In a
corporation, the official charged with overseeing all financial matters. The CFO is the equivalent of a treasurer: he/she is responsible for ensuring the long-term financial health of the corporation. This includes mundane matters like signing
checks and record keeping, but the CFO is also head of
financial forecasting,
budgeting, and managing the company's financial
risk. The CFO is often a member of the
board of directors, and reports to the
CEO. In the United States, it is common for CFOs to have an
MBA degree, but not necessarily a professional designation like
CPA or
CFA.