Chief Finance Officer
Keeping on top of the balance sheet is about as essential a job as it’s possible to have for a business. Whether it’s a profitable company already or a startup that’s running on loans and investment, unless every penny of income and expenditure is accounted for, it’s going to hit financial problems. That’s why large companies have a whole team of people working in the finance department, and overseeing them is the chief financial officer (CFO).
CFO jobs aren’t just for accountants who want a bigger desk, of course. They are embedded in the whole fabric of the company’s financial wellbeing and decision making. They will be in charge of risk management, financial planning, green-lighting investment proposals, budgeting, overseeing payroll and taxation, and will often be actively seeking new investment in the company.
In large companies, the CFO will be overseeing managers, who in turn will be in charge of finance staff ensuring every invoice is chased up and every bill paid, but the grand financial strategy of the company will be in their hands.
CFO jobs: the skills required
Chief financial officer positions go to professionals with a track record in balancing the books of a major business, whether that’s running one themselves or rising through the ranks of accountancy, financial officer roles and other similar career paths.
You’ll be highly adept at data analysis – managing the finances of a company is part science, part instinct, and you’ll need to be able to analyse proposals with an open but critical mind. CFOs are mostly educated to BA or MA level, preferably in finance, accounting or economics, or perhaps also mathematics or some subject closely related to the company’s niche.
Chief Finance Officer Jobs in Cardiff
As the capital of Wales, Cardiff has long been at the centre of Welsh commerce, culture, media and government. It is the most populous city in Wales and offers an array of possibilities for those seeking Chief Finance Officer vacancies.
Cardiff is situated in the historic county of Glamorgan and until the 19th century, it was a fairly small town. As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the rest of the UK, the Port of Cardiff, also known as Tiger Bay, became increasingly important - in fact, one of the busiest in the world.
The Taff Vale Railway and the Glamorganshire connected the city's docks to the coal-producing areas in other parts of Wales, and this useful resource was sent on as fuel for factories across the country.
In the late 1800s, rival docks at Barry began to take over in the shipment of coal, but the Coal Exchange remained in Cardiff and the city became increasingly industrialised, with the addition of an ironworks and a steelworks.
Cardiff officially became the capital in 1955 and over the years it has remained an important cargo port. Much of its industrial past has been replaced by the financial and business sector - although there are still metal works to be found in the region.
Today, a number of well-known companies operate headquarters in the city - including Admiral Insurance, Principality Building Society and 118118. In addition, the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff is the UK's largest hospital outside of London.
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CFO jobs at Cast UK
At Cast UK, we’re used to dealing with candidates looking for CFO jobs and employers seeking the best applicants. So whether you’re running the recruitment for a business and need some top talent in your finance department or have the skills and need new challenges, we’re here to help.
Employers should call 0333 121 3345 so we can start matching up your business needs with those of the executive and management level candidates who use our services. If you’re looking for employers who deserve your talents, register with us today by clicking the link below, so we can help to get your CV in front of the decision makers in some of the world’s best companies.
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