Chief Financial Officer
Oversee a company's finance and accounting functions.
Job opportunities
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Jobs in SEEK right nowJob growth
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5-year projectionSalary
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Typical salaryJob satisfaction
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Job opportunities
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Jobs in SEEK right nowSalary
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Typical salaryJob growth
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5-year projectionJob satisfaction
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On this page
- What's it like to be a Chief Financial Officer?
- How to become a Chief Financial Officer
- Latest Chief Financial Officer jobs
- Top skills and experience for Chief Financial Officers
- Is Chief Financial Officer the right role for you?
- Chief Financial Officer role reviews
What's it like to be a Chief Financial Officer?
A Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is one of the highest-ranking executives in a company, and reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Although the role of the CFO will differ from organisation to organisation, their main responsibility is to manage the company’s finances, including profit and loss reporting, budget allocation, financial forecasting and financial risk management. A CFO must possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, both verbally and written, and must be able to engage with staff at all levels of an organisation. In publicly listed companies, a CFO is often required to represent the company at investor relations meetings.
Tasks and duties
- Managing the finance and accounting team.
- Providing the executive leadership with expert financial advice and proposing new financial strategies.
- Producing the company’s financial reports including profit and loss statements and balance sheets.
- Managing financial forecasting and allocating budgets.
- Approving business cases.
- Monitoring cashflow.
How to become a Chief Financial Officer
While there are many pathways to becoming a Chief Financial Officer, most have a strong education background with extensive leadership experience in business, accounting and financial management.
- Complete a bachelor degree in accounting, finance, business, economics or a related field. This usually takes three years of full-time study..
- Consider advancing your skills with a relevant postgraduate degree, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
- Consider enhancing your credentials further by joining the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Program. CPA members are recognised for their extensive training in accounting, finance and business. Prior completion of a CPA-approved university degree will help you satisfy the academic requirements for entry into the program.
- Gain extensive work experience in a leadership role in the finance area of a company. Prior senior-level managerial experience is typically required before becoming a CFO.
Compare your salary
Find out how your salary compares with the average salary for Chief Financial Officers.Latest Chief Financial Officer jobs on SEEK
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Skills and experience employers are looking for
Having the right skills and experience can make you an in-demand applicant. Chief Financial Officer employers on SEEK are looking for job seekers with expertise in the following areas. Finance Strategy
Financial Reporting
Accounting
Budgeting
Financial Management
Forecasting
Financial Operations
Financial Planning
Certified Public / Practising Accountant Qualification
Cash Flows
Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK Profile data
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Latest Chief Financial Officer reviews
Jan 2025
a dynamic blend of strategic decision-making, financial stewardship, and leadership, balancing risk and growth to drive long-term business success.
Reviewer's QualificationMaster of Professional Accounting
Experience1 – 4 years
Organisation sizeMedium (20-199 employees)
SpecialisationMining, Resources & Energy
The good thingsAs a CFO, I enjoy the strategic impact I have on a company's financial health and long-term success. Beyond just managing numbers, I play a key role in shaping business decisions, optimizing resources...
The challengesWhile the role of a CFO is rewarding, it does come with challenges. One of the biggest difficulties is the constant pressure to deliver financial results and maintain stability, especially in unpredic...
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May 2021
CFO is a mentally demanding role but assisting in ensuring a company is successful is extremely rewarding.
Reviewer's QualificationBachelor of Finance
Experience10+ years
Organisation sizeLarge (200+ employees)
SpecialisationFinance
The good thingsBeing a Chief Financial Officer can be extremely rewarding as you have the ability to influence and improve both the results of a company but also the security of all employees who work for the busine...
The challengesSome industries are very protected by government actions i.e. Timber/construction industry and the ability to change poor culture or to assist the business to grow, develop and improve processes can b...
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