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 Northampton
Situated in the East Midlands on the banks of the River Nene, Northampton is a market town with a history dating back to the 6th century. By the end of the 11th century, the community had grown significantly and the Domesday Book records it as having a population of around 1,500 inhabitants.
During the 19th century, the city experienced further expansion thanks to the construction of the Grand Union Canal, which connected London and Birmingham with each other, as well as cities like Leicester, Slough and Northampton. Railways also arrived at the city around this time, further simplifying trade with the rest of the country.
Northampton was best known for producing shoes and other leather goods during the 1800s and a few companies that were established during this period still provide specialist, high-end items today - including Edward Green Shoes, Trickers, Church's and Crockett & Jones.
Over the years, most of the other footwear factories have been converted to offices or residential buildings and, although the shoe industry has declined, a number of other sectors have taken its place, including distribution, finance and manufacturing. So those seeking Chief Finance Officer roles in the area will have an array of employers to consider.
Just some of the well-known companies that have offices, factories or headquarters in Northampton include Coca Cola, Schweppes, Carlsberg, Texas Instruments, Avon Products, Blacks Leisure Group and Panasonic.
Meanwhile, Nationwide Building Society, Barclay Card, the University of Northampton and St Andrew's Healthcare are all major employers.
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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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