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VP of Finance job description.

A VP of Finance leads the organization's financial planning, reporting, and analysis functions, partnering with the CFO and executive team to guide financial strategy. They oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial controls while ensuring accurate reporting and strong fiscal discipline across the business.

8 responsibilities·4 required + 2 preferred·US + AU
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The VP of Finance job description · $29

The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.

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HumanResourcely · Vol. I
VP of Finance — Job Description

Role: VP of Finance    Reports to: Chief Financial Officer or CEO

A VP of Finance leads the organization's financial planning, reporting, and analysis functions, partnering with the CFO and executive team to guide financial strategy. They oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial controls while ensuring accurate reporting and strong fiscal discipline across the business.

1. Key responsibilities
  • Lead financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes
  • Oversee preparation of financial statements and management reporting
  • Partner with the CFO and executive team on financial strategy
Full document with email opt-in
Composition

What's inside the document.

01Role summary

One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.

02Responsibilities

8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.

03Required qualifications

4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.

04Preferred qualifications

2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.

05Skills

5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.

06Reporting line

Chief Financial Officer or CEO

What you receive

A complete document set.

  • Word document (.docx) — fully editable
  • PDF — signature-ready
  • Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
  • 12 months of updates to this document
  • Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
Responsibilities at a glance

The work, not the title.

  • Lead financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes
  • Oversee preparation of financial statements and management reporting
  • Partner with the CFO and executive team on financial strategy
  • Manage cash flow, capital allocation, and financial risk
  • Ensure compliance with accounting standards and regulatory requirements
  • Lead and develop the finance and accounting team
  • Present financial performance and forecasts to leadership and the board
  • Evaluate investment opportunities and business case financials
Qualifications

Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.

Required
  • Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or related field
  • 10+ years of progressive finance experience, including leadership roles
  • Strong knowledge of financial reporting standards and controls
  • Proven experience managing budgets and financial teams
Preferred
  • MBA or CPA/CFA designation
  • Experience in a high-growth or private equity-backed company
Skills
Financial planning and analysisBudget managementFinancial reportingTeam leadershipStrategic decision support
How to use this template

Eight steps from download to publish.

  1. 01Open the VP of Finance job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
  2. 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
  3. 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
  4. 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
  5. 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
  6. 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
  7. 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
  8. 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
When to use this template

The right document at the right moment.

Use this VP of Finance job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The executive band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.

The reporting line (Chief Financial Officer or CEO) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.

FAQ

Honest answers before you download.

How does a VP of Finance differ from a CFO?
A VP of Finance typically manages day-to-day financial operations and reporting, while the CFO owns overall financial strategy and often sits on the executive leadership team.
What experience level should candidates have?
This role generally requires a decade or more of progressive finance experience with demonstrated leadership of finance teams.
Legal note

This VP of Finance job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.