Time for a reality check (TT JulAug08 p42-43)

While treasurers may think their job has got harder over the past 12 months, they should perhaps spare a thought for someone in an even worse position: their boss, the overworked and overstressed finance director.

A new survey suggests that the role of the chief financial officer (CFO) – a term which encompasses heads of finance and finance directors – has expanded so greatly that there is a conflict between the many demands made of it. This conflict has implications for CFOs, their companies and those who report to them, including, of course, group treasurers.