Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
The senior executive overseeing a company's financial strategy, reporting, and investor relations.
What is CFO?
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is the senior executive responsible for managing a company's financial operations, including financial planning, accounting, treasury, tax, and investor relations. The CFO oversees the preparation of financial statements and ensures compliance with SEC reporting requirements. Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the CFO must co-certify, alongside the CEO, the accuracy of quarterly and annual financial reports. The CFO plays a central role in capital allocation, debt issuance, equity offerings, and communicating financial results to shareholders, analysts, and credit rating agencies.
Example
Kevan Parekh became Apple's CFO in January 2024, succeeding Luca Maestri. The CFO role at Apple involves overseeing a balance sheet with over $160 billion in cash and investments, managing the company's debt program, and presenting quarterly earnings to Wall Street analysts.