COO, CFO and CEO: definitions, roles and missions

Definitions: CEO, COO and CFO

These three actors make up the C-Suite, the circle of executive functions at the highest level of the organization:

• CEO (Chief Executive Officer): the general manager, equivalent to the CEO in France. He defines the strategic vision and bears the overall responsibility of the company.
• COO (Chief Operating Officer): the director of operations. He oversees day-to-day operational execution and translates strategy into concrete actions.
• CFO (Chief Financial Officer): the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He leads the finance function, budgets, treasury and compliance.

The CEO: the company’s strategic driver

The CEO is the ultimate leader. He defines the main strategic orientations, communicates them to operational managers and supervises the achievement of objectives.

Key missions:

• Define the vision, mission, and strategic goals
• Chair the Board of Directors and lead the Executive Committee
• Ensuring long-term profitability and growth
• Embodying the company’s culture and values
• Adapting the strategy to market developments
• Negotiate strategic contracts and partnerships

Related KPIs:

• Revenue and profitability growth (EBITDA, net income)
• Company valuation and shareholder satisfaction
• Key Talent Retention Rate
• Competitive positioning and market share

The COO: guarantor of operational execution

The COO is the operational right-hand man of the CEO. Its role: to transform the strategic vision into concrete results, by optimizing processes, teams and resources.

Key missions:

• Optimize processes, tools, and resource allocation
• Manage operational teams and coordinate services
• Oversee quality and customer satisfaction
• Support production and manage operational costs
• Develop and manage operational growth strategies
• Manage relationships with suppliers and partners

Related KPIs:

• Operating rate of return and margins
• Quality indicators (defect rate, customer NPS)
• Productivity per employee
• Delivery times and compliance with commitments
• Resource utilization rate

The CFO: Financial strategist and guardian of compliance

The CFO is not limited to accounting. He is now a true strategic partner of management, involved in investment decisions, growth operations and risk management.

Key missions:

• Manage administrative and financial management
• Produce financial reports, dashboards and forecasts
• Ensure legal, tax, and accounting compliance
• Oversee treasury and management control
• Support strategic decisions with financial analysis
• Anticipating and controlling financial risks
• Participate in growth operations (M&A, fundraising)

Related KPIs:

• Net cash and debt-to-equity ratio
• Accuracy of budget forecasts vs. achievements
• Cost of capital and return on investment (ROI)
• Accounting closing time
• Regulatory compliance (zero sanctions)

How these 3 roles work together on a daily basis

The performance of a company does not depend solely on the individual skills of each manager, but on the quality of their collaboration.

The trio in action:

• CEO + CFO : The CEO sets the growth ambitions, the CFO validates their financial feasibility and warns of risks. In the case of an acquisition, it is the CFO who models the scenarios and the CEO who decides.
• CEO + COO : The CEO defines the direction, the COO implements it. If the CEO decides to enter a new market, the COO organises the operations.
• COO + CFO : The COO needs budgets to invest in operations, the CFO arbitrates and optimizes. Together, they drive organizational performance.

During transformations, this collaboration becomes even more critical: digitalization, mergers and acquisitions, CSR transition, or crisis management.

C-Suite Compensation Recruitment: Trends

C-Suite executive compensation varies greatly by company size, industry, and location. In France, a CEO of an SME is generally between 150,000 and 300,000 euros gross per year (fixed + variable). For a CFO, the range is €120,000 to €250,000, and a COO is positioned in a similar range. In large listed groups, these amounts can be significantly higher, including shares, stock options and performance bonuses.

The recruitment of these profiles is changing rapidly:

• The CFO becomes a strategist : beyond finance, he manages data, forecasting and decision-making analysis. The profiles sought combine financial expertise and digital culture.
• The COO integrates technology : automation, AI, real-time management tools. Mastery of technological levers has become a prerequisite.
• The CEO is responsible for ESG : environmental, social and governance issues are at the heart of the strategic priorities. Boards of directors are increasingly valuing this dimension.
• The positions are specialized : CDO (Chief Digital Officer), CISO (Chief Information Security Officer), CPO (Chief People Officer) complete the historical trio.

Strengthen your leadership team with interim management

A vacancy in the C-Suite can cripple an organization. Waydena supports companies in this context, in particular through general management assignments in the insurance sector.

To learn more, see Guide W — Interim Management Explained to a CEO.

Do you need to strengthen your management team?

Contact Wayden

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a CEO and a COO?

The CEO defines the strategic vision and bears overall responsibility for the company. The COO is his operational right-hand man: he turns this vision into concrete actions by overseeing daily operations, processes and teams.

Is the CFO only responsible for the accounts?

No. The modern CFO is a strategic partner of the Executive Board. In addition to accounting, he manages financial forecasts, supports investment decisions, manages risks and participates in growth operations.

Do all companies need a COO?

Not necessarily. In SMEs, the CEO often takes on operational functions. The COO becomes relevant when the company reaches a size where operational complexity requires a dedicated pilot, generally beyond 100 to 200 employees.

How to recruit a C-Suite manager urgently?

Interim management makes it possible to set up an interim CEO, COO or CFO in a few days. These experienced managers ensure operational continuity while the permanent profile is found.