SFFO Council: FI to CFP Career Path
Senior Full-Time Financial Officers Council
FI to CFO Career Path
Purpose of FI to CFO Career Path
The SFFO Council recognizes the need for skilled, capable, and sustainable FI capacity to support the next generation of public service management. In its 2006 Strategic Plan, the Council decided to prepare a model FI to CFO (Chief Financial Officer) Career Path to help meet this need. The aim of the FI to CFO Career Path is to:
· identify the skills and competencies needed by FIs who aspire to become a CFOs;
· serve as a guide for FIs in making their career decisions; and
· serve as a guide for leaders in the FI community.
The FI to CFO Career Path is not a statement of policy; it is an expression of opinion on the part of the SFFO community.
Development
In January 2006, the SFFO Council formed a working group under the chairmanship of Bill Carrothers to prepare the model FI to CFO Career. This working group included members of the SFFO Council, SFFO community, and the Office of the Comptroller General. The working group developed a prototype career path which they presented to the SFFO community at the 3rd SFFO Council AGM in May 2006. The FI to CFO Career Path as completed and presented in the following table beginning on the following page.
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SFFO Council: FI to CFO Career Path
SFFO Council: FI to CFO Career Path
FI to CFO Career Path /Qualifications Needed for Promotion to Level[1]
Level → / FI 1 / FI 2 / FI 3 / FI 4 / EX other / EX – DCFO / EX – CFO1. Years in Level / 1-2 years or 1-2 positions / 3-5 years or 2-3 positions / 3-5 years or 2 positions / 4-5 years or 2-3 positions / 4-5 years or 3 positions / 3-4 years or 2-3 positions / 3-4 years[2]
2. Education / a. FI College or part of undergraduate degree / Essential (if no accreditation or undergrad) / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
b. Undergraduate degree[3] / Essential (if no accreditation) / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
3. Professional Accreditation[4] / Desirable[5] / Desirable / Essential / Essential / Essential / Essential / Essential
4. Bilingual Capacity[6] / As required / As required / Desirable / Desirable[7] / Essential (CBC) / Essential (CBC) / Essential (CBC)
Level → / FI 1 / FI 2 / FI 3 / FI 4 / EX other / EX – DCFO / EX – CFO
5. Experience – Functional / a. Financial Planning / Essential / Essential / Essential[8] / Essential
b. External Reporting / Desirable / Desirable / Essential / Essential
c. Internal Resource Management / Desirable / Desirable / Essential / Essential
d. Accounting Operations
e. Financial Systems
f. Financial Policy
g. Costing / Desirable one of four / Essential one of four / Essential two of four / Essential two of four
6. Experience – Breadth / a. Program Delivery / Desirable / Desirable / Desirable / Essential / Essential
b. Departmental Diversity[9] / Desirable / Essential / Essential / Essential / Essential
c. Central Agency / Desirable / Desirable / Essential
d. Regional / Desirable / Desirable / Desirable / Desirable / Desirable
e. Complexity[10] / Desirable / Essential / Essential / Essential / Essential
f. Managerial / NA / Desirable / Desirable / Essential / Essential / Essential
Level → / FI 1 / FI 2 / FI 3 / FI 4 / EX other / EX – DCFO / EX – CFO
7. Skills / a. Oral and Written Communications / Intermediate / Intermediate / Strong / Strong / Advanced / Advanced / Advanced
b. Risk Management / Intermediate / Strong / Strong / Advanced / Advanced / Advanced
c. Negotiation Skills/Integration
Function / Intermediate / Strong / Advanced / Advanced / Advanced
8. Competencies / a. Values and Ethics / Supervisor / Manager / Manager / Director / DG / ADM
b. Strategic Thinking– Analysis / Supervisor / Manager / Director / DG / DG / ADM
c. Strategic Thinking– Ideas / Supervisor / Manager / Director / DG / DG / ADM
d. Engagement / Supervisor / Supervisor / Manager / Director / DG / ADM
e. Management Excellence - Action / Supervisor / Manager / Director / DG / ADM
f. Management Excellence – People / Supervisor / Manager / Director / DG / ADM
g. Management Excellence – Finance / Supervisor / Manager / Director / DG / ADM
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SFFO Council: FI to CFO Career Path
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[1] These qualifications FIs need for promotion to the FI level indicated, not the skills that an FI would acquire while in that level.
[2] This represents the minimum length of time an incumbent should serve in a CFO position.
[3] Preferably in Finance or a related field.
[4] The FI must be member in good standing.
[5] FI should be working towards a professional accreditation.
[6] In Bilingual regions as required.
[7] Some specialist non-supervisory positions are available.
[8] This includes the entire Management Cycle.
[9] Experience in large, medium and small departments and agencies.
[10] Experience in a wide range of government financial management areas, including operating funds, capital, and grants and contributions.