Nowadays, the business world, specifically the world of managers and senior executives, is full of acronyms and acronyms that sometimes we are not very clear about what they mean. From the famous CEO or CMO, without forgetting one of the most important positions in any organization, the CFO.
The CFO is one of the most important parts of a company’s board of directors and must have financial skills, but also leadership and planning skills.
CFO are the stands for Chief Financial Officer which in Spanish translates simply as “Chief Financial Officer“. This position is the head of the company’s finance department and is responsible for planning, growth strategy, asset management and strategic advisory tasks.
Usually, this position is part of the management committee and is a key position for the smooth running of the organization. In this sense, it should be covered by someone with financial knowledge that allows him/her to optimize the management of the company, reducing costs and optimizing the control of the company’s resources.
what are the tasks of a CFO?
Usually, this position is linked to the belief that he or she spends a lot of time cutting costs. Although this is one of its functions, in reality a CFO has other complex responsibilities and performs several functions such as preparing a financial plantogether with the CEO, to align the company’s objectives with financial capabilities and corporate strategy.
They are also in charge of allocating capital to the different initiatives and actions that are established in the annual business plan. On the other hand, they are also in charge of planning the organization’s financial structure and policy, as well as carrying out all financial transactions related to expenses, debts and interest, ensuring the company’s ability to obtain capital at a good price.
In some cases, the CFO must act as chief accountantensuring that the financial statements are accurate and that the accounting team functions properly. Ultimately, it falls on his shoulders to maintain the financial integrity of the company.
what skills should a CFO have?
First of all, he/she should have an academic background related to economics and business, such as Business Administration and Management or Finance and Accounting.
Beyond academic knowledge, a CFO must have strong communication skills, as he/she will have to create and maintain good relationships with advisors, investors, clients and must also be able to convey information clearly.
He must also be a great strategist, able to anticipate market changes and any management issues that may arise. A CFO must be able to generate business plans and implement them, so he or she must be a flexible person and have the ability to adapt in order to be able to redirect his or her plans.
A CFO must also have a good knowledge of the industry and a thorough understanding of the market in which he or she works, as well as its main players. Finally, a CFO must be a good leader, as he or she will be part of the management committee, so certain important tasks will fall on his or her shoulders.
