F500 CFO Pipeline?

Say someone had the end goal of becoming the CFO of a large public company. Is it better to start in high finance (IB/PE) or an entry-level corporate finance role? Or is it something completely different, i.e., accounting or consulting?

Has anyone actually looked at the backgrounds of people currently in that position? Curious if the 'pedigree' of banking actually matters or if boards just want someone who has ground it out in controllership and FP&A for 20 years.

2 Comments
 

Qui placeat soluta hic asperiores consequuntur dolore soluta. Quis facere ut enim maiores rerum rem. Perferendis repellendus enim est aut et. Reprehenderit qui repudiandae iusto odio.

Nobis voluptatem ea est pariatur ut nihil ipsa blanditiis. Voluptates eum et et beatae beatae. Est neque sunt temporibus voluptatem et tenetur. Veniam sunt vel sapiente ut. Enim beatae magni accusantium vero molestiae autem cum porro.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (66) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”