| Companies, both for and not for profit, exist to | | | | investment, insurance and other risk management |
| meet certain goals and objectives from meeting sales | | | | needs, cash management, and capital management. |
| and profit numbers to feeding the hungry. The | | | | The chief information officer is a relatively new |
| executives and management of these companies | | | | addition to the corporate officer team. This person |
| develop the strategies to meets this goals and | | | | oversees the technology that the company uses |
| formulate the policies that drive the company | | | | including the policies surrounding its use and security. |
| forward. Each state has different rules defining the | | | | In a small company, the corporate secretary often |
| number of officers and directors required, the types | | | | holds one of the previous titles as well. The |
| of officers required (president, secretary, and | | | | secretary provides a point of communication |
| treasurer, for instance), and whether a single person | | | | between the board of directors, senior management, |
| can hold multiple offices. | | | | and other corporate stakeholders. |
| The chief executive officer or president establishes | | | | This is true also with the corporate treasurer who is |
| the goals and the policies in concert with other | | | | often the CFO in a small company. In general, the |
| executives and the board of directors. In general, this | | | | treasurer provides similar services in compliance, risk |
| person retains overall accountability for everything | | | | management and oversight of finance and accounting. |
| that happens in the company. With the | | | | In a small company, having multiple officers allows a |
| Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, this has become a greater | | | | company to spread the management responsibilities, |
| responsibility. | | | | such as check and document signing, employee |
| The chief operating officer oversees the general | | | | management, and interaction with outside entities |
| operations of the company and usually provides the | | | | such as attorneys and accountants. |
| direction for day-to-day implementation of corporate | | | | If you are building a team to drive your company to |
| policies. | | | | the next level, add more officers to your senior |
| The chief financial officer oversees the organization's | | | | team and trust them with their responsibilities. If you |
| financial goals and objectives, as well as developing | | | | find that you are handling all corporate matters |
| budgets and financial policy. In general, he or she | | | | personally, you may not have the right people in |
| makes the decisions with regard to funds | | | | place. |