Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Interview Questions [Updated 2025]

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Chief Financial Officer (CFO) interview questions and answers.

Can you describe the primary responsibilities of a CFO? See answer
What steps will you take to help other executives make good financial decisions? See answer
How will you foster ethical behaviour in your team? See answer
Sometimes a revenue forecast can indicate that a business might make a loss. What steps will you take to protect the business from loss? See answer
Share an instance when you used financial data to reinforce your point when making a decision. See answer
In a finance team directly reporting to you, what would you do if an individual does not meet your expectations? See answer
Which finance software have you come across, and which ones are you comfortable with? See answer
What do you consider as your principal financial decision making qualities? See answer
Walk me through an incident when you had to make a tough decision in a finance role. See answer
Can you describe how you will assess the risk of fraudulent staff members??
When tasked to develop the company’s financial strategy, what principle factors do you consider?
During mergers and acquisitions, deferred tax liabilities are established. Why do you think they are created?
Can you describe a time that you effectively helped to improve financial efficiency? How did you do it?
As CFO you will be expected to ensure that the company complies with all legal regulations. How will you ensure you comply with those within your role?
How you can determine this company’s financial value?

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Hire your next Chief Financial Officer (CFO) today.

Hire your next Chief Financial Officer (CFO) today.

Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Interview Questions and Answers

Can you describe the primary responsibilities of a CFO?

This question explores whether the candidate understands the role of a CFO. This is an opportunity to discover the candidate's prior experience in the position without directly asking them.

What to look for in an answer:

Description of the role and responsibilities of a CFO
Personal experience
Opportunities hoped to be utilised

Example:

"I will be expected to assess and monitor the company's financial goals, prepare budgets, and set strategic financial objectives. I will work alongside senior management and stakeholders to..."

Can you describe how you will assess the risk of fraudulent staff members?

The purpose of this question is to understand the candidate's approach and skills regarding internal financial risks. You assess the candidate's practical and technical approaches to establishing, monitoring, and mitigating staff fraud risks.

What to look for in an answer:

Knowledge of fraud risks
Understanding of fraud prevention
Mitigation plan after establishing fraud

Example:

"One effective method is to establish and implement control systems that curb individual access to the organisation's financial data. The accounting controls ensure that no individual can initiate, process, and approve a transaction alone. I will evaluate and communicate a potential fraud risk to stakeholders to make a timely decision."

When tasked to develop the company's financial strategy, what principle factors do you consider?

A CFO is in charge of planning for the company's healthy financial growth, capitalization, tax, and maintaining strong margins. Your candidate should demonstrate using competitive financial modeling tools that are informed by sales and economic/industrial trends.

What to look for in an answer:

Familiarity with market and industry trends
Ability to draw financial data
Past experience in financial strategy implementation

Example:

"I will ensure the company has an adequate and regular supply of funds to fulfil the short-term and long-term business plans by regularly evaluating the company's financial performance using financial analysis methods. I will plan for a sound capital structure that focuses on balancing debts and equity to minimize losses associated with excessive borrowing."

What steps will you take to help other executives make good financial decisions?

Your CFO will be a key consultant in assisting the company's top management to make informed financial decisions that include evaluating sound investment prospects. Your ideal candidate should be willing to use their financial knowledge to support other executives in their financial decision-making processes.

What to look for in an answer:

Willingness to support executive financial decision-making
Past experience in recommending sound investments
Examples when the candidate made an investment decision

Example:

"I will draw a potential investment road map in line with your traditional policies while maintaining financial security. By evaluating factors such as the return on investments, risks, liquidity, tax implications, and inflation rate among others, I will formulate plans that guide and inform management to make good decisions."

How will you foster ethical behaviour in your team?

CFOs are the custodians of ethical behaviour. Candidates should understand the components of ethics in financial management and seek to protect the interest of the company.

What to look for in an answer:

Understanding of financial ethics
Plan to implement ethical behaviour
Experience in actively promoting ethical behaviours

Example:

"Honesty and integrity are the pillars of ethical behaviours. I will initiate programmes that aim to implement a code of ethics applicable to all within the premises to assist us to observe professional relationships and comply with the rules and regulations governing our positions. I will also... "

Sometimes a revenue forecast can indicate that a business might make a loss. What steps will you take to protect the business from loss?

A business forecast should indicate where the business is headed based on its financial performance. In a possibility of a downward trend in performance, your CFO should spot such indicators and establish a plan to minimize or prevent losses.

What to look for in an answer:

Research based market analysis
Realistic plan to prevent losses
Ability to relate the forecasts and actual performance

Example:

"I've learned that once I created a financial forecast, I needed to revisit the actual financials regularly in order to improve my next forecast. I have learned a few market trends for this company that I will further analyse to understand how they influence business performance. Then, I will..."

Share an instance when you used financial data to reinforce your point when making a decision.

