Top 16 CFO Coaches to Learn From in 2026
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
Below are the profiles of the top CFO coaches, covering who they are and the impact they've made in this space.
Catherine Clark
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…
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 and aspiring finance leaders strengthen confidence, strategic thinking, relationships, and board-level influence. Her mentoring combines hands-on CFO experience with practical leadership tools, and she facilitates GrowCFO programs for first-time and developing CFOs.
Oliver Deacon
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…
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 on decision-making, business partnering, team culture, innovation, and the transition into FD and CFO roles. An ICF Professional Certified Coach and ICAEW Fellow, he brings senior finance experience to leadership development for modern finance teams.
Saleem Sufi
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.
…
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.
Sufi develops finance professionals into more strategic, boardroom-ready leaders through coaching, executive education, case studies, and business simulations. His work centers on strategy, enterprise value creation, cross-functional leadership, and the evolving role of the CFO.
Edith Hamilton
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…
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 coaching CFOs and COOs, particularly leaders facing private equity expectations, transitions, or broader strategic demands. Her work addresses executive influence, team leadership, board communication, operational thinking, and the first months in a senior role.
Susana Serrano-Davey
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…
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 professionals build confidence, self-awareness, communication, influence, and leadership effectiveness. Drawing on corporate and entrepreneurial experience, Serrano-Davey supports leaders through career transitions and growth without losing sight of personal fulfillment.
Ken Hickey
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…
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 Ken Hickey Advisory, he helps CFOs strengthen judgment, executive presence, strategic influence, and team performance. His approach combines firsthand C-suite experience with executive coaching to help finance leaders move from reporting results to shaping enterprise decisions.
Sophia Toh
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…
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 Heinz and Walker & Company Brands, Toh coaches leaders on executive presence, transitions, decision-making, psychological safety, and authentic leadership. Her work connects finance credibility with the human skills needed to lead through growth and change.
Damian Smith
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…
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 on authentic leadership, culture, trust, behavior change, and performance under complexity. His former CFO experience gives him practical context for finance leaders managing strategic decisions, stakeholder expectations, and organizational transformation.
Paula Kensington
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…
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 leaders on executive presence, influence, strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and sustainable business value. She combines CFO experience with community building and a modern approach to governance, sustainability, and finance leadership.
Kurt W. Ostermiller
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,…
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, decision-making, CEO relationships, delegation, team performance, and the pressures of senior finance roles. He also created group coaching experiences for CFO peers, drawing on more than 30 years in corporate finance.
Kevin Appleby
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,…
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, improve performance management, and lead finance transformation. His mentoring focuses on restructuring, consulting, and change programs, while his writing and podcasting explore AI, technology, and the future of finance.
Paul McKoen
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,…
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, acquisitions, sales, fundraising, and private equity to mentor finance professionals. As a former Silentnight CFO, he helps emerging finance leaders prepare for the challenges of senior roles.
Bruno Vinel
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…
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 leaders and boards through high-stakes transitions, transformation, and strategic change. His CFO and governance experience shapes his coaching on clear thinking, resilience, decision-making, teamwork, and effective leadership during challenging times.
João Marcos Cazula
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…
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 strategy with leadership coaching, drawing on his experience as a senior CFO in several countries.
His work helps executives strengthen decision-making, career direction, leadership capability, and the connection between financial performance and people.
Zachary Lynde
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…
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 CFOs, aspiring CFOs, and CEOs through executive coaching and strategic finance advisory. His practice spans M&A, capital raising, forecasting, financial systems, and leadership, giving coaching clients a finance-based perspective on growth, transition, and enterprise value.
Colin Golden
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…
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 executive coaching with practical business advice for leaders seeking stronger strategic influence, executive presence, confidence, and sustainable performance. His approach draws on CFO experience alongside formal study in coaching, psychology, and leadership.
Selection Methodology
We selected the leaders on this list based on their relevance, demonstrated expertise and impact, professional credibility, and ongoing contributions to the field.
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We 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.
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