CFO Roles Expand as Salary Growth Stabilizes Amid Market Changes
CFO roles are evolving to embrace strategic leadership, leading to stabilized salary growth due to increased candidate supply.
Key Points
- • CFOs are expected to be strategic advisors, not just number crunchers.
- • Salary growth for CFOs has stabilized due to an increased supply of candidates.
- • Digitalization and ESG responsibilities are key focus areas for CFOs.
- • Recruitment challenges arise from differing expectations between CEOs and CFO roles.
The role of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) is undergoing fundamental transformations in 2025, with an emphasis on broadening strategic and leadership responsibilities. Reports from various organizations indicate that CFOs are increasingly seen as proactive advisors rather than solely financial overseers. This shift is attributed to the complex macroeconomic environment that emphasizes cash flow resilience and positions CFOs at the forefront of sustainability initiatives, with over half actively engaged in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters.
Notably, a survey by PWC indicates that a significant majority of CFOs are dedicating more time to strategic decision-making, reflecting the changing expectations of the role. However, despite these changes, the implementation of advanced technologies, such as AI, remains slow, with 59% of CFOs not having integrated AI into their operations yet.
Simultaneously, the supply of qualified CFOs has increased, leading to a stabilization in salary growth for finance directors. Experts from Finance Recruitment highlight that recruitment has been challenging, particularly as the landscape shifts post-pandemic, and the skill set required for CFOs has expanded to include data analysis and strategic contributions. The specific needs of the CFO role often complicate recruitment efforts, especially when CEOs — who may lack a deep understanding of the role's intricacies — make hiring decisions.