includes actively seeking out new challenges and opportunities for professional development. It is important to stay up-to-date with industry trends, keep your knowledge base current, and expand your network. This can be done through a variety of ways, including reading industry publications and attending industry conferences.

These activities will help you stay informed, informed, and will enable you to make an impact in the industry. As a CFO, you will need to keep your skills and knowledge up-to-date. This includes managing your professional development plan and making time for continuing education. There are a variety of options available, including online courses, conferences, seminars, and workshops. It is important to choose the right ones for you.

Becoming a CFO is a challenging and rewarding career path, requiring extensive expertise in finance & accounting, along with strong leadership skills, the ability to identify top talent and build collaborative teams, excellent judgement and the ability to make sound financial decisions. All successful CFOs have strong technical and operational skills and expertise.

This series provides aspiring CFOs with the tools necessary to achieve their goal on The Path To CFO.

Signing off until next time.

Thanks for reading.

- SARAH PREBLE | Founder & Senior Executive Recruiter, Search Heights