CFO Top Executive

Written By Keandra Wilson

1. OVERVIEW

Top executives direct strategies, manage operations, and lead organizations to meet high-level goals. They oversee departments, make policy decisions, negotiate contracts, and are responsible for ensuring company success. Roles span across private, nonprofit, and public sectors.

  • 2024 Median Pay:
    • Chief Executives: $206,420/year
    • General & Operations Managers: $102,950/year

  • Job Growth (2023–2033): +6% (faster than average)

  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Management, or related field

2. ROLE BREAKDOWN BY LEVEL

ENTRY LEVEL

Job Titles:
Assistant Manager, Department Supervisor, Project Manager, Operations Analyst

Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, Finance, Marketing, or relevant field

Experience:
2–5 years in supervisory, team lead, or specialist roles

Certifications (Optional but Beneficial):

  • Certified Manager (CM – ICPM)

  • Project Management Professional (PMP – PMI)

  • SHRM-CP (for HR-related tracks)

Core Duties:

  • Supervise small teams or projects

  • Assist in creating department plans and goals

  • Coordinate operational processes and staff schedules

  • Monitor KPIs and prepare performance reports

  • Collaborate with senior managers on budget execution

Salary Range: $60,000–$95,000

MID LEVEL

Job Titles:
Director of Operations, General Manager, Department Head, Regional Director

Education:
Bachelor’s + 5–10 years experience, or MBA/related Master’s

Certifications (Preferred):

  • Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt

  • PMP, Certified Business Manager (CBM)

  • Strategic Management Professional (SMP)

Core Duties:

  • Manage multiple departments or divisions

  • Set operational strategies and lead department budgeting

  • Evaluate performance data and implement improvements

  • Lead talent development and succession planning

  • Report directly to VPs, CFOs, or CEOs

Salary Range: $100,000–$160,000

SENIOR LEVEL

Job Titles:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), President, Executive Director

Education:
MBA or Master’s in Public Administration, Law, or other field; 10–20+ years executive-level experience

Certifications (Valued in Sector):

  • CPA (for CFOs), CHC (Healthcare Compliance), SHRM-SCP, CMC (Certified Management Consultant)

  • Executive education from programs like Harvard Business School, Wharton, or Kellogg

Core Duties:

  • Lead strategic planning and policy development

  • Oversee entire organization or business unit performance

  • Liaise with board of directors and major stakeholders

  • Manage high-level contract negotiations and mergers

  • Represent company in media and public appearances

Salary Range: $160,000–$500,000+ (plus bonuses, equity, and perks)

3. HOW TO BECOME ONE

  • Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Admin, Law, Finance

  • Preferred Path: MBA + progressive experience in leadership roles

  • Training: Executive coaching, leadership programs, public speaking, financial management

  • Certifications: CM, PMP, CPA, Lean Six Sigma, SHRM-SCP

  • Soft Skills: Strategic thinking, leadership, communication, resilience, decisiveness

4. SKILLS & TOOLS

Core Skills:

  • Strategic planning & goal setting

  • Budgeting and financial oversight

  • Conflict resolution and team leadership

  • Performance analytics & KPIs

  • Risk management and negotiation

  • Organizational behavior

Tools:

  • Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)

  • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (SAP, Oracle)

  • CRM platforms (Salesforce, HubSpot)

  • BI tools (Tableau, Power BI)

  • Communication tools (Slack, Zoom)

5. WORK ENVIRONMENT

  • Industries: Corporate firms, government, education, healthcare, nonprofit, retail

  • Schedules: Full-time; evenings/weekends common; heavy travel for top execs

  • Stress Level: High responsibility; often accountable for success/failure of organization

  • Team Structure: Work with board members, senior managers, and external partners

6. JOB OUTLOOK

  • Annual Openings: ~343,800 through 2033

  • Growth Drivers: Business expansion, succession needs, globalization

  • Fastest-Growing Areas: Healthcare, Tech, Nonprofit, Sustainability, Small Biz Consulting

  • Challenges: Intense competition, long hours, constant decision-making pressure

7. RELATED OCCUPATIONS

  • Role: Financial Managers | Salary: $161,700 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

  • Role: Marketing Managers | Salary: $159,660 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

  • Role: HR Managers | Salary: $140,030 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

  • Role: Operations Managers | Salary: $102,950 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

  • Role: Medical & Health Services Managers | Salary: $117,960 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

  • Role: Administrative Services Managers | Salary: $106,880 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

  • Role: Public Relations Managers | Salary: $136,540 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

8. RESOURCES FOR LEARNING & ADVANCEMENT

Certifications & Associations:

Books:

  • The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker

  • Good to Great by Jim Collins

  • Measure What Matters by John Doerr

  • The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins

  • HBR’s 10 Must Reads for Executives (Harvard Business Review)

Videos & Courses:

  • LinkedIn Learning: Executive Leadership Series

  • Coursera: “Executive Leadership” from Wharton/INSEAD

  • YouTube Channels: Harvard Business Review, Stanford eCorner, TED Talks Leadership

  • MasterClass: “Business Strategy with Bob Iger (ex-CEO, Disney)”

Communities:

  • Reddit: r/entrepreneur, r/business

  • LinkedIn: “Executive Leadership Network,” “C-Suite Professionals”

  • Clubhouse: Executive Leadership Talks, Management Masterminds

9. REGIONAL DATA & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS

 

Keandra Wilson
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