As capital markets and organizational strategies have evolved, so has the role of the chief financial officer (CFO). Today's CFOs are not just gatekeepers of a company's financial information; they serve as key strategic partners who must fulfill a broad set of responsibilities. In this program, you will learn what it takes to meet the demands of the CFO role. You will begin to build a robust set of skills in strategy, communication, and leadership that will enable you to drive innovation and lead organizational change.

Summary: As capital markets and organizational strategies have evolved, so has the role of the chief financial officer (CFO). Today's CFOs are not just gatekeepers of a company's financial information; they serve as key strategic partners who must fulfill a broad set of responsibilities. In this program, you will learn what it takes to meet the demands of the CFO role. You will begin to build a robust set of skills in strategy, communication, and leadership that will enable you to drive innovation and lead organizational change.

Key Benefits

This program helps individuals develop the knowledge and capabilities they need to succeed as a modern CFO. In the company of other senior financial leaders, you will discover how to build your skills in key areas, identify blind spots or competency gaps, and gain tools and insights relevant to the CFO role.

DetailsExpand All Collapse All

Enhance your financial decision-making skills Enhance your financial decision-making skills

Review and practice applying frameworks and tools of value-based management
Learn about financial policies and practices used by other organizations and determine which ones best suit your organization
Formulate processes and understand the key considerations of financial policy decisions

Become a strategic partner to the CEO Become a strategic partner to the CEO

Discover how to formulate, evaluate, and implement strategic choices that are grounded in financial metrics, but not limited to them
Learn how to determine which metrics are most appropriate for your organization
Make crucial choices about investment, divestitures, and the optimization of distinct product and geographic segments
Identify new opportunities to use finance to advance the strategic goals of your organization

Develop your leadership capabilities Develop your leadership capabilities

Lead, motivate, and engage people with expertise different from your own
Oversee processes, such as capital budgeting and managing risk, in an effective manner
Gain confidence in situations outside of your areas of expertise

Strengthen your communication skills Strengthen your communication skills

Improve how you describe your plans and performance results to stakeholders
Become a more effective advocate for actions that create value
Effectively communicate and collaborate with leaders and teams across different functional areas and levels

Expand your personal and professional network Expand your personal and professional network

Extend your network by living and working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries around the globe
Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business challenges and career decisions

Key Benefits

Details

Enhance your financial decision-making skills

Review and practice applying frameworks and tools of value-based management
Learn about financial policies and practices used by other organizations and determine which ones best suit your organization
Formulate processes and understand the key considerations of financial policy decisions

Become a strategic partner to the CEO

Discover how to formulate, evaluate, and implement strategic choices that are grounded in financial metrics, but not limited to them
Learn how to determine which metrics are most appropriate for your organization
Make crucial choices about investment, divestitures, and the optimization of distinct product and geographic segments
Identify new opportunities to use finance to advance the strategic goals of your organization

Develop your leadership capabilities

Lead, motivate, and engage people with expertise different from your own
Oversee processes, such as capital budgeting and managing risk, in an effective manner
Gain confidence in situations outside of your areas of expertise

Strengthen your communication skills

Improve how you describe your plans and performance results to stakeholders
Become a more effective advocate for actions that create value
Effectively communicate and collaborate with leaders and teams across different functional areas and levels

Expand your personal and professional network

Extend your network by living and working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries around the globe
Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business challenges and career decisions

Who Should Attend

New CFOs who want to enhance their skills
CFOs of smaller or divisional entities who are transitioning to larger entities or evolving CFOs taking on increased responsibilities
Finance professionals—such as analysts, treasurers, controllers, and those in financial planning and analysis—seeking to enhance their strategic acumen
Financial leaders from early-stage companies or technical backgrounds (e.g., digital startups), as well as government and nonprofit financial leaders seeking to be more effective in their roles

Dive Deeper into the Experience

We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?

Thrive in a learning environment that welcomes diverse ideas and perspectives.

Experience the Case Method in the Classroom

Watch participants debate the issues and present their viewpoints.

Understanding the Case Method

Read the case, discuss with your peers, and decide how you would address the challenges.

Who Should Attend

New CFOs who want to enhance their skills
CFOs of smaller or divisional entities who are transitioning to larger entities or evolving CFOs taking on increased responsibilities
Finance professionals—such as analysts, treasurers, controllers, and those in financial planning and analysis—seeking to enhance their strategic acumen
Financial leaders from early-stage companies or technical backgrounds (e.g., digital startups), as well as government and nonprofit financial leaders seeking to be more effective in their roles

Dive Deeper into the Experience

We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?

Thrive in a learning environment that welcomes diverse ideas and perspectives.

Experience the Case Method in the Classroom

Watch participants debate the issues and present their viewpoints.

Understanding the Case Method

Read the case, discuss with your peers, and decide how you would address the challenges.

Learning and Living at HBS

When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.

Learning and Living at HBS: When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.

Admissions Criteria and Process

We admit candidates to specific sessions on a rolling, space-available basis, and encourage you to apply as early as possible. Although most programs have no formal educational requirements, admission is a selective process based on your professional achievement and organizational responsibilities.

