Here's how you can ascend to CFO in a large corporation.

Develop a strong foundation of financial principles and best practices. Many future CFOs start out with technical specializations like a CPA or CFA qualification to begin their career. While these are important, it's also critically important to gain practical experience leading individual and demonstrating your financial acumen by helping solve real-world problems. Gaining this experience alongside your technical expertise will position you well for a future role as a CFO at a large organization.

To climb the corporate ladder in finance, it's crucial to build a strong foundation through relevant qualifications like a CPA or CFA certification. These credentials enhance your expertise in financial principles, accounting standards, and industry-specific regulations, which are essential for making informed decisions and contributing to your company's financial strategy. This knowledge not only boosts your credibility but also equips you to navigate complex financial challenges and advance in your career.

As I could have seen in my experience, there are two myths I think are common, and I think the reality goes like this: - You don’t need a CFA unless you are in a hard-finance industry, even in those industries, it should be very variable according to the role, but is not a definite MUST, I’ve know so much leaders that only are MBAs (that is probably a better MUST) - The credibility is around the actions you have been taking. As a CEO you are going to take decisions which at the end of the day are messages to every stakeholder around, and the same as CFO, specially with investors

To ascend to CFO in a large corporation, obtain finance certifications and gain diverse experience in financial planning, analysis, and management through progressively responsible roles. Understanding the business model and integrating finance with business strategies is crucial. Develop strong leadership and strategic thinking skills to drive financial performance and corporate strategy. Build a robust professional network and seek mentorship from seasoned executives. Stay updated on industry trends, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies. Consistent success in managing financial operations and contributing to business growth is essential for positioning yourself as a top candidate for the CFO role.

Hands-on experience is invaluable for advancing in the finance industry. Pursue roles that expose you to various financial functions within a corporation, such as accounting, treasury, or budgeting. Each role offers unique perspectives and skills, contributing to a well-rounded financial expertise. This broad understanding is crucial for seeing the bigger picture, a necessary trait for a CFO who must integrate various financial aspects into a cohesive strategy.

Demonstrate your leadership skills by leading project initiatives from inception to implementation. As a CFO you'll need to develop strong communication and interpersonal skills to motivate team members.

Um dos principais desafios que o CFO do mercado atual vem enfrentando é o de acompanhar as mudanças em tecnologia, bem como as tecnologias emergentes, uma vez que quase todos os processos de uma empresa desaguam em efeitos financeiros e econômicos. A evolução tecnológica de outras áreas obrigam o CFO a acelerar nesse tema, cenário em que ficar estagnado o fará perder espaço. Uma boa forma de se manter na vanguarda desse tema é conhecer alguma linguagem de programação, ou minimamente compreender a logica de programação, pois são fundamentos do mundo moderno que nos habilita a debater sobre temas complexos de tecnologia. Outra estratégia é a de "beber na fonte", fazendo networking com pessoas mais evoluídas nesses aspectos.