Who is higher CFO or director of finance?
The CFO is in the highest position, almost the same as the CEO. Even though the CFO reports their job directly to the CEO, they still have the same position as the executive of the company. In the financial field, the finance director is under CFO.
Key Differences Between Finance Director vs CFO
A Finance Director may have around 10 years in comparison. CFO is an executive-level role, and Finance Director is considered to be senior management. This means that compensation and the degree of job difficulty is usually much higher for a CFO.
The CEO is usually the highest-ranking member of a company. They typically lead the C-suite, which also includes a COO, CFO and CTO. Vice presidents may also report to the CEO.
What Is the Role of a Finance Director? In organisations where there is a CFO, FDs have similar responsibilities to CFOs, but are not part of the senior executive team. Their role is to oversee and direct the company's financial operations and report to the CFO.
Responsibilities of a CFO vs a VP of Finance
The role of a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a senior-level position that is responsible for the overall financial strategy and management of a company while the role of a VP of Finance is responsible for the day-to-day financial management and operations of a company.
At the top if the CFO. Finance Director/ VP of Finance is essentially the same role, however if you have a VP of Fin, but need a strategic person at the same level (or a little higher) then you have the CFO. Below that is Controller (Chief Accounting Officer).
A Director of Finance is responsible for the company's long-term financial health and growth. They establish strategies that will earn profits, oversee accounting operations, produce accurate reports on where money is going within the business and improve or change current practices to increase efficiency.
C-suite gets its name from the titles of top senior executives, which tend to start with the letter C, for "chief," as in chief executive officer (CEO), chief financial officer (CFO), chief operating officer (COO), and chief information officer (CIO).
If the CFO is working for a financial company, they might be the highest person, but in companies that are solely financial, they are the third highest position in the company behind the CEO and the COO. The CFO also works with all senior managers, but they do not have to report to them.
The hierarchy of corporate titles can look something like this: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chief Operating Officer (CEO)/Chief Technology Officer (CTO)/Chief Financial Officer (CFO) President.
Can a CFO be a director?
CFOs should occupy a senior management position or be a member of the board but this is not always the case. In some jurisdictions as part of a unitary board structure, the CFO is a director of a company with statutory duties.
The director participates in investing funds of the company and conducting equity placements, while the controllers keep track of the investments. The directors of finance are higher-ranking officials who also earn more than the controllers of finance.
Finance Directors and accountants fulfil very different functions for businesses and, although expert in knowing their way around the numbers, a Finance Director doesn't even have to be an accountant. Many have backgrounds in banking or venture capital, and some have an MBA up their sleeve.
The CFO is the highest-ranking finance officer in the company. Generally, from a hierarchical organizational structure perspective, the CFO ranks third, after the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO). In most organizations, the CFO reports to the CEO.
Depending on the company, a VP of Finance may report directly to a president, CEO, or CFO, depending on the structure of an organization. They are responsible for processing the financial activities of an organization to maximize a company's profits and plan for its growth.
Similar Job Titles to a Chief Financial Officer
For example, some employers may refer to a Chief Financial Officer as either a Vice President Finance or a Financial Director.
Typically, the CFO is the highest-ranking finance team member in the company. In a traditional company hierarchy, they are usually third in line, behind the CEO and COO. The CFO reports directly to the CEO. Both are leaders of the finance team.
The chief operating officer (COO) is the second-in-command of an organization. They are responsible for managing and directing all aspects of operations and depending on the organization this can include Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, etc.
The CFO is the top-ranking executive related to managing a company's finances. This includes managing all aspects of financial and cash flow planning, as well as analyzing its financial position.
A Finance Director is a senior-level executive within an organization who is responsible for overseeing and managing the financial activities and operations of a company.
Is Director of Finance same as finance director?
Finance Directors (also known as directors of finance or directors of financial planning) are part of senior management, and they manage the financial aspects of an organization. Part of their role is to ensure that the finances of the company are sound.
Investing in an FD is a decision that should not be taken lightly. The cost of employing an FD and finding the right person that fits within your agency's culture, can be expensive and time consuming. However, if you get it right then the benefits far outweigh the cost and will have a positive impact on your business.
| Basis | Controller |
|---|---|
| Definition | The controller makes sure that the day-to-day operations relating to finance are executed and run properly. |
| Hierarchy | They rank below the CFO in the hierarchy of an organization |
Hierarchy of CEO vs COO vs CFO
The COO is second in command to the CEO and works very closely with them. They are also hired by the CEO. The CFO is hired by the CEO and works one-level under them along with the COO and other C-suite positions.
When it comes to salary comparison, the CFO tends to have a higher base salary compared to the COO. This is because the CFO is responsible for managing the company's finances and ensuring financial stability.
