What is a CFO?
CFO is one of the most respected roles within finance because of the breadth and depth of experience it demands. It is critical to the success of an organisation, and requires a thorough understanding of accounting and finance in the context of how they underpin business strategy and operations.
The day to day responsibilities of a CFO are extremely varied, and can include sourcing and managing funds, performance measurement, management accounting, decision support and financial reporting.
As the financial leaders of an organisation, CFOs are ultimately responsible for driving the future of accounting by fostering a forward-thinking finance function that appeals to a new generation of accountants committed to using their skills to drive better and more sustainable businesses and economies.
How do I achieve it?
Those exploring how to become a CFO will likely already know that CFOs must be qualified accountants and members of a professional body such as ACCA. CFOs will typically progress into the role of CFO from other senior roles such as financial controller, accountancy partner, or after proving their ability to lead a department of financial or management accountants.
Aspiring CFOs will benefit from taking the following ACCA Strategic Professional Options exams:
- Advanced Financial Management (AFM)
- Advanced Performance Management (APM)
