The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) reports directly to the CEO and board of directors. The CAO manages the company’s day-to-day operations and oversees departments like finance, HR, and sales. They set performance goals for departments and train new managers. Additionally, the CAO ensures the company runs smoothly according to policies and vision. They improve performance by developing new policies, reviewing processes, and managing projects, as well as preparing regulatory reports and setting up internal controls. The CAO also analyzes data to create business intelligence models and may develop a data warehouse and analytics strategy.
Career Path and Responsibilities
To become a CAO, an advanced business degree is needed. They oversee finances to keep the company financially sound but differ from controllers, who have specific duties like budgeting.
The CAO and COO have different roles; the COO makes strategic decisions with executives, while the CAO focuses on day-to-day supervision. Reporting lines for a CAO may vary and can include the CEO, COO, or CTO, but their objectives to integrate operations and automation remain constant.
Compensation and Accountability
CAOs average over $150,000 annually in the US. The Office of the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman addresses complaints about World Bank-financed projects to improve accountability.