How to Become a CFO

Many people desire to enter a company and move up the corporate ladder. For those with a background in finance, a goal would be to become a chief financial officer (CFO). CFOs oversee all financial operations of an organization, including accounting, financial reporting and business strategies. If you're business savvy and seek a career in finance, becoming a CFO might be for you.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Obtain a degree in finance from an accredited college or university. While a master's in finance is not necessary, you should at least have a bachelor's. Taking business courses is also beneficial.

2. Become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Contact the board of accountancy in your state and apply to take the examination to get licensed as a CPA.

3. Get a job in the finance or corporate development department of a corporation. Seek employment through any job-search websites such as Monster.com. Or, look in the classified section of your local newspaper for corporate finance positions in your area.

4. Develop the skills that can help you move up to become a CFO. These would include communication skills, leadership and motivation skills, management skills and understanding business strategy, trends and operations.

5. Accept promotions. Move up to assistant vice president of finance, then vice president and eventually CFO. Don't hesitate to accept higher positions outside of your current organization. Often times moving to another company is necessary to climb the corporate ladder.

Tips & Warnings

• Attend continuing education courses and executive education programs your company offers helps advance your skills needed to become a CFO.

• Use people in higher positions as mentors, if possible. Learn from others who have worked their way up the corporate ladder before you.

• Be a self-starter. Stand out and be noticed. Study your corporation and business trends on your own. Show you are eager and willing to work hard to advance.