Admissions Criteria and Process

Answering Your Questions

Our Program Advising team can help you at any stage of the admissions process—starting with identifying the program that best addresses your learning and development goals. Contact a program advisor via email or call 1.800.427.5577 (outside the U.S., call +1.617.495.6555).

Application Submission

We recommend that you apply at least four weeks before the program start date. You may use our online form or download an application. HBS maintains all application information in strict confidentiality. We acknowledge receipt of applications via email. In the unlikely event that you do not receive an acknowledgment, please email us at exed_admissions@hbs.edu or call us at +1.617.495.6226.

Application Review

To optimize the learning experience and maximize the exchange of ideas, our Admissions Committee makes selections that balance each participant's experience, scope of current responsibilities, and type of organization. HBS seeks candidates who reflect a broad range of industries, functions, countries, and backgrounds. We review applications monthly and will contact you via email with the Admissions Committee’s decision.

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals. No payment is necessary until you have been accepted. Payment is required prior to the program start date. If you need to cancel or defer participation, you must submit your request in writing more than 30 days before the start of the program to receive a full refund. Cancellations or deferrals received 14 to 30 days prior to the start of the program are subject to a fee of one-half of the program fee. Requests received within 14 days are subject to full payment.

What You Will Learn

Emphasizing the case study method, this program uses a variety of interactive teaching methods to prepare you for the demands of the CFO role. The program also features sessions with current or retired practitioners who will offer insight on their career paths and share practices that have helped them and their organizations succeed.

What You Will Learn: Emphasizing the case study method, this program uses a variety of interactive teaching methods to prepare you for the demands of the CFO role. The program also features sessions with current or retired practitioners who will offer insight on their career paths and share practices that have helped them and their organizations succeed.

Key TopicsExpand All Collapse All

Finance Finance

Applying frameworks and tools employed in value-based management
Evaluating the financial policies and practices that firms often use
Analyzing tradeoffs that arise when making and implementing choices with a financial component
Considering potential pitfalls of some approaches to financial management

Strategy Strategy

Using financial tools to illustrate the value implications of alternative strategic choices
Making strategic decisions in pursuit of margins and growth
Linking strategic choices to appropriate financial metrics
Balancing the disciplining aspects of finance with its ability to support innovation
Serving as a trusted strategic partner

Leadership Leadership

Engaging in an introspective analysis of your leadership style and capabilities
Managing and motivating teams of people with deep technical knowledge
Developing a plan for enhancing your leadership skills

Communication Communication

Observing the habits and traits of strong communicators and learning how to incorporate best practices into your own communication style
Developing storytelling skills to better communicate results and plans to employees, investors, and the board of directors
Communicating effectively with different functions and business units

Key Topics

Finance

Applying frameworks and tools employed in value-based management
Evaluating the financial policies and practices that firms often use
Analyzing tradeoffs that arise when making and implementing choices with a financial component
Considering potential pitfalls of some approaches to financial management

Strategy

Using financial tools to illustrate the value implications of alternative strategic choices
Making strategic decisions in pursuit of margins and growth
Linking strategic choices to appropriate financial metrics
Balancing the disciplining aspects of finance with its ability to support innovation
Serving as a trusted strategic partner

Leadership

Engaging in an introspective analysis of your leadership style and capabilities
Managing and motivating teams of people with deep technical knowledge
Developing a plan for enhancing your leadership skills

Communication

Observing the habits and traits of strong communicators and learning how to incorporate best practices into your own communication style
Developing storytelling skills to better communicate results and plans to employees, investors, and the board of directors
Communicating effectively with different functions and business units

The HBS Advantage

Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address the complex challenges facing business leaders across the globe.

Faculty Chair

C. Fritz Foley

André R. Jakurski Professor of Business Administration. Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Financial Planning. Member of the Finance Unit; faculty chair of "Succeeding as a Strategic CFO " and faculty cochair of "Finance for Senior Executives."

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"The goal of this program is to help "emerging CFOs" to start rounding out the skills they need to be successful."

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Faculty

Ethan S. Bernstein

Edward W. Conard Associate Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Organizational Behavior unit.

Read Full Bio

Benjamin C. Esty

Roy and Elizabeth Simmons Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Finance Unit.

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Gary W. Loveman

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration. Member of the Finance Unit.

Read Full Bio

The HBS Advantage: Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address the complex challenges facing business leaders across the globe.

Faculty Chair

C. Fritz Foley

André R. Jakurski Professor of Business Administration. Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Financial Planning. Member of the Finance Unit; faculty chair of "Succeeding as a Strategic CFO " and faculty cochair of "Finance for Senior Executives."

Read Full Bio
"The goal of this program is to help "emerging CFOs" to start rounding out the skills they need to be successful."
Learn More

Faculty

Ethan S. Bernstein

Edward W. Conard Associate Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Organizational Behavior unit.

Read Full Bio

Benjamin C. Esty

Roy and Elizabeth Simmons Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Finance Unit.

Read Full Bio

Gary W. Loveman

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration. Member of the Finance Unit.

Read Full Bio

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More Admissions Information

Program content, dates, fees, and faculty are subject to change. In accordance with Harvard University policy, Harvard Business School does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities.

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