What You Need to Know About Hiring a CFO What a chief financial officer does, how to determine your company needs one, and how to start the hiring process.

Q: How do I know when it's time to hire a CFO?

A: I'm glad to hear business is taking off to the point that you realize you need someone you can trust to handle the money side of the operation. Let me start my answer by explaining exactly what a chief financial officer does, as compared to a bookkeeper or controller.

Bookkeepers are responsible for recording all company transactions: orders, invoices, purchases, bills, checks and payments. They perform various processes and procedures to make sure that what they enter is complete and accurate.