Behind the Numbers: How to Get to the C-Suite

Why It Matters

For finance professionals and employers, the takeaway is that developing interpersonal leadership, strategic judgment and digital fluency is as important as technical mastery—shaping hiring, training and succession planning in an era of fast change.

Summary

Panelists—senior finance and transformation leaders—say accountants remain a common route into the C-suite but technical skills alone no longer suffice. Success now depends on broader leadership competencies: emotional self-awareness, personal development, networked mentorship, and experience that builds judgment. Rapid technological change, including AI and digital channels, is creating new shortcut opportunities (portfolio or fractional CFO roles) while also raising the bar for adaptability. Guests recalled early C-suite breakthroughs in their late 20s to early 30s, underscoring varied, non‑linear career paths into senior roles.

Original Description

This episode looks at routes to the C-suite, and the traits, skills and capabilities you’ll need to get you there. Accountants are highly represented in the C-suite, with one in four CEOs holding the qualification according to research by Robert Half.

However, the working world is going through rapid technological and cultural transformation. So how is that changing the competencies that organisations look for in their leaders?  And how can you best prepare yourself for taking on those roles in the future? 

Transcript

Read the full transcript of this episode here - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/behind-the-numbers/how-to-get-to-the-c-suite/transcript

Links

ICAEW: Soft skills for leaders (CPD) - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2025/jul-2025/free-cpd-soft-skills-for-leaders

ICAEW: Traits of modern CFOs - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2024/jul-2024/what-traits-make-up-the-modern-cfo

ICAEW: Eight lessons from my first year as CFO - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/feb-2026/eight-lessons-from-my-first-year-as-a-cfo

ICAEW: How to deal with team conflict - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/jan-2026/management-skills-how-to-deal-with-team-conflict

Host

Philippa Lamb

Guests

• Neil Cutting, Transformation Director at Oracle

• Zana Goic Petricevic, leadership transformation expert

• Richard Davis, founder and CEO, FNLY

Producer

Natalie Chisholm 

Episode first published: 10 February 2026

Podcast recorded: 21 January 2026