Once upon a time, the position of chief financial officer was focused exclusively on finance and accounting functions. It was a cost-based role, and one that often mainly involved budgeting and reporting on past performance, as well as a certain amount of risk management. Pay varies considerably from city to city, with CFOs in San Francisco pulling in 25% more than the national average; the lowest pay is in Miami, where it’s 3.5% lower.

CFOs in these firms earn an average salary range of $150,000 to $250,000 annually. Industry, location, experience, education, skills, and company performance are key factors influencing CFO salary. Additionally, the CFO’s impact on a larger organization’s financial health and strategic direction is more pronounced, justifying higher compensation levels. Larger companies typically offer higher salaries to CFOs due to increased complexity and responsibilities. In small companies with revenue less than $50 million, CFOs can expect an average salary of $150,000 to $250,000. Nearly 95% of companies grant performance-based equity to their CFOs, emphasizing the importance of aligning the CFO’s compensation with the company’s long-term success.

1. Additionally, Chief Financial Officer may require the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential.
2. The size of the company plays a significant role in determining a CFO’s salary.
3. LeTip has over 200 local chapters nationwide with thousands of members of small business owners and entrepreneurs in virtually every business industry.
4. In 2023, startups persisted in enticing CFO talent with generous equity grants due to their inability to match the salaries of larger corporations.

The company grew dramatically while I was there, and decision-making processes and management structures became more formalized. The average CFO makes significantly more than the average worker, which makes the CFO a very lucrative career by comparison. Take your performance to the next level by learning finance skills through Udemy’s online courses. Companies rely on chief financial officers to make profitable decisions based on their market assessments and financial forecasting abilities. The duties chief financial officers perform can include overseeing investment portfolios, crafting financial reports, developing financial forecasts and tracking expenses.

What is the average CFO salary by company size: 2023?

Even with the increasing number of women in CFO positions, a gender pay disparity prevails, with evidence indicating that men typically earn more than their female counterparts in similar roles. However, recent compensation data challenges traditional beliefs about gender-based pay levels, showing no significant difference in the average total compensation of male and female CFOs over time. Looking forward, CFO pay is projected to maintain its strong position, as many cfo expect. Forecasts indicate a persistent demand for financial executives with strategic skills. Compensation packages for CFOs are anticipated to continue evolving, incorporating more performance-based bonuses and long-term incentive plans.

Approximately 80% of CFOs received salary increases, with a median increase of 5.5%. Beyond salary, bonuses, and equity, CFOs may receive additional benefits such as retirement plans, health insurance, and other perks. Equity compensation, such as stock options or restricted stock units (RSUs), may be less common or have a lower value. CFOs in large companies command the highest salaries, with the 75th percentile earning $561,559 and the 90th percentile earning $674,315 as of January 26, 2024. They may face challenges such as limited resources and the need to be more hands-on in day-to-day financial management.

For businesses, this knowledge can aid in attracting and retaining top financial talent, ensuring that compensation packages are competitive and aligned with the company’s goals. The average CFO salaries by company size in these firms are significantly greater than small and medium sized companies because there is more weight placed on company decisions. In the following sections, we will delve deeper into how company size influences CFO compensation and explore the average salaries for CFOs across different company sizes. A typical bonus for a CFO can range from 30 to 60% of the base salary, but some can potentially double or triple the base salary, depending on the organization and performance.

What is a typical bonus for a CFO?

In 2023, Salary.com reported the median annual CFO salary in the United States to be $433,088. CFOs in the bottom 25th percentile could expect to earn $328,098 per year, while those in the 75th percentile could anticipate $555,618 per year. A CFO is more than just a financial expert, they are also strategic visionaries, effective communicators, and motivational leaders. Typically, the CFO is the liaison between local residents and elected officials on accounting and other spending matters.

What’s the Average Salary of a Chief Financial Officer (CFO)?

For example, startups often pay an average salary of roughly $130,546, whereas major firms pay an average of $362,030. Collaborating with the CEO and other executives to develop and implement the company’s strategic plan, with a focus on financial aspects. The ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders, manage a team, and make informed decisions based cfo full form salary on financial data is also important. A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or business administration is essential.

However, CFOs are required to work closely with the other senior executives of a company, such as the CEO. These executives are sometimes referred to as the C-Suite of the company, representing the company’s highest level of decision-making. Although the CFO is typically subordinate to the CEO in the corporate hierarchy, CFOs will generally be the foremost decision-maker on all matters within the Finance department of their firm. For example, as of December 01, 2024, the average yearly salary of Chief Financial Officer in San Francisco, CA is $559,671 and in New York, NY, the average annual salary goes to $522,957.