Leadership for the CFO

Influence. Motivate. Inspire.

Emilia Bunea

$356.95 $285.90

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Routledge
14 November 2025

Public finance accounting; Corporate finance; Business strategy; Management: leadership & motivation; Management of specific areas

Most leadership books are not written with finance in mind. This one is. Written by a seasoned CFO with deep research expertise, Leadership for the CFO speaks directly to the realities of leading from the top finance seat.

The CFO role is changing, requiring new levels of influence across the C-suite and in organizations. More than ever, CFOs need to raise their leadership game. What motivates finance teams? What tools can a CFO use to influence non-finance stakeholders? How can finance leaders communicate with impact? What are some blind spots CFOs have when developing talent? How can finance leaders avoid being pigeonholed in their roles? How do CFOs best prepare for a CEO role? Grounded in cutting-edge leadership research, the book answers these and many other questions. It combines clear frameworks with practical tools tailored to finance leaders. These ideas are brought to life through real-world cases of finance leaders. The book includes exclusive access to selected scenes from Crossroads Life — an award-winning film, not available outside executive education, that portrays a CFO’s real-world leadership journey.

Essential reading for CFOs, aspiring finance executives, and anyone aiming to lead in finance.

By: Emilia Bunea
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781032947785
ISBN 10: 1032947780
Pages: 244
Publication Date: 14 November 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Emilia Bunea, Ph.D., CFA, is a leadership scholar, board member, and entrepreneur whose nearly two-decade-long corporate career as CFO and CEO included overseeing a €20 billion balance sheet and leading an organization serving two million customers. Dr. Bunea’s research has been published in prominent academic and practitioner outlets. She lectures on leadership at business schools, corporations, and events around the world and has written and produced the first-ever cinematic case study on leadership. Her TED talk at London Business School on how top CEOs fuel their leadership has drawn wide attention. She holds an MBA from the University of Washington and a doctorate from VU University Amsterdam.

Reviews for Leadership for the CFO: Influence. Motivate. Inspire.

""Finally, a leadership book that speaks to CFOs. It’s smart, grounded, and gets to the heart of what it really takes to lead people — not just manage results."" Andrew Bonfield, CFO, Catterpillar Inc. ""Leadership varies according to context. So how do things look for CFOs who wish to lead? Blending experience, expertise and research this book provides thoughtful insight and pragmatic advice for CFOs – and all those who aspire to the role."" Rob Goffee, Emeritus Professor of Organizational Behavior, London Business School and co-author of Why Should Anyone Be Led by You? ""This book perfectly illustrates how strategic finance teams aren't just scorekeepers, they proactively engage to put points on the board. Dr. Bunea delivers an insightful reflection on how the next generation of CFOs can lead by driving growth, preserving value, and empowering talent to truly unlock an organization's full potential."" Sandeep Aujla, CFO, Intuit. ""A must-read for modern CFOs, this book offers a sharp and timely rethinking of leadership in the financial sector."" Arun Sivaramakrishnan, CFO, NN Leven ""Most finance leadership books focus on numbers; this one focuses on people. It offers finance leaders an unflinching look at the psychological and political dynamics they must master to truly lead."" Andrea Burlacu, Vice President – Global Finance Operations, The Coca-Cola Company