en
Jobs

Our industry specialists will listen to your aspirations and share your story with Belgium’s most prestigious organisations. Together, let’s write the next chapter of your career.

See all jobs
Services

Belgium’s leading employers trust us to deliver fast, efficient hiring solutions that are tailored to their exact requirements. Browse our range of bespoke services and resources

Read more
About Robert Walters Belgium

For us, recruitment is more than just a job. We understand that behind every opportunity is the chance to make a difference to people’s lives

Learn more

Work for us

Our people are the difference. Hear stories from our people to learn more about a career at Robert Walters Belgium

Learn more

Becoming a CFO

If you have a financial background and are already working in accountancy and finance, your ultimate goal may well be to become a chief financial officer (CFO). But what does a CFO do and what skills and experience do you need to become one?

CFOs oversee all the financial operations of an organisation, including accounting and financial reporting. They manage all aspects of financial matters and decision-making.

What does a Chief Financial Officer do?

The Chief Financial Officer directs a company's financial goals, objectives, and budgets. If you work as a CFO, you oversee the investment of funds held by the company and assess and manage associated risks. You also supervise cash management activities, execute capital-raising strategies to support a firm's expansion, and deal with mergers and acquisitions. Most CFOs are also responsible for managing the corporate investments and will sit on the board.

If you work as a Chief Financial Officer in a smaller company, you may be expected to carry out a range of accounting tasks, while executives at larger corporations typically review reports and data from various divisions within their companies. CFOs oversee all the financial operations of an organisation, including accounting, financial reporting, tax, business control and treasury.

Education and training needed

As with all ‘Chief’-level executive positions, you will need several years of experience at a senior management level as well as an accountancy qualification (preferably public accounting), finance, economics, business or a related subject. Many CFOs begin their careers as finance professionals, accountants or managers of small divisions, and work their way up to senior positions within a company.

The number of years of management experience you will need depends on the size of the company and the extent of the duties involved. Many Chief Financial Officers have an MBA, a Masters or another type of advanced degree.

Skills needed

If you are going to become a successful CFO, you need outstanding finance skills, but you need a lot more than that as well. You must have the ability to make smart and strategic decisions on behalf of the organisation, and you should be able to look holistically at the company and understand what it needs.

Importantly, you should also be able to translate financial data into useful information for those across all levels of an organisation. Leadership, interpersonal and communication skills are also important in such a high-level position.

In order to be successful in your role as Chief Financial Officer, you also need to play a leading role in digital transformation efforts. Focusing on being innovative and leading digital transformation initiatives, will help organisations be more profitable. Digital leadership is particularly important for CFOs who oversee the IT function.

Salary of a CFO

As a CFO, your salary will vary depending on the size of the company that you’re employed by. According to our Robert Walters Salary Survey, a CFO can expect to earn between 120k and 250k EUR a year and will also receive a number of other benefits, such as a bonus, based on company performance. They will also be able to buy shares in the company if it is listed.

Looking for your next challenge to develop your career?

Check out our latest jobs in accounting & finance.

Share this article

Related Solutions

Sign up for job alerts
Salary Survey
Career Advice
Get in touch

Find out more by contacting one of our specialist recruitment consultants

Related content

View all

Tips to capture +10 years on your CV

As a senior professional, you have undoubtedly worked in several organisations, or held numerous positions in your career. If, at some point, you decide to look for a new professional challenge, you will most likely need to prepare or complete your CV. But where do you start? Is it essential to ment

Read More

How to craft a killer personal brand statement

In a world that’s overflowing with information, it pays to make yourself memorable. Your personal brand statement helps to do just that. What is a personal brand statement? It’s the elevator pitch that tells recruiters and networkers what you’ve got to offer in a handy nutshell. So where can you use

Read More

Job switch checklist

Have you decided to start job hunting? Although coming to the decision that you’re ready to change jobs is a big step, the reality of finding a new role can still frustratingly seem like a long way off. Follow our job switch checklist to help you get organised and kick-off your job search successful

Read More

I'm Robert Walters Are you?

Come join our global team of creative thinkers, problem solvers and game changers. We offer accelerated career progression, a dynamic culture and expert training.