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 Darlington
Anyone familiar with the history of railways will already be familiar with the name Darlington. The 26-mile Stockton and Darlington railway was the first commercial railway in the world, opened in 1825 to great acclaim. Within 50 years, the railway system covered the whole country, and many of the mainlines remain in place today. Because of its early adoption, Darlington became a centre of engineering, with several of the large companies, including Robert Stephenson & Co., setting up there.
Bridge building and engineering are still strongly associated with the town. The Darlington name is embossed on bridges the world over, and many a lorry driver will be familiar with the name Cummins, the American engineering firm that makes diesel engines among many other things, which has a plant in Darlington employing around 700 people.
Darlington was originally a market town, part of the reason it required a rail link, and that remains today, with much of the surrounding area being served by its shopping area. Its largest single employer is Orange, which has a call centre there. The town is well served by rail, air and road, with great links to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool. With so much engineering and commerce going on, and a mobile population, Darlington is a great place to look for Chief Finance Officer jobs, so please get in touch if you’re in the area looking for this kind of work.
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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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