what's the salary of a CFO (DAF) in france in 2026?

what's the median salary of a CFO in France?

According to Apec's 2025 pay study, administrative and financial management roles (CFO, head of accounting) earn €80k gross a year in median pay, against €55k for managers overall. 80% sit between €49k and €129k, a wide range that reflects very different realities: a CFO at a 20-person SME or a CFO at a listed group.

To hire for this role, see our finance recruitment page, which covers the CFO, financial control and treasury.

does managing a team change a CFO's salary?

Yes, one of the sharpest gaps in the role. According to Apec, a CFO who manages a team earns €82k gross median a year, against €62k for one who manages nobody, a €20k gap. Managing a budget adds another €10k (€82k against €72k).

In the brief, state whether the role manages a finance and accounting team, and whether it manages a budget itself: on this role, those two factors matter more than age (€79k between 35 and 45, €82k above).

is a CFO paid more in Paris, elsewhere in France, or abroad?

A far wider regional gap than for a finance and admin manager (€8k) or a management accountant (€4k). According to Apec, the median is €93k in the Paris region, against €71k in the rest of France, a €22k gap. Roles in overseas territories and abroad stand well apart, at €105k median.

does company size change a CFO's salary?

A lot, more than for a management accountant or an accountant. According to Apec, the median is €74k in companies with fewer than 250 staff, against €100k above that threshold, a €26k gap.

An SME's CFO often negotiates financing, tracks cash flow and manages a small accounting team. A group CFO reports to shareholders and runs an entire finance function: the scope changes as much as the salary.

does a CFO earn much more than a finance and admin manager?

Yes: €24k more in median pay according to Apec, €80k against €56k for administrative and financial management roles, the finance and admin manager's family. The gap widens at large companies: above 250 staff, a CFO's median reaches €100k, against €65k for a finance and admin manager.

For the detailed pay range of a finance and admin manager, see our finance and admin manager salary guide. To hire one, see our finance and admin manager page.

what duties and profile justify this salary?

A CFO runs cash flow, negotiates with banks and lenders, builds financial reporting and advises leadership on decisions that commit the company. Under an LBO or during a funding round, they also report to shareholders and prepare audits.

• SME or start-up CFO: builds the first financial steering tools, negotiates with banks alone, manages a small accounting team.
• Group CFO: runs an entire finance function, reports to shareholders, arbitrates investment and financing decisions.
• CFO under an LBO or roll-up strategy: prepares acquisition audits, tracks banking covenants, supports external growth.

To understand how that rate gets negotiated, see our guide on how much a recruitment agency costs. For management control, see our management control page or our management accountant salary guide; for accounting, our accounting page.

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