The Chief Finance Officer owns the financial strategy and planning of the business. Acts as a trusted advisor to the board and CEO.
A Chief Financial Officer is the most senior finance leader in a business. They are responsible for overseeing financial strategy, risk, funding, reporting and long-term planning. In growing companies, the CFO plays a key role in guiding leadership decisions and shaping the organisation’s future.
In many SMEs, the CFO also takes on additional responsibilities such as HR, IT, and commercial oversight including bids and contracts. The role is often broader and more hands on than in larger corporate environments.
Leading financial strategy and long-term planning
Overseeing financial planning processes and tracking performance against key metrics.
Managing relationships with investors, banks, lenders, and strategic partners.
Supporting mergers, acquisitions, fundraising, or exit strategies.
Overseeing tax, audit, risk, and corporate governance processes.
Managing Finance Directors, Controllers, and FP&A leads to ensure aligned delivery.
In SMEs, often also responsible for HR, IT, legal matters, bids, and commercial contracts.
Translating complex financial data into clear, actionable insight for the board and senior leadership.
Most businesses hire a CFO when they are:
Getting ready for a funding round, acquisition, or business sale.
Expanding into new markets or launching new product lines.
Overseeing a group structure or multiple revenue streams.
Needing greater financial input at board level to guide decision-making.
Some companies appoint a Fractional CFO or Portfolio CFO to bring in senior expertise without the cost of a full time hire.
A great CFO is both financially rigorous and commercially minded. They can think long term, communicate clearly and work closely with the leadership team to drive results.
You should look for someone who:
It’s not always clear whether you need an Assistant Accountant, a Financial Controller, a CFO or something in between.
That’s where our Finance Function Blueprint comes in.
We map out your finance team structure based on your goals, business size, and growth stage, so you can hire with clarity and confidence.
We offer a free Finance Team Diagnostic session to help you assess your current setup and work out what you really need next. It is a no-obligation, one-to-one session with one of our experienced finance directors.
At Artemis Clarke, we help ambitious businesses find CFOs who combine strategic insight with practical experience.
