Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Job Description

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) job description below outlines the role for senior finance leaders responsible for financial strategy, controls and reporting. Candidates should apply if they have substantial executive finance experience, strong stakeholder engagement skills and a track record of driving financial performance and governance at senior levels.

CFO Job Profile

The Chief Financial Officer is accountable for the organisation's financial health, delivering strategic direction for capital allocation, financial planning and risk management. The post holder translates corporate strategy into financial plans and ensures robust financial controls, accurate reporting and compliance with regulatory requirements.

The role requires a strategic partner to the chief executive and the board, providing insight into performance, capital decisions and long term value creation. The CFO leads the finance function, supports business growth and secures stakeholder confidence in financial stewardship.

CFO Job Description

The CFO provides leadership across finance, forecasting and reporting, ensuring timely, accurate financial information for executive decision making and governance. The role involves developing and implementing financial strategy, overseeing budgeting and forecasting cycles and managing liquidity and capital structure to support operational objectives.

The CFO establishes and maintains internal controls and compliance frameworks, oversees external and internal audit processes and ensures adherence to statutory and regulatory obligations. The role requires close collaboration with operational leaders to align financial performance measures with business priorities and to identify opportunities for efficiency and sustainable growth.

As a senior executive, the CFO represents the organisation to investors, lenders and other external stakeholders, prepares board papers and delivers clear, evidence based financial analysis to support strategic initiatives including mergers, acquisitions and major capital projects.

CFO: Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the organisation's financial strategy to support long term objectives and value creation
• Lead annual budgeting, rolling forecasting and long range financial planning processes
• Ensure accurate and timely statutory and management reporting to the board and executive team
• Manage cash flow, treasury operations and capital structure to maintain liquidity and optimise financing costs
• Oversee financial risk management, insurance and compliance with relevant laws and regulations
• Design and maintain internal control systems and governance frameworks to protect organisational assets
• Direct external and internal audit engagements and respond to audit findings with remedial actions
• Provide financial due diligence and commercial analysis for transactions, investments and strategic initiatives
• Drive cost management and performance improvement programmes across the organisation
• Lead, develop and motivate the finance team, setting clear objectives and career development plans
• Prepare materials and present financial information to the board, executive committee and external stakeholders
• Manage relationships with banks, investors, advisers and rating agencies as required
• Establish financial policies, procedures and reporting standards that support transparency and accountability
• Support technology and process improvements to enhance financial controls and reporting efficiency

CFO: Requirements and Qualifications

• Degree in finance, accounting, economics or a related discipline; postgraduate qualifications desirable
• Professional qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CPA or equivalent
• Extensive senior finance experience with a minimum of 8 to 12 years in progressive leadership roles
• Proven experience as a CFO, finance director or senior financial leader responsible for strategic planning
• Strong technical knowledge of financial reporting, corporate finance and capital markets
• Demonstrable experience of budgeting, forecasting and long term financial modelling
• Experience managing audits and implementing robust internal control frameworks
• Track record of leading finance teams, developing talent and driving cross functional collaboration
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, including board level engagement
• Solid commercial acumen with experience supporting mergers, acquisitions or major capital projects
• High level analytical skills with attention to detail and ability to present clear recommendations
• Integrity, resilience and the capacity to operate effectively in complex, changing environments