Chief Finance Officer - CFO

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.

What Does a CFO Do?

Strategic Financial Planning

Leading financial strategy and long-term planning

Forecasting, Budgeting & Performance Monitoring

Overseeing financial planning processes and tracking performance against key metrics.

Stakeholder & Investor Management

Managing relationships with investors, banks, lenders, and strategic partners.

Transaction & Growth Support

Supporting mergers, acquisitions, fundraising, or exit strategies.

Governance & Compliance Oversight

Overseeing tax, audit, risk, and corporate governance processes.

Senior Finance Team Leadership

Managing Finance Directors, Controllers, and FP&A leads to ensure aligned delivery.

Cross-Functional Executive Oversight

In SMEs, often also responsible for HR, IT, legal matters, bids, and commercial contracts.

Turning Data into Strategic Insight

Translating complex financial data into clear, actionable insight for the board and senior leadership.

When Should You Hire a CFO?

Most businesses hire a CFO when they are:

Preparing for Investment or Exit

Getting ready for a funding round, acquisition, or business sale.

Scaling Operations

Expanding into new markets or launching new product lines.

Managing Complexity

Overseeing a group structure or multiple revenue streams.

Strengthening Strategic Insight

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.

What Makes a Great CFO?

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:

Is professionally qualified (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)

Has experience in strategic finance and fundraising

Understands your business model and sector

Can lead and mentor a finance team

Works well with both financial and non-financial stakeholders

Is comfortable working across HR, IT or commercial projects if needed

Similar Roles

Finance Director

Management Accountant

FP&A Manager

Unsure What Role You Really Need?

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.

Not Sure Where to Start?

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.

Planning to hire?

At Artemis Clarke, we help ambitious businesses find CFOs who combine strategic insight with practical experience.

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