Companies of all sizes (including startups and SMBs here in the San Francisco Bay Area) need their CFOs to have a broad set of multi-disciplinary skills.
A recent interview in Forbes magazine with an executive recruiter specializing in CFO searches highlights some of the skills in demand. Here are some relevant quotes from the article:
“Leadership and strategy are at the top of the list of criteria when hunting for a CFO; without leadership and strategy, nothing else matters.”
“In terms of technical skills, breadth is critical. The most sought after skill set is operational finance, including FP&A (financial planning and analysis), budgeting and forecasting. The ability to see the business through the numbers and partner with a general manager to drive a P&L (profit and loss statement) is crucial.”
“In terms of technical skills, breadth is critical. The most sought after skill set is operational finance, including FP&A (financial planning and analysis), budgeting and forecasting. The ability to see the business through the numbers and partner with a general manager to drive a P&L (profit and loss statement) is crucial.”