Annual CFO Pathways Report 2021 Edition

The level of attention on the role of Chief Financial Officer has never been higher. The seismic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has profound implications for the current and future economic health of businesses in the UK and beyond. Subsequently, the financial performance and decision-making of companies have come under unprecedented scrutiny. Make no mistake, CFO appointments are under the microscope!

We live in an age of heightened awareness of inequality, diversity, and inclusion, where social media has the power to change the world’s perceptions, and where memories of financial mismanagement at Tesco, Patisserie Valerie, Carillion, and Enron remain fresh in the mind.

In this context, the CFO bears a huge responsibility in deciding on the level of risk an organisation is prepared to take on, second only to the CEO. It is, therefore, appropriate to examine the routes taken by CFOs to their current roles.

Eton Bridge is delighted to present the findings of research into nearly 1,000 CFOs who were appointed in the UK in 2019/2020. We hope the statistics, analysis, and conclusions in this white paper are useful to people across the C-suite landscape. We look to answer the following questions:

• Where do CFOs come from?
• What qualifications do they hold?
• Are CFOs sector agnostic?
• Do PE CFOs differ from Plc CFOs?
• What experience do I need to become a CFO?
• How do I become a CFO?
• How do I become a Private Equity CFO?
• Should I hire a CFO externally, or promote from within?
• Does gender play a role?

Ultimately, what insights are there for individuals looking to follow in their footsteps, and for companies looking to make such a crucial appointment?

To read the full report, follow this link.