I am seeking an outline format description of the job responsibilities
of a corporate CFO.  I would like to see these responsibilities
organized in a key topic/sub topic way, preferably with 5-7 main
topics with 3-5 sub topics under each topic. Please assume a dynamic
public corporation with an international presence.

Greetings!

QUESTION:
The question is to identify a readily available template (in outline
format) for CFO job descriptions.  A template showing a breakdown of
responsiblities (functions, subfunctions) is desired.

ANSWER:
There are good (and *free*) templates for CFO job descriptions, and I
think the one provided by HRnext, slightly modified, can meet your
requirements.

The free template provided by HRnext is simple, is available for
downloading as a Word (.doc) file, and can be easily tailored
regarding level of management (grade, reports to, department,
division, etc.), job summary (e.g., insert "worldwide" before
"financial activities"), functions (the seven function descriptions
suggest possible ways to break them down into subfunctions -- *see
also notes 1, 2, 3 below*), and qualifications (e.g., in item 4,
specifying years of experience in a given industry).

To examine this CFO job description template:
http://www2.hrnext.com/tools/view.cfm?articles_id=3106&tools_id=4

If you are interested in job description templates for other
positions:
http://www2.hrnext.com/tools/subs.cfm?tools_id=4&source=MKD&effort=67

The search strategy to answer your question was to use Google Advanced
Search, entering the query "free and outline and "cfo job
description"".

Please let me know if this is a satisfactory answer to your question.

Regards,
pelican-ga
---------------------------------------------
NOTES
---------------------------------------------

NOTE 1: In tailoring the template, you may want to see excellent
article "CFOs find their roles changing", by Stephanie Sanborn,
InfoWorld, 3/09/01:
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/01/03/12/010312hnetrend.xml

NOTE 2: The functions can be broken down to subfunctions, for example:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Directs the preparation of all financial reports, including: 
   a. Income statements
   b. Balance sheets
   c. Reports to shareholders
   d. Tax returns
   e. Reports for government regulatory agencies

2. Oversees the following organizations:
   a. Accounting departments
   b. Budgeting departments
   c. Auditing departments
   d. Meets weekly with department heads to keep informed and provide
guidance
   d. Meets quarterly with organization to provide guidance, answer
questions

3. Reviews reports to analyze all pertinent financial projections:
   a. Sales and profit goals against actual figures
   b. Budgeted expenses against actual totals
   c. Suggests methods of improving the planning process as
appropriate

4. Analyzes company operations to identify cost reduction
opportunities:
   a. Areas that need to be reorganized, down-sized, or eliminated
   b. Business processes that need to be re-engineered
   c. Quality improvements to reduce rework and costly field
replacements

5. Confers with the executive team to coordinate and prioritize
planning
   a. President and Corporate Vice-presidents -- capitalization
strategy
   b. Division Presidents -- revenue shotfalls, investment needed
   c. Human Resources -- benefits, incentives, training needs
   d. General Counsel -- cost of new regulations for environmental
management

6. Studies long-range economic trends in order to determine:
   a. Company prospects for future growth in sales and market share  
   b. Opportunities for acquisitions or expansion into new product
areas
   c. Estimates of requirements for capital, land, buildings,
equipment
   d. Estimate prospective increases in the work force

7. Supervises investment of all corporate funds 
   a. Works with banks/investors raise capital as required for
expansion
   b. Guides the investment of liquid funds in stocks, securities,
etc.
   c. Determines the amounts of gifts for the good of society

NOTE 3: Other issues that may be handled by the CFO, and may be added
to the list of functions/subfunctions:

a. Uncertainty in product markets, customer preferences, or the profit
potential for strategies
b. Adequacy and flexibility of infrastructure in place
c. Lack of consensus among key executives about allocating resources
to achieve required growth
d. Clear understanding of the competitive environment
e. Inadequate people resources to execute properly
f. Need for managerial discipline and fiscal responsibility in
managing growth
g. Scarcity of funding for growth initiatives
h. Volatility in the capital market

See the box on "CFOs rate key business issues":
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/01/03/12/010312hnetrend.xml
Source: Closedloop Solutions