- Australian CFOs say the key steps needed to reach the next stage of their career are broader experience within their current organisation (49%), international experience (48%), and stronger relationships with internal stakeholders (43%).
- 79% of CFOs say international work experience improves an employee’s chance for promotion.
- 20% of Australian CFOs hope their next career move will be CEO or President of their current organisation – rising to 25% of CFOs working for large organisations[1].
Despite reaching the pinnacle of their career in finance, Australian Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) are ambitious to progress further and are very conscious about their career development. According to an independent survey by specialist recruiter Robert Half, the majority of CFOs believe gaining more experience, in particular overseas work experience, is the key to achieving further career success.
In terms of the essential steps required in achieving the next stage in their career, almost half (49%) of Australian CFOs see gaining broader experience within their current organisation as their top priority. Another 48% of CFOs believe international career experience is crucial to broadening their skillset, followed by building strong relationships and trust with internal stakeholders (43%) and managing a major project or change program (39%).
Interestingly, the majority of finance leaders (79%) say employees within their finance team who have international or overseas work experience improves their chances for a promotion, indicating international experience is one of the most crucial next steps forward for a CFO.
David Jones, Senior Managing Director of Robert Half Asia Pacific said: “It is not surprising CFOs recognise the importance of expanding their experience into international markets and working for overseas firms. This would be mutually beneficial to their business and themselves as the accelerating pace of globalisation and the adoption of international accounting and financial reporting standards are driving demand for senior finance professionals with international experience.”
The experience/skills CFOs believe are required for the next step in their career:
| Total | Small | Medium | Large | |
| Gain experience in another part of the organisation | 49% | 49% | 56% | 42% |
| Gain international experience | 48% | 49% | 48% | 45% |
| Build relationships and trust with internal stakeholders | 43% | 40% | 35% | 53% |
| Manage a major project or change program | 39% | 38% | 41% | 40% |
| Build relationships and trust with external stakeholders | 38% | 47% | 31% | 34% |
| Gain more experience in current role | 29% | 34% | 30% | 25% |
| Complete a professional/industry qualification or MBA | 14% | 4% | 20% | 17% |
| Other/don’t know | 14% | 13% | 13% | 15% |
Source: Independent survey commissioned by Robert Half among 160 Australian CFOs and finance directors – multiple answers allowed.
“In some regions, businesses, trade and commerce operate 24/7, which is why employers are looking for culturally-sensitive professionals with the experience that’s earned from working in overseas markets. Companies who operate within a global market need finance professionals adept at working with different workplace customs, particularly within Asian business cultures. When given the option of two equally talented job candidates, employers will most likely choose the one with international experience.”
Australian CFOs are also ambitious to move on from purely a financial role. When asked about their next career step, one in five (20%) CFOs say they want to move up to the CEO role in their current organisation. Almost one quarter (23%) of Australian CFOs see themselves in a similar role yet within a larger organisation as their next step, followed by 19% who want to be the Head of a business division other than finance.
Another 14% want to expand their CFO role in their current organisation (e.g. Group CFO) and merely 11% say they don’t want to change anything. More than one in ten (11%) plan to retire and only 1% state they want to start their own business.
“Many CFOs see their next career move as running an organisation as CEO, indicating finance leaders have the transferrable skills necessary to make the transition from CFO to CEO. Today’s CFO is not just a finance expert but also a strategic business partner – often encompassing much of the broad skill set required to step into the CEO role,” David Jones added.
“Having an intricate understanding of the organisation’s key finance functions and an informed market view of the broader financial environment can provide CFOs with the business acumen that applies to the job. Our research shows Australian CFOs are ambitious, yet also highlights the CFO position itself is not necessarily their career peak.”
