Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

1-1-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D. in Accountancy

First Advisor

Victoria Dickinson

Second Advisor

Brett Cantrell

Third Advisor

Jeremy Griffin

School

University of Mississippi

Relational Format

dissertation/thesis

Abstract

Survey evidence shows that in the 21st century the CFO’s power has been increasing more than any other executive position. Yet, an understanding of how this increasingly powerful executive interacts with CEO power is not fully understood. This study examines the collaborative effect of power dynamics in the CEO-CFO relationship and how that influences firm performance. I capture executive power by combining two data sets to examine three dimensions of an executive’s power: structural, individual, and social. I predict and find that certain aspects of executive power impact firm performance differently and measure this by changes in profitability. Furthermore, I construct executive power scores that optimize firm performance. My study highlights the significance of power differences between the CEO and CFO and shows how the collaboration of these two executives affects the firm’s overall performance.

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