CFO Cheat Sheet 2026
The 30 highest-yield CFO facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.
- Which metric measures a company's ability to meet short-term obligations using only cash and cash equivalents? → Cash ratio
- What is the primary role of an audit committee within a company's board of directors? → Oversee financial reporting and internal controls
- Why is cash flow forecasting critical for a CFO? → To ensure liquidity and solvency
- In Certified Chief Financial Officer, which operations & process management approach is MOST effective for achieving long-term goals? → Strategic planning with measurable objectives and regular progress reviews
- How can communication & stakeholder engagement be improved in a Certified Chief Financial Officer setting? → Regular feedback mechanisms and training in communication skills
- What is the 'matching principle' in accrual accounting? → Expenses should be recognized in the same period as the revenues they helped generate
- Which document outlines an organization's projected revenues and expenses? → Budget
- In Certified Chief Financial Officer, which human resources & talent development practice BEST ensures system reliability? → Implementing redundancy, regular testing, and documented recovery procedures
- When implementing project management & execution changes in Certified Chief Financial Officer, what factor is MOST critical? → Stakeholder buy-in and a clear change management plan
- In Certified Chief Financial Officer, which project management & execution approach is MOST effective for achieving long-term goals? → Strategic planning with measurable objectives and regular progress reviews
- What is the role of the CFO in investment decisions? → Evaluate financial and strategic fit
- What is the primary objective of treasury management for a CFO? → Ensuring liquidity, managing financial risk, and optimizing cash utilization
- In Certified Chief Financial Officer, which strategic planning & analysis approach is MOST effective for achieving long-term goals? → Strategic planning with measurable objectives and regular progress reviews
- Under ASC 842 (the new U.S. GAAP lease standard), how are operating leases now recorded on the balance sheet by lessees? → As a right-of-use (ROU) asset and a corresponding lease liability
- What is the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) primarily concerned with? → Prohibiting bribery of foreign government officials by U.S. companies
- Which short-term instrument is most commonly used by CFOs to invest excess cash while maintaining liquidity? → Money market funds
- A bank sweep account automatically: → Moves excess cash above a target balance into a higher-yielding investment account daily
- What is the function of variance analysis? → Compare actual vs. projected financials
- Which software is commonly used for corporate financial modeling? → Excel
- Which SEC form must company insiders (officers, directors, 10%+ shareholders) file to report changes in their ownership of company stock? → Form 4
- What is scenario analysis used for in financial planning? → Model financial outcomes under different assumptions
- What framework is used to evaluate a company’s internal and external environment? → SWOT
- Which type of corporate governance document outlines the rights, responsibilities, and rules for conducting board meetings? → Corporate bylaws
- Which U.S. federal law requires CEOs and CFOs to personally certify the accuracy of financial reports filed with the SEC? → Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)
- Which skill is essential for strategic leadership? → Critical thinking
- A letter of credit (LC) issued by a bank in international trade primarily serves to: → Guarantee payment to the seller upon presentation of compliant shipping documents
- What is an internal control? → Safeguard process for financial accuracy
- Which leadership style encourages team involvement in decision making? → Transformational
- Under the Dodd-Frank Act, which type of executive pay vote must most public companies hold at least every three years? → Say-on-pay vote
- The Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) measures which of the following? → The number of days between paying for inventory and collecting cash from customers
Turn these facts into recall: