Chief Financial Officer Program

Take Your Career as a Finance Leader to the Next Level
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Early Registration Benefit

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Connect with a learning advisor for more information.

What You Will Learn

The Chief Financial Officer Program will enable you to:

  • Establish a long-term vision that balances fiscal outcomes with performance goals, ensuring alignment with overarching business strategies and objectives

  • Identify and drive the implementation of strategic choices that lead to sustainable value creation and organizational growth

  • Acquire and utilize effective strategies to improve communication, increase influence, and exert a more significant personal impact on both internal and external stakeholders

  • Lead change and transformation efforts that create lasting value for the finance function and the wider organization

  • Transform culture across the organization to ensure it is risk aware and financially aligned

Program Highlights

Core Curriculum

Kick-start your program journey with 18 weeks of core online learning, imparting essential skills for the CFO role.

Weekly Live Sessions

Experience live online sessions with a success coach as well as periodic guest lectures by faculty, industry leaders, and career advisors.

World-Renowned Faculty

Learn from Columbia Business School faculty, thought leaders, and financial industry experts.

Peer Learning

Learn from high-achieving peers from around the globe, and build your network.

Success Coach

Craft your learning journey in line with your career goals with a success coach assigned to your cohort.

Networking Event

Interact with faculty, peers, and global industry leaders at an optional two-day on-campus networking event.

Certificate in Business Excellence (CIBE) Benefits

Receive CIBE benefits upon completion and become part of a distinguished global community.

Capstone Project

Work on a capstone project to refine your skills by applying program learnings to a challenge and drive immediate on-the-job impact in your organization.

Flexible Learning Journey

Balance learning with your busy work schedule by dedicating just three to five hours each week toward program sessions and learning activities.

Program Curriculum

The Chief Financial Officer Program is a flexible learning journey designed for senior leaders in finance. You will learn through online and interactive sessions, fireside chats, and guest lectures led by Columbia Business School faculty, and global industry leaders. The program offers an expertly developed curriculum that spans three key phases that will equip you with the necessary tools to drive financial strategy and lead digital transformation at your organization.

Executive Peer Group and Networking Event

The enriching environment of the networking event provides participants with the invaluable opportunity to build a robust network with global executives who bring diverse experiences, cultures, and perspectives. Engaging in thoughtful discussions, they can exchange cutting-edge insights and knowledge that are integral in staying abreast of industry trends. The networking event showcases the vibrant community that participants of the Chief Financial Officer Program become an invaluable part of.

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Meet the Faculty Director

Profile picture of professor SHIVARAM RAJGOPAL
SHIVARAM RAJGOPAL

Roy Bernard Kester and T.W. Byrnes Professor of Accounting and Auditing, Faculty Director of the Chief Financial Officer Program

Contributing Faculty

Profile picture of professor Karim Bennis
Karim Bennis

Group CFO, Etisalat

Profile picture of professor John V. Faraci
John V. Faraci

Executive in Residence, Columbia Business School

Profile picture of professor Jesse Greene
Jesse Greene

Executive in Residence, Columbia Business School

Profile picture of professor Douglas Maine
Douglas Maine

Executive in Residence, Columbia Business School

Profile picture of professor Ravi Mallela
Ravi Mallela

CFO, First Hawaiian Bank

Profile picture of professor Paul Shoukry
Paul Shoukry

CFO of Raymond James Financial, Inc.

Certificate in Business Excellence

Certificate in Business Excellence

Upon completion of the Chief Financial Officer Program, participants are awarded the Certificate in Business Excellence from Columbia Business School Executive Education. The certificate is a recognition of their achievement and the investment they and their organization have made in their education and development.

As a Certificate in Business Excellence holder, you will receive a 25 percent tuition benefit for full-price Executive Education in-person programs lasting three and four days and all full-price online programs. Exclusions apply

Certificate holders will also be awarded select Columbia Business School Alumni benefits.

Your digitally verified certificate will be issued in your legal name and emailed to you, at no additional cost, upon completion of the program, including all modules of the program (online, in person, or live online, inter-module). All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Columbia Business School Executive Education.

CIBE Holder Benefits

  • Access to Columbia Business School Alumni Career Services resources, including unique career content, a job board, an online networking platform, the alumni directory, and more​

  • Invitations to alumni events and programs around the world​

  • Eligibility to join Columbia Business School alumni clubs​

  • Global networking opportunities​

  • Lifetime Columbia Business School forwarding email address​

  • Subscription to our alumni publication Columbia Business

Hear from Our Participants

Toshiko Zeidler,

General Manager, Global Finance Department, MISUMI

"The core curriculum touched on many aspects of being a CFO and provided me with valuable insights into topics not accessible daily in my current role."

Madhuri Kumari,

President/CFO, Mamsys

"Listening to the experiences of various CFOs has been so knowledgeable and provided a great learning opportunity."

Foluso Adigun,

Chief Financial Officer

"Completing the program boosted my confidence that I was ready to lead as CFO. Within two months of looking for opportunities, I accepted a CFO role. The Columbia [Business Sc...

J'Maine Chubb,

Finance Leader

"The best part of the core curriculum were the interviews with CFOs and the availability of the program managers to interact with regarding program materials and providing sup...

Melissa Dawe,

Finance Leader

"Having very structured weekly topics helped maintain clear and concise learning outcomes and continued to keep us engaged with a new topic every week."

Alanna Bellanca,

Finance Leader

"The weekly live group sessions provided great networking opportunities and an improved understanding of the module material."

Melynda Geronimo,

CPA, Finance Leader

"I liked exploring the myriad of topics that could affect CFOs and getting perspectives from around the world and across many industries."

Andrew Kipsey,

Finance Leader

"The all-encompassing nature of the core modules and being able to learn from the experience of others and their expertise was immensely helpful."

Enrico Bruni,

Finance Leader

"The flow of topics was well-structured and coherent. It also helped to have consecutive assignments on the same company to progressively deepen the analysis in various aspect...

Brian Dilger,

Finance Leader

"The best parts of the program were idea stimulation, networking, and the application of concepts to my current role."

Who Is It For?

The Chief Financial Officer Program is uniquely designed to suit professionals with a strong financial background from diverse industries. Individuals new to the CFO role or stepping into a financial leadership role will benefit from the in-depth curriculum, expert faculty, and invaluable networking opportunities.

Participants should have:

  • A minimum of ten years of work experience in finance

  • Fluency in written and spoken English

  • International exposure (preferred)

Application Details

Round 1

Deadline: April 17, 2025

Application fee: US$200

Round 2

Deadline: May 13, 2025

Application fee: US$200

Round 3

Deadline: June 03, 2025

Application fee: US$200

Round 4

Deadline: June 25, 2025

Application fee: US$200

The program fee covers teaching fees, all academic material, and access to online coursework. The fee does not include accommodations for the two-day annual in-person reunion and networking event, travel expenses (domestic, international, visa fee, and more), and other expenses not specifically mentioned in the program fee.

FAQs

Questions? Connect with a Program Advisor

Our program advisors have helped senior executives across the world choose the right program for their career goals. Schedule a 1:1 to get a deeper understanding on why the Chief Financial Officer Program is the right fit for you.

Email: columbia_cfo@emeritus.org

Phone: +1 567 587 1669 (U.S.) / +44 1156 471398 (U.K.) / +971 80 00321209 (U.A.E.) / +52 55930 20507 (LATAM)

Early registrations are encouraged. Seats fill up quickly!

Flexible payment options available.

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