The candidate should demonstrate their competence in utilizing financial data to make key business decisions. Look out for previous experiences where the candidate used valid financial data to back up a point to positively impact the business.

What to look for in an answer:

Prowess in data analysis
Logical reasoning to interpret data
Experience in critical decision-making

Example:

"I pride myself on having skills in data analysis, a key component of my role as a CFO. In my previous organisation, I used a data visualisation chart to demonstrate that the company could increase the sales from 15 to 27% if we cut the costs associated with an intermediary production process that was delaying the packaging and distribution processes."

In a finance team directly reporting to you, what would you do if an individual does not meet your expectations?

This question will assess the candidate's leadership skills and empathy. Your CFO should create a team culture of individual efforts and empowerment while driving high performance.

What to look for in an answer:

Can act empathetically to understand the staff's problems
Leadership skills
Capacity to accommodate mentorship

Example:

"When a team member isn't performing up to standard, I take the time to sit down for a one to one meeting and understand the reasons for their underperformance. Once I understand the problem, then we..."

During companies mergers and acquisitions, deferred tax liabilities are established. Why do you think they are created?

The candidate should have tax expertise. The question also invites them to give an insight into their capability to help the company steer future mergers or sales.

What to look for in an answer:

Knowledge of tax obligation changes during mergers and acquisitions
Discussion of technical financial concepts
Any experience of mergers and acquisitions

Example:

"During a merger and acquisition process, the deferred tax liability is created because of the timing between when the company records its taxes in the income statement and when it pays the taxes. Because tax obligations do not change during a merger, in the future, the taxes that will be paid will appear different from the book value hence the creation of a DTL. The opposite is true for acquisition……"

Which finance software have you come across, and which ones are you comfortable with?

A modern CFO should have experience using finance software that assists them with financial analysis and planning. The question assesses the candidate's familiarity with industry technological development and experience.

What to look for in an answer:

Expertise in online accounting tools
Relating the tools to business success
Strength in a specific software

Example:

"I have experience with SAP and I have a preference for its business spending analysis. Besides SAP I am familiar with..."

What do you consider as your principal financial decision making qualities?

You want to assess the candidate's technical knowledge, critical thinking, and attitude towardss making financial decisions for your company. Your CFO should accurately decide when and how much to spend.

What to look for in an answer:

Critical thinking qualities
Making a decision from accurate information
Ability to forecast

Example:

"I have a passion for analyzing financial information and concepts to predict profitability. I can analyse, forecast, trade, budget, and turn financial setbacks into opportunities."

Can you describe a time that you helped to improve financial efficiency? How did you do it?

CFOs use their financial and accounting acumen to generate the maximum output from the minimum resources. The candidate should briefly explain the various financial techniques used to maximise efficiency.

What to look for in an answer:

Proven methods to improve efficiency
Relating financial indicators to efficiency
Understanding of short and long term business goals

Example:

"In my previous position, I was able to identify a number of issues with our payments system and improve efficiency. Delays were causing fees from the payment gateway. To overcome this, I first..."

You will be expected to ensure that the company complies with all legal regulations. How will you ensure to comply with those within your role?

The candidate should understand the reasons for complying with legal regulations to avoid future litigation. A CFO should initiate and comply with legal regulations to safeguard the financial stability of the organisation.

What to look for in an answer:

Compliance with ethical behaviours
Consequences of noncompliance
Responsibilities in compliance

Example:

"In my recent job, I was responsible for drafting and implementing the employees' ethical and legal regulations related to sharing of the company's financial information. I understand the importance of compliance to legal, health, safety, and welfare of employees and the protocols for noncompliance as outlined in your code of conduct."

How you can determine this company's financial value?

This question will evaluate the candidate's knowledge of financial analysis tools and company valuation. You want to ensure that your CFO is competent in using financial analysis to value a company and its assets.

What to look for in an answer:

Knowledge of financial analysis tools
Understanding of financial principles
Translation of the financial data into business value

Example:

"I would do an evaluation of your company's value using financial data analysis ratio EBITDA which determines your business's net earnings before tax deductions, interest, depreciation, and amortisation. I have previously used EBITDA to determine a company's value."

Walk me through an incident when you had to make a tough decision in a finance role.

The question tests the candidate's ability to own up responsibility and initiate strategies that help the business grow at minimum risk. You will determine if the candidate can make tough and valuable decisions.

What to look for in an answer:

Ability to think critically
Confidence in making risky but valuable financial decisions
Past experience

Example:

"In my previous role as a bank financial officer, I advised the board of management to upgrade our system from Bank Fusion Universal Banking to Fusion Bank Essence. This was a tough decision because changing the system involved a lot of information back up across all departments and branches which led to slight delays in service provision. It was the most effective choice as the bank reduced a lot of paperwork and..."

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