This has been the pinnacle of debate in the financial world for almost a decade, CEO succession and the rise of the CFO. 

The Chief Financial Officer is no longer an experienced and conservative accountant. It is now an all-encompassing general management role filled by a person who cannot only deal with figures but implement strategy, make decisions and influence stakeholders. 

We recently had this conversation with a client who brought a new perspective into the discussion. She was an established CFO and an incredible COO, but she never wanted to be CEO – not once. It goes without saying that CFOs are often expected to possess a portfolio of management, leadership and social skills – and while we have often attributed this to a finance professional wanting to take a step up, is it simply just a result of the changing requirements of a CFO? 

We would like to provide some insight on this discussion and ask finance professionals within our network if they aspire to become CEO. Please follow the link below to answer our anonymous 60 second poll or get in touch to discuss the topic in more detail.