Preparing to earn the professional credential
Certified Finance Operations Manager (CFOM®)
Master the skills to lead financial operations with confidence and strategy
Become a confident professional across all areas of managing financial operations.
By taking the certification in Finance Operations Management, you will become the go-to person for management and optimisation of finance operations, and respected for your ability to problem solve and enable the business to meet its objectives.
The CFOM creadential assumes you already have a thorough working knowledge of the key principles and concepts relating to finance and management, and is, therefore, the ideal credential for anyone working in financial operations or who interacts with finance professionals, or has plans to do so.
CFOM is perfect if you:
– work in finance at a senior operational or managerial level
– are in a role that works closely with financial operations, from P2P/accounts payable to O2C/accounts receivable, cash and banking or other areas of finance.
– have completed the Accounts Payable Practitioner (CAPP) certification and are seeking to further your career.
Course overview
The Finance Operations Manager Certification Programme is designed to equip you with the practical skills, leadership insights, and strategic frameworks needed to excel in today’s fast-paced finance landscape. Through a mix of hands-on projects, expert-led guest lectures, and real-world case studies, you’ll gain the tools to manage complex financial operations, drive change, and lead high-performing teams.
Whether you’re looking to step into a leadership role or refine your existing expertise, this course is built to help you make an immediate impact — and set you up for long-term career success.
Delivery Mode
100% self paced and on demand via the online IFOL Certification Academy
Duration
Up to 18 months access to the course and exam (avg. completion in 5-6 months)
Format
11 study modules and 45 units, 11 industry expert guest lectures and practical assignments
Access
Access to the IFOL Certification Academy for 18 months plus the IFOL Community
Support
Monthly support groups, global student community, feedback on assignments and dedicated support team
Exam
Online and available at anytime. Consists of 100 multiple choice questions
Certificate
Issued by The Institute of Financial Operations and Leadership – global recognition
Maintaining the CFOM
The CFOM credential is maintained easily by completing 12 hours of continuing education annually including IFOL webinars, events, workshops and much more
What you’ll learn
Complete the 11 module, online study program to prepare for successfully passing the CFOM exam
This CFOM study programme goes beyond theory. It equips you with the real-world frameworks, tools, and leadership mindset needed to run high-performing finance operations in today’s fast-moving businesses. By the end, you’ll be ready to step into a strategic finance leadership role — or take your current one to the next level.
Core modules
Business and Finance Strategy
The role of a Finance Operations Manager is to outline and implement key strategic initiatives which affect the finance operations and wider business. This area of study encourages the break down of silos across finance operations and the implementation of sustainable strategies for optimising performance and reducing risk.
Real-world case studies and assignments
Throughout the program, you’ll get exclusive access to guest lectures from senior finance professionals and operational leaders. These sessions bring real-world insights, lessons from the field, and case studies drawn directly from companies undergoing transformation, growth, or crisis — the kind of scenarios you’ll be expected to navigate as a certified Finance Operations Manager.
What to expect:
– Recorded sessions with industry leaders and finance educators
– Case studies based on real finance challenges
Examples of guest lectures include:
– Adding Value as a Business Parter
– Continuous Improvement for FinOps
– Building a Robust Finance Strategy
– Making the most of Data Analytics and Reporting
– Leading Projects and Managing Change
What’s the time investment?
Perhaps not as much as you might think. There are three parts to earning the CFOM credential all of which are completed on-demand within the IFOL Certification Academy, our purpose built study and exam platform.
Study
50-60 hours
This is the time it take on average for participants to complete the online CFOM course. The course is fully on-demand and can be completed at the pace you set
Exam prep
1-3 hours
We advise students to take this amount of time to revise and make the most of exam prep tools such as the practice exam tool
Sitting the exam
1.5 hours
This is the maximum time allowed to complete the exam once you have entered the exam environment
Total
52.5 – 64.5 hours
This is a guideline of the total time it is likely to take to earn the CFOM credential based on average student completion times
Ready to take the next steps?
Certified, Respected, and Ready to Lead
When you complete the Finance Operations Manager Certification, you don’t just walk away with new skills — you earn a credential that proves you’re ready to lead. This globally respected professional credential signals your ability to drive financial performance, lead operational transformation, and contribute strategically to your company.
What You Can Do After Completing the Program:
How to enroll in the CFOM
When to apply to enroll is entirely your choice, there are no set intake dates. Just follow the simple 3 step enrollment process;
– Complete your 2 minute application to enroll.
– Receive a decision on your application usually within 48 hours
– If approved, pay the enrollment fees and access the course immediately
Your application to enroll can be completed online takes just a couple of minutes.
Study fees and payments
Registration fees outlined below can be paid using a valid credit/debit card and we offer a monthly payment option for those who would prefer to spread enrollment fees over several months.
Alternatively during the registration process you may request an invoice using the invoice request form.
Want to know more before enrolling?
Book a 1-2-1 certification demo
Our free certification demo service allows you to meet with an advisor and get a first hand experience of the study platform. It’s also the perfect opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
FAQs
The Finance Operations Manager (CFOM) curriculum focuses on advancing participants knowledge and skills in leading, managing and improving financial operations. Please download the course guide for a full breakdown of the course curriculum.
Yes. Our team provides 1-2-1 certification demos so you can see the learning platform and course content before enrolling.
The CFOM programme is open to finance professionals work at supervisory level as well as up to and including senior leadership levels.
The CFOM exam is taken online within the IFOL Certification Academy, which is where you will also access your course and study resources to prepare for the exam.
Complete a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education per year. As a CFOM credential holder, you will be eligible for Certified Full Membership with IFOL which provides over 100 hours of continuing education per year, including live classes, webinars, research papers and conferences.
Where CFOM’s are working
