CFO Career Guide
Your complete guide to becoming a Chief Financial Officer in New Zealand - from Finance Manager to C-Suite Executive
What is a Chief Financial Officer (CFO)?
A Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a senior executive responsible for managing the financial actions of a company. In New Zealand, CFOs are key strategic partners to CEOs, overseeing financial planning, risk management, and providing critical business insights that drive company growth and profitability.
The modern CFO role has evolved beyond traditional accounting and financial reporting to encompass strategic planning, digital transformation, ESG reporting, and stakeholder management including investors, banks, and regulatory bodies.
Core Responsibilities
- Financial strategy and planning
- Capital allocation and investment decisions
- Risk management and compliance oversight
- Investor relations and board reporting
- M&A strategy and due diligence
- Financial reporting and regulatory compliance
- Team leadership and organizational development
- Technology and digital transformation initiatives
- ESG strategy and sustainability reporting
Quick Facts
CFO Salary Guide NZ
CFO - Small/Medium Companies ($10-50M revenue)
- Base salary: $180,000 - $280,000
- Performance bonus: $30,000 - $60,000
- Equity/options: Limited but growing
- Hands-on operational involvement
- Direct report to CEO
CFO - Large Private Companies ($50-200M revenue)
- Base salary: $280,000 - $380,000
- Performance bonus: $60,000 - $120,000
- Equity participation: 0.5-2%
- Strategic focus with strong team leadership
- Board interaction and investor relations
CFO - Listed Companies/Corporates ($200M+ revenue)
- Base salary: $400,000 - $550,000
- Performance bonus: $100,000 - $250,000
- Long-term incentives: $150,000 - $400,000
- Public company governance and compliance
- Institutional investor management
Interim/Fractional CFO
- Day rates for project-based work
- Retainer arrangements: $15,000 - $35,000/month
- IPO preparation and transaction support
- Turnaround and restructuring situations
Factors Affecting CFO Compensation
Startup: $180k-280k + equity
Scale-up: $250k-400k + options
Mature: $350k-600k + LTI
Listed: $500k+ + comprehensive package
Technology: +15-25%
Financial Services: +10-20%
Healthcare: +10-15%
Manufacturing: Baseline
Government/NFP: -20-30%
Public company experience: +$50-100k
M&A track record: +$30-80k
Sector expertise: +$20-50k
Digital transformation: +$20-40k
CFO Career Progression Path
Foundation (0-5 years): Building Technical Expertise
Roles: Graduate Accountant → Senior Accountant → Financial Analyst
Salary: $45,000 - $85,000
- Complete professional qualifications (CA/CPA)
- Build technical accounting and financial analysis skills
- Gain experience in different industries or functions
- Develop Excel mastery and financial modeling skills
Management (5-10 years): Leadership Development
Roles: Finance Manager → Senior Finance Manager → Assistant Controller
Salary: $85,000 - $140,000
- Lead teams and manage budgets
- Develop business partnering skills
- Gain exposure to strategic projects
- Build relationships across the organization
- Consider MBA or advanced qualifications
Senior Management (10-15 years): Strategic Focus
Roles: Financial Controller → Finance Director → Deputy CFO
Salary: $140,000 - $220,000
- Own financial planning and analysis function
- Lead major projects and transformations
- Develop board reporting and governance skills
- Build investor relations experience
- Mentoring and developing future leaders
C-Suite Executive (15+ years): CFO Role
Role: Chief Financial Officer
Salary: $220,000 - $800,000+
- Full financial stewardship of the organization
- Strategic business partner to CEO and board
- External stakeholder management
- M&A leadership and capital allocation
- Digital transformation and innovation
Alternative Pathways to CFO
🏦 Big 4 to CFO
Audit Senior → Manager → Director → CFO
- Strong technical foundation and governance
- Broad industry exposure
- Client relationship skills
- Timeline: 12-18 years
🏛️ Investment Banking to CFO
Analyst → Associate → VP → CFO
- Strong financial modeling and M&A skills
- Capital markets experience
- High-pressure environment training
- Timeline: 10-15 years
🎓 MBA Fast Track
Industry Experience → MBA → Senior Role → CFO
- Accelerated progression through education
- Strategic thinking and leadership focus
- Strong network building
- Timeline: 10-12 years
🚀 Startup/Scale-up Route
Finance Manager → Finance Director → CFO
- Broad experience across all business areas
- Entrepreneurial and agile mindset
- Equity upside potential
- Timeline: 8-12 years
Essential CFO Skills & Qualifications
Technical Qualifications
Professional Accounting Qualification (Essential)
- CA ANZ - Most common and preferred in NZ
- CPA Australia - Strong alternative, well-recognized
- ACCA - Good for international companies
- CMA - Growing recognition for management focus
