Trends from the first half of 2025 suggest that opportunity is knocking for finance professionals seeking a CFO role — particularly those seeking an in-house promotion.
Less than one-quarter of sitting CFOs at Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies came into their current role directly from another CFO chair, according to the midyear Crist Kolder Associates Volatility Report.
Excluding seven sitting CFOs across 663 companies placed as a part of mergers, just 23.2% of sitting CFOs arrived directly from another CFO role.
And, among CFOs hired over the first half of 2025, external hiring was down 40%, standing at 28.2% compared with 47.1% for the entirety of 2024.
More internal hiring means more chances for current employees to ascend to the CFO role. See more notable findings.