The chief financial officer (CFO) is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation.  This is the definition from Wikipedia (which is where everyone seems to get their explanations).

Do you think that "managing the financial risks of the corporation" is the PRIMARY responsibility?   I would argue that it is ONE of the PRIMARY responsibilities but certainly not the only one.  The explanation goes on to say the following:  "This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management. In some sectors the CFO is also responsible for analysis of data".   Who writes this stuff?  Aren't we missing a number of key roles?

Another source, Investopia, had the following as the answer to the question (massively abridged, editors discretion):  Controllership duties, Treasury duties, and Economic strategy and forecasting.  Granted the article written goes on to say the following "The CFO's job is a very complex one. We have only scratched the surface of the many things this executive is responsible for. One thing is certain: a great CFO will usually differ from a good CFO by the way that he or she is able to project the long-term financial picture of the company and by how the company thrives based on his or her analyses."  Well we do not have the space to discuss the differences between a "great CFO" and a good one but maybe another article?

What do you think?  How would you define the job of a CFO?

David A. Fogel, CPA                                                                                                                                                                                           Coordinating Committee for the MIT Sloan CFO Summit

Principal, Swifton CFOs
Email: dfogel@swiftoncfos.com Twitter: @swifton