Samuel's CFO Website

  • Home
  • CFO Blog
    • Samuel’s Other Blogs
      • CFO Moves
        • USA
        • Canada
        • UK
      • CHRO Moves
  • CFO Book
    • Buy your copy
    • What others have to say about Guide to CFO Success
  • How Samuel Helps
    • Hire your next CFO
    • Build your Finance Team
    • Financial Executive Coaching
    • CFO Peer Groups
    • Speaking & Training
  • About Samuel
    • Media on Samuel Dergel
  • Contact Samuel
  • English
  • Français
You are here: Home / How you answer this question defines whether you are a Real CFO.

August 3, 2011 By Samuel Dergel Leave a Comment

How you answer this question defines whether you are a Real CFO.

I’m about to upset some of you. It’s not intentional – I am trying to make a point.

The word CFO is overused by many people – by business owners, CEOs, boards, and recruiters. In too many instances, the position that many people call CFO is nothing more than a Controller or Chief Accountant.

CFOs are senior financial managers who work with the CEO and other executives within the company to make business decisions. CFOs do this with information provided to them by the team that they lead.

I have heard the argument that smaller businesses do not have the depth or resources for such a CFO, and their most senior financial person is designated as the CFO. I’m not saying every business needs a Real CFO, but a person doing the accounting as a part of their required tasks is NOT a CFO. Smaller businesses may need a CFO, and there are businesses and professionals that provide excellent Part-Time CFO services to these companies.

So, what is the one question that defines whether you are a Real CFO or not?

Answer this question in the affirmative, and it’s a good chance you’re a Real CFO.

Do you earn more than a $250,000 package annually?

(Caveat: This amount applies in the USA and Canada and may need to be adjusted lower or higher based on cost of living situations which vary from place to place. This amount is a number chosen to reflect my general statement. It does not mean you are making too little, or too much.)

Are you a Real CFO? Do you have a Real CFO working for you?

Share this:

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Print

Related

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Get Samuel's CFO Blog by Email!

Join the 572 people that receive new blogs by email when published.

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Search in Samuel’s CFO Blog

Like what Samuel has to say?

Great! The goal of Samuel's CFO Blog is to engage with CFOs and those who work with CFOs.

Please feel free to comment on any of the issues raised in Samuel’s CFO Blog. Your input, positive or not so positive, encouraging or critical, will add value to all readers of the blog.

You can reach Samuel...
Telephone
San Francisco: +1 (415) 738-2070
Montreal: +1 (514) 907-0925
Email: samuel@dergelcfo.com

View Samuel Dergel - The CFO Expert's profile on LinkedIn

Twitter: @DergelCFO

Follow
  • @JohnGradek joins @DergelSearch #SupplyChain #Aviation #Logistics #ExecutiveSearch https://t.co/5tw8mQ4SxI https://t.co/kmACmVgnrX
     
     
     
  • RT @diginomica: hits/misses - automate deep learning, software audits (yuk) https://t.co/6HP7zkzsaC -> Jon's picks include @UpperEdge, @krm…
     
     
     
  • RT @jonerpnewsfeed'>jonerpnewsfeed: A CFO Success Story: Sajid Malhotra, CFO of Limelight Networks - by @dergelCFO https://t.co/O3q28683k3 (via @jonerp) #e…
     
     
     
  • @jonerpnewsfeed'>jonerpnewsfeed @jonerp @sajidmalhotra @llnw
     
     
     
  • Read our newest #CFO #Success Story - @sajidmalhotra of @llnw'>llnw https://t.co/DhvOlzRlDk https://t.co/9bZkTIk1bN
     
     
     
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Archives – Samuel’s CFO Blog

Categories – Samuel’s CFO Blog

All of Samuel's Blogs Assessment Blog Board Board Books books for CFOs Build your Finance Team Career Management CEO CEO CFO CFO Buzz CFO Coach CFO Coaching CFO Consulting CFO Moves CFO Peer Groups CFO Relationships CFO Research CFO Search Chief Financial Officer Executive Coaching Executive Search Finance Team Financial Executive Coaching Great CFO Guide to CFO Success Hire your Next CFO How Samuel Helps HR Investors LinkedIn New CFO Personal Branding Recruiters Social Media Speaking and Training Successful CFO Succession Planning Talent Management Team Structuring The Strong CFO Training and Development Wiley
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Contact Information

You can reach Samuel by:

Telephone
San Francisco: +1 (415) 738-2070
Montreal: +1 (514) 907-0925

Email: samuel@dergelcfo.com

Copyright © 2011-2016 - Samuel Dergel (Dergel CFO Search & Consulting Inc.) Note: Opinions expressed on this website are the personal opinions of Samuel Dergel only, and not any other person or entity, unless attributed otherwise.

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.