Accounting & Commerce

Hi,
There are some really good answers here, but as someone who has none of those designations I thought I would add my perspective.
Understand that a CFO, generally speaking, is an executive responsible to the CEO and company board for translating business operations into consumable, actionable information so that they can set strategy and execute a business plan. Certainly a CFO is responsible for much more, but in the end the CFO must be the CEOs confidant on most things with numbers attached. Further, and in larger organizations, the CFO can count on a controller who ensures the technical aspect of the finance department continues to run smoothly.
Now, talking about another program, the CFA Program focuses on investment management. The top employers of charter holders include the most respected financial corporations in the world, e.g., JP Morgan, Citigroup, Bank of America, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, UBS, and Wells Fargo to name a few. Many of these are investment banks, but the CFA program focuses on the knowledge and skills most relevant to the global investment management profession from the standpoint of a practitioner.
Investment professionals who hold the CFA designation (or CFA charter) meet rigorous educational, work experience and ethical conduct requirements.
Only those who complete three graduate-level examinations, four years of work experience and annual membership renewal (including an ethics and code of professional conduct attestation) are permitted to use the CFA designation. Complementary codes and standards (such as the Global Investment Performance Standards and Asset Manager Code) help enhance this professional distinction.
I hope it's clear now.