Discover the profession that can pay R$100,000 per month

For a long time, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), then known as the financial director, was the silent guardian of balance sheets—the one who closed the books and mastered spreadsheets. But this figure has changed, and significantly. “Today, the modern CFO is more of an economic strategist than a sophisticated accountant. They are the mind behind decisions that move billions, the interpreter of global crises, and increasingly the protagonist of corporate transformation,” explains Alysson Guimarães, CEO of LeverPro, a Brazilian company specialized in financial planning and analysis (FP&A) solutions for mid-sized and large enterprises.

According to him, this shift has been driven mainly by the incorporation of advanced technologies into corporate finance, which has become a competitive differentiator. The latest McKinsey report (2024) indicates that companies with digitally skilled CFOs achieve an EBITDA 15% higher than the average in their sectors. This efficiency gain stems primarily from the adoption of tools such as artificial intelligence for cash flow forecasting (used by 72% of CFOs in large corporations) and blockchain for risk management (35% of companies on the IBOVESPA have already implemented it).

Another factor that has placed CFOs, that is, financial directors, at the forefront is the macroeconomic storm of recent years, with fluctuating interest rates, persistent inflation, and exchange rate volatility. According to Economatica, 68% of companies listed on B3 revised their currency hedging strategies in the past 12 months. Some went further. Lojas Renner, for example, reduced its dollar exposure by 40% through a maneuver led directly by the finance team.

“And the capital market recognizes those who lead innovation. A study by Itaú shows that companies with CFOs considered ‘innovators’ raise funds at interest rates up to 1.5 percentage points lower than their competitors,” illustrates the CEO of LeverPro.

This logic has profound implications. Credit Suisse estimates that companies with strategic CFOs are valued up to 20% more by the market. Weg illustrates this thesis well: after restructuring its financial leadership, its market value grew by 35% in just 18 months, even during a downturn cycle in the Ibovespa.

Valuation aligns with impact. Consulting firm Mercer points out that the average compensation of CFOs at the 100 largest Brazilian companies reached R$ 4.2 million annually in 2024. According to a McKinsey study, financial directors proficient in AI and blockchain drive results; salaries can reach R$ 8 million per year, as in fintechs and digital banks, and professionals with certifications such as the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) can earn up to 35% more. A Page Executive study indicates that the fixed compensation of a CFO starts at R$ 70,000 in large companies.

Base salary may include variable compensation and stock ownership, common for executives in strategic positions. This means total compensation can exceed R$ 100,000, depending on the company’s size and revenue.

For Alysson Guimarães, it’s not just the salary that has changed. The profile has also transformed. According to Russell Reynolds, 62% of CFOs at the 500 largest Brazilian companies came from areas outside finance, such as technology and operations. And 45% hold international MBAs. Skills like Python programming and proficiency in tools such as Power BI have become prerequisites. “The modern CFO has ceased to be a sophisticated accountant and has become the architect of value creation in the company. Their knowledge in behavioral finance, economic modeling, and intangible asset management is as important as technical mastery of accounting reports. And, more recently, mastery of technology.”

At Ambev, for example, the CFO implemented an artificial intelligence system that reduced the impact of inflation on operational costs by 30%. At Nubank, the institution’s CFO, who has a background in data science, uses machine learning to anticipate delinquency trends.

“The key competencies of the modern CFO include strategic vision, technological fluency, data-driven decision-making ability, and a strong commitment to ESG practices,” says Alysson, who also runs a social media channel with 70,000 followers where he shares the “CFO Handbook,” helping professionals adapt to this new reality.

The phrase that best summarizes this transformation may be Guimarães’ own: “The CFO of the future does not ask ‘How much did we spend?’, but ‘How does this investment transform our business and the world?’. With the convergence of technology, sustainability, and strategy, the role of the financial director is redefining its place and importance in the contemporary corporate landscape.”