Leadership role

CFO / Head of Finance

The organization's senior finance executive, accountable for financial strategy, reporting, controls and the stewardship of restricted funds.

Reporting and scope

Reports to the Executive Director / CEO and works directly with the board's finance and audit committees. Authority covers the whole organization's finances.

Core responsibilities

  • Leads the annual budget and multi-year financial plan
  • Produces audited financial statements and the Form 990 with the outside auditors
  • Maintains internal controls and audit readiness
  • Tracks compliance on grants and restricted gifts, including federal award requirements
  • Manages cash, reserves and investments alongside the investment committee
  • Often oversees HR, IT or facilities in smaller organizations

How it differs

The Controller / Comptroller and Director of Finance run the accounting function but are not the board-facing owner of financial strategy. The board Treasurer is a volunteer officer, not an employee.

By organization size

Below about $10M in revenue the role is often hands-on and combined with operations. Above about $50M it typically leads a finance team with a Controller reporting to it.

Filings from the last five years mapped to this role commonly report titles such as: CFO; Chief Financial Officer; CFO/COO; CFO/Treasurer; Treasurer/CFO; Chief Finance Officer

Related roles

Roles this description compares with CFO / Head of Finance, or that compare themselves with it.

Controller / Comptroller
The chief accounting officer, responsible for the books, financial statements and internal controls.
Director of Finance
Directs an organization's accounting and financial operations, including budgeting, reporting and grant financial management.
Business Manager
Manages the business affairs of an organization or local union, such as its finances, contracts and administration.
Chief Investment Officer
The executive responsible for managing the organization's endowment and long-term investment assets.
Senior Vice President
A senior vice-president title filed without a named function; its duties vary by organization.
VP of Finance
A senior finance executive who runs accounting, budgeting and reporting, often one level below the CFO.

See what this role pays

Median reported total compensation, nationally: $181,000. Based on 55,427 IRS Form 990 filings, fiscal years 2021–2025.

This median spans organizations of every budget size and sector, so it will not match a benchmark for one organization.

State pay pages for this role: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Benchmark pay for this role

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