The CEO is the first in command, while the CFO and the COO are the second in command. The board of directors hires or appoints the CEO as the highest position in the corporate hierarchy of any company. They are only accountable to the board and to no one else. The CEO is the top management position of a company, followed by the chief operating officer and, finally, the chief financial officer.
In other words, chief operating officers are usually in second place in command, while chief financial officers are often in third position. The most common senior management positions are executive director (CEO), chief financial officer (CFO), and chief operating officer (COO).
