Should a CFO ever report to a COO?

Team & Organizational DesignInternal CXO Relationships
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CFO Advisory Director in Finance (non-banking)2 years ago

NO. Never.
CFO must report directly to CEO.

India Head and Director of Global Finance Shared Services in Hardware2 years ago

The reporting structure within an organization depends on various factors, including the company's size, industry, and organizational structure. While there is answer in general to whether a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) should report to a Chief Operating Officer (COO), it is less common for CFOs to report directly to COOs.

The CFO is a key member of the executive team and should report directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or sometimes directly to the Board of Directors. The CFO's primary responsibility is managing the financial aspects of the company, including financial planning, analysis, reporting, and risk management. They provide strategic financial guidance to support the company's growth, profitability, and long-term financial health. 

So, the responsibilities of CFOs role are much more aligned with CEO, so reporting should be directly to CEO only and not COO. 

Director of Finance in Consumer Goods2 years ago

No I don't agree. Both are extremely important roles to steer the organization and achieve organizational success. So both should be independent roles and report always to MD/Chairman of the company.

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