MBA (Highly Preferred)
- Strategic thinking and leadership development
- Top NZ schools: AUT, Auckland, Victoria, Canterbury
- International schools add global perspective
- Executive MBA for working professionals
Additional Certifications (Bonus)
- CFA - For investment-heavy roles
- FRM - Risk management expertise
- IoD Company Directors Programme - Governance skills
- Digital/Technology Certifications - Future-proofing
Leadership & Strategic Skills
Long-term vision, scenario planning, business model innovation
Building high-performance teams, change management, culture development
Board presentations, investor relations, stakeholder management
ERP systems, data analytics, automation, AI/ML applications
Financial Expertise
Budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, KPI development
Capital allocation, investment appraisal, capital structure optimization
Enterprise risk, financial risk, operational risk, compliance
Due diligence, valuation, integration, deal structuring
Top CFO Employers in New Zealand
🏦 Financial Services
ANZ Bank New Zealand
CFO Salary: $600,000 - $800,000+
Leading bank requiring strong regulatory and risk experience
ASB Bank
CFO Salary: $550,000 - $750,000
Innovation-focused bank with strong digital transformation agenda
BNZ Bank
CFO Salary: $550,000 - $750,000
Part of NAB Group, strong corporate and institutional focus
📈 Listed Companies
Fonterra Co-operative
CFO Salary: $700,000 - $900,000+
Global dairy giant requiring international finance experience
Spark New Zealand
CFO Salary: $600,000 - $800,000
Leading telco with strong technology and transformation focus
Fletcher Building
CFO Salary: $650,000 - $850,000
Large construction conglomerate with complex operations
🚀 High-Growth Companies
Xero
CFO Salary: $400,000 - $600,000 + equity
Global SaaS leader with strong growth and international expansion
Trade Me Group
CFO Salary: $450,000 - $650,000
Leading marketplace with diversified revenue streams
Pushpay Holdings
CFO Salary: $350,000 - $500,000 + equity
US-focused fintech with strong growth trajectory
🏛️ Government & Crown Entities
Reserve Bank of New Zealand
CFO Equivalent: $350,000 - $450,000
Central bank with significant economic influence
Accident Compensation Corporation
CFO Salary: $400,000 - $500,000
Large investment fund with significant assets under management
New Zealand Treasury
Secretary/DCE: $400,000 - $500,000
Central government economic and financial policy
CFO Job Search Strategy
🎯 Executive Search Firms
- Russell Reynolds Associates - Global C-suite search
- Korn Ferry - Leadership and executive search
- EQI Partners - NZ specialist executive search
- Sheffield Haworth - Finance executive specialists
- Momentum Consulting - Local C-suite expertise
📊 Market Intelligence
- Monitor ASX/NZX announcements for CFO movements
- Follow NZ Herald business section for executive changes
- Track private equity and venture capital funding rounds
- Network through professional associations (CA ANZ, IoD)
- Attend finance and business leadership conferences
🤝 Networking & Brand Building
- Build thought leadership through industry publications
- Speak at finance and business conferences
- Maintain active LinkedIn presence with strategic insights
- Join relevant boards as non-executive director
- Participate in industry committees and working groups
📋 Interview Preparation
- Technical Deep-Dive: Capital allocation, M&A experience, risk management
- Leadership Examples: Team building, change management, crisis leadership
- Strategic Vision: Industry knowledge, growth strategies, digital transformation
- Stakeholder Management: Board relations, investor interactions, regulator engagement
Making the Transition to CFO
🎯 First 100 Days as CFO
- Meet all key stakeholders (CEO, Board, direct reports)
- Review financial statements and key metrics
- Understand reporting processes and systems
- Assess team capabilities and structure
- Complete comprehensive financial health check
- Review internal controls and risk management
- Evaluate systems and process efficiency
- Identify quick wins and improvement opportunities
- Present findings and recommendations to board
- Implement quick wins and process improvements
- Develop 12-month strategic finance roadmap
- Establish regular reporting and communication cadence
⚖️ Work-Life Balance as CFO
- 50-60 hours per week (vs 40-45 Finance Director)
- Month-end and quarter-end intensity
- Board meeting preparation time
- Investor and stakeholder meetings
- High responsibility for company performance
- Regulatory and compliance pressure
- Market volatility and economic uncertainty
- Public scrutiny (for listed companies)
- Significantly higher compensation vs other roles
- Equity upside in growth companies
- Enhanced career opportunities and mobility
- Executive benefits and perquisites
Current CFO & Senior Finance Opportunities
Explore executive finance roles and CFO positions across New Zealand