The right CFO coaches don't just sharpen your technical skills—they help you lead. Whether you're stepping into the CFO seat or growing into a more strategic role, the coaches here offer real-world guidance that translates to results. I've pulled together the best in the field so you can find the right fit and start building the finance leadership career you're after.
Top 16 CFO Coaches & Mentors
Below are the profiles of the top CFO coaches and mentors, covering who they are and what they bring to the space.
Catherine Clark
Lead CFO Mentor at GrowCFO
Capel, United Kingdom
Focus area:
#CFO mentoring#Finance leadership#Executive influence#Strategic leadership
An experienced CFO, board leader, and executive mentor, Catherine Clark leads Cristallum and serves as GrowCFO’s lead CFO mentor, drawing on more than 25 years in global commercial finance.
Clark helps CFOs…
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Oliver Deacon
Executive Coach & Finance Mentor
United Kingdom
Focus area:
#Finance leadership#Executive coaching#Future of finance#Team culture#Business partnering
Oliver Deacon is a former Microsoft finance director and executive coach. His career includes technology, finance transformation, team leadership, and senior finance roles across the UK and US.
Deacon coaches finance leaders…
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Saleem Sufi
Founder at MECA CFO Academy
United States
Focus area:
#Strategic finance#CFO development#Executive education#Leadership#Enterprise value
Saleem Sufi is the founder of MECA CFO Academy and is a strategic finance educator and executive coach with more than two decades of senior finance leadership experience across multiple global regions.
…
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Edith Hamilton
CFO & Executive Coach
California, United States
Focus area:
#CFO coaching#Private equity#Executive influence#Finance leadership#Operational leadership
Edith Hamilton is an executive coach and former finance and operations leader. She founded NEXT New Growth after a career in private equity, healthcare, M&A, CFO, and operational roles.
Hamilton specializes in…
Connect with Edith:
Susana Serrano-Davey
CFO Mentor & Executive Coach
Marbella, Spain
Focus area:
#Finance leadership#Executive coaching#Communication#Influence#Career transitions
Susana Serrano-Davey is an experienced CFO, executive coach, mentor, and author. She has more than 30 years of international experience across multinational businesses, startups, and finance roles.
Her mentoring helps senior finance…
Connect with Susana:
Ken Hickey
CFO Coach & Mentor
Dublin, Ireland
Focus area:
#CFO coaching#Executive presence#Strategic influence#Finance leadership#Team performance
Ken Hickey is a CFO coach and mentor who previously served as CFO of Microsoft Worldwide Operations and held senior international finance roles across Microsoft, GE, Hertz, AIG, and other firms.
Through…
Connect with Ken:
Sophia Toh
Executive Coach & Leadership Advisor
Georgia, United States
Focus area:
#Executive coaching#Finance leadership#Executive presence#Psychological safety#Leadership transitions
Sophia Toh is an ICF-credentialed executive coach, leadership trainer, speaker, and author. She spent 20 years in corporate leadership, including senior CFO and finance transformation roles.
Using her CFO experience at Kraft…
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Damian Smith
Executive Coach & Former CFO
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Focus area:
#Executive coaching#Finance leadership#Team culture#Leadership development#Organizational change
Damian Smith is an executive coach and former regional CFO whose 20-plus-year commercial career includes senior finance and sales leadership roles at Sony Mobile, BlackBerry, and Vodafone.
Smith coaches executives and teams…
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Paula Kensington
Business Strategist, CFO & Mentor
Sydney, Australia
Focus area:
#Finance leadership#Executive influence#Business strategy#Sustainability#Governance
Paula Kensington is a business strategist, mentor, and former CFO who founded CFO Conversations and PK Advisory after more than 30 years in commercial finance and senior executive leadership.
Kensington mentors finance…
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Kurt W. Ostermiller
CFO Executive Business Coach
Texas, United States
Focus area:
#CFO coaching#Executive leadership#Decision-making#CEO-CFO relationships#Team performance
Kurt W. Ostermiller is a certified executive business coach and former turnaround CFO. He spent roughly two decades leading financially distressed companies before focusing on CFO coaching.
Ostermiller coaches CFOs on leadership,…
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Kevin Appleby
COO & Strategy Mentor at GrowCFO
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Focus area:
#Business strategy#Finance transformation#CFO mentoring#Change management#AI in finance
Kevin Appleby is GrowCFO’s COO and strategy mentor, a chartered accountant and former divisional CFO. His career includes industry finance, management consulting, transformation, and education.
Appleby helps CFOs turn strategy into execution,…
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Paul McKoen
CFO Advisor, Coach & Mentor
United Kingdom
Focus area:
#CFO mentoring#Restructuring#Corporate finance#Fundraising#Finance leadership
Paul McKoen is an experienced CFO, finance director, advisor, coach, and mentor. His career includes startups and mature businesses across retail, manufacturing, technology, and services.
McKoen draws on his experience in restructuring,…
Connect with Paul:
Bruno Vinel
Executive & Team Coach
Stourbridge, United Kingdom
Focus area:
#Executive coaching#CFO leadership#Leadership transitions#Team coaching#Governance
Bruno Vinel is an EMCC-accredited executive and team coach, strategic advisor, NED, and former CFO. He has 37 years of experience in complex multinational and regulated business environments.
Vinel works with senior…
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João Marcos Cazula
CFO & Executive Coach
São Paulo, Brazil
Focus area:
#CFO coaching#Financial strategy#Executive leadership#Career development#Strategic planning
João Marcos Cazula is a CFO and executive coach at Lumina Coach with 24 years in executive leadership, including 15 years as a statutory director and extensive international experience.
Cazula combines financial…
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Zachary Lynde
CFO Coach & Strategic Advisor
Austin, United States
Focus area:
#CFO coaching#Strategic finance#M&A#Capital raising#Finance leadership
Zachary Lynde is a CFO coach and strategic advisor at The Zachary Group and has more than 25 years of finance leadership across technology, pharma, blockchain, energy, and manufacturing.
Lynde works with…
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Colin Golden
Executive Coach & Leadership Advisor
Dublin, Ireland
Focus area:
#Executive coaching#CFO leadership#Strategic influence#Executive presence#Leadership psychology
Colin Golden is an executive coach and leadership advisor with more than 30 years of C-suite experience, including CFO roles at global companies and major international debt and equity transactions.
Golden combines…
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Selection Methodology
I selected the leaders on this list based on their relevance, demonstrated expertise and impact, professional credibility, and ongoing contributions to the field.
I look for evidence such as leading meaningful initiatives or delivering notable results within their organizations, developing influential ideas or practices, publishing research or educational resources, speaking or teaching, and other contributions that demonstrate impact within their work or the broader field.
What’s Next?
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