What are the job duties of a chief financial officer (CFO)?

Typical responsibilities for a CFO include developing the company's budget, communicating with the company's banking and insurance partners, and advising other executives on strategic matters relating to company finances.

Common duties of chief financial officers include:

• Direct the preparation of all financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, shareholder reports, tax returns, and governmental agency reports.

• Compare sales and profit projections to actual figures and budgeted expenses to actual expenses; make or oversee any necessary adjustments to future projections and budgets.

• Review planning process and suggest improvements to current methods.

• Analyze operations to identify areas that need reorganization, downsizing, or elimination.

• Work with the President and other executives to coordinate planning and establish priorities for the planning process.

• Study long-range economic trends and projects their impact on future growth in sales and market share.

• Identify opportunities for expansion into new product areas.

• Oversee investment of funds and works with investment bankers to raise additional capital required for expansion.