25 November 2014
The main emphasis of the CFO’s role is typically as the guardian of the financial health of an organization, overseeing and implementing adequate financial control infrastructure. In addition to overseeing the F&A function and related information systems, CFOs’ responsibilities typically include: • demonstrating ethical leadership and business integrity; • balancing short-term concerns and pressures, such as managing cash, liquidity, and profitability, and long-term vision and sustainable organizational success; • fulfilling stewardship responsibilities by ensuring effective compliance and control and responding to ever increasing regulatory developments, including financial reporting, capital requirements, and corporate responsibility; • sharing strategic leadership responsibilities with the CEO and other senior managers and ensuring the F&A function supports the business at a strategic and operational level; • driving and managing change and innovation within the organization; and • engaging and communicating effectively with colleagues, investors, customers, suppliers, regulators, and other internal and external stakeholders.