Interim CFO

The chief financial officer (CFO) is the officer of a company that has primary responsibility for managing the company's finances, including financial planning, management of financial risks, record-keeping, and financial reporting. The CFO reports to the CEO. In some companies, the CFO is also responsible for managing investor relations. The CFO position is one of the most important and demanding in corporate America.

The role of CFO has evolved over time to that of a strategic business partner to the CEO. As such, the modern CFO must be well-versed in both finance and accounting and have a deep understanding of how the business operates. The CFO must also be a good communicator and be able to effectively present financial information to non-financial managers and to shareholders and investors.

The CFO position is often seen as a stepping stone to the CEO position, and indeed many CEOs have come from the ranks of CFOs. However, being a successful CFO does not guarantee success as a CEO, and vice versa. The duties of a CFO can be divided into three broad categories: financial planning and analysis, treasury and cash management, and financial reporting. Financial planning and analysis includes developing long-term plans for the company and its various business units, as well as short-term plans (budgets) and forecasting future revenues and expenses.

The CFO must ensure that the company has sufficient cash on hand to meet its short-term obligations, as well as to take advantage of opportunities that may arise. Treasury and cash management includes managing the company's bank accounts, lines of credit, and investments. The CFO must ensure that the company has enough cash on hand to meet its short-term obligations, as well as to take advantage of opportunities that may arise. The CFO must also manage the company's exposure to financial risks, such as interest rate risk, foreign exchange risk, and credit risk.

Financial reporting includes preparing and presenting financial statements, as well as managing the company's financial disclosure process. The CFO must ensure that the financial statements accurately reflect the financial position of the company and that they are presented in a manner that is clear and understandable to shareholders, investors, analysts, and other users of financial information.