The chief financial officer's responsibility has become more complex. He no longer just crunches number but also leads the company on various fronts.

Excellence in number crunching, innovativeness and effectiveness in tax planning are the first thoughts which come to mind when you think of a skilled chief financial officer or CFO. This was a true description till the early 1990s, but post-liberalisation, there has been a complete redefining of the finance function and the role that a CFO plays in an organisation.

There are several success stories that illustrate the opportunities for leadership available to CFOs. Take, for instance, Keki Dadiseth who managed various finance roles in India [ Images ] and overseas before taking over as the managing director and chairman of Hindustan Unilever. He went on to become Unilever's global director for home and personal care business. Likewise, Anil Singhvi went on to be the CEO from a finance role at Ambuja Cements. He is currently the vic ...more