What Are Company Titles? (With Examples And Descriptions)

Updated 1 March 2023

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In an organisation, there are many types of business roles that are integral to company operations. From executive-level professionals to entry-level employees, these roles involve specific tasks that contribute to a company's success. Learning about the different business roles in a company can help you form a defined career path. In this article, we explore several key company titles and discuss what their responsibilities are and how they help a business succeed.

Types Of Company Titles

In many organisations, job titles follow an organisational structure, where employers designate executive-level, managerial and operational roles. Here are some to know:

Executive

Executive-level roles include senior-level positions and often feature a central executive in charge of an entire organisation or large department within an organisation. For instance, a chief financial officer (CFO) oversees the entire financial department. Executive jobs typically require extensive work experience besides qualifications like education, skills and certifications.

Manager

Managers and supervisors make up many of the essential mid-level business roles within an organisation. Executives usually assign these roles and are in charge of directing them. For example, a chief operating officer outlines the needs of a human resources department. They hire and oversee an HR manager who supervises the human resources staff.

Operations and production

At this level, business roles can encompass one or more professionals fulfilling the responsibilities of the same role, especially in larger organisations. For example, a corporation could have a team of accountants who fulfil the same duties. In smaller businesses, there may be only one professional, such as an administrative assistant, filling the needs of the business within a role.

Related: Guide: How To Choose a Career

What Are Examples Of Executive Job Titles?

The executive level is typically the highest-paid level of job title in a company, with the most amount of responsibility. Here are some examples of company titles:

Chief executive officer (CEO)

A chief executive officer is the highest-ranking position at a company. They manage all operations, resources and corporate decisions for the entire company. Usually, they concern themselves with high-level business strategy decisions that impact the direction of the company and its profit potential. They are also the primary source of communication between the company and its shareholders or board of directors. They typically have been in the industry for many years and excel at communication, collaboration, decisiveness and strategy.

Chief operating officer (COO)

A chief operating officer is primarily responsible for the administrative and operational activities. They typically report directly to the CEO and are the second-highest-ranking position at a company, under the CEO. This title makes sure that business processes run smoothly in each department. COOs use skills like organisation, communication and problem-solving.

Chief financial officer (CFO) or controller

The chief financial officer is the highest-ranking title that works with the financials of the company. They track the cash flow for the entire company, analyse the company's financial strengths and give recommendations about how the company could improve their financial standing. They also oversee the financial and accounting departments. To become a financial officer, you need business strategy skills and extensive experience working in accounting and finance. This title typically reports to the CEO.

Chief marketing officer (CMO)

The chief marketing officer is the highest-ranking member of a market department in a company. They handle all activities involved with the marketing department, including designing and executing advertising campaigns, planning marketing budgets and leading the marketing department. These officers typically use skills like leadership, communication and time management to address the marketing needs of the entire company, and support their staff to execute their marketing strategies successfully. This title typically reports to the CEO.

Chief technology officer (CTO)

The chief technology officer handles a company's information technology department, and even their research and development department. They make sure that all members of the company have the devices they need in working condition. They also analyse a company's growing needs to develop plans for technological implementation that the company may need in the future, like hardware or system upgrades. CTOs use skills like leadership, time management and business strategy, besides their IT and computer skills. This position typically reports to the CEO.

President

Some companies give the title of president to the highest-ranking employee. A president is performing many of the same duties as a CEO and some additional responsibilities that would otherwise fall to a COO. Some duties a president uses in this position are leadership, public speaking and management.

Vice president

A vice president is the second in command to the president. They manage staff and oversee the departmental heads and how well their decisions line up for the visions and values of the company. They can act in an operational role, overseeing business operations and initiating organisational structures among the other roles.

Executive assistant

An executive assistant is a private assistant to high-ranking employees in the administrative field. The executive assistant has strong organisational, time management and communication skills that they use to anticipate the various needs of the executive and communicate those needs to other departments. They also frequently control the schedules and appointments of these positions.

What Are Examples Of Manager Job Titles?

Here are some examples of manager job titles:

Marketing manager

A marketing manager is a manager within the marketing department. They are not a part of company leadership. However, they do have managerial powers over other employees and lead marketing initiatives. There may be multiple marketing managers at one company and they may have additional levels of leadership above them, depending on the size of the company.

Project manager

A project manager is someone who leads the operations of a project. They handle the schedule, budget and direction of a project. They are also the primary source of communication between the team members and the leadership of a company. A project manager can also report to other managers or directors of their departments.

Finance manager

A finance manager manages initiatives in the financial department of a company. They analyse costs and revenue and prepare financial reports for the company. Smaller businesses may rely on this position to oversee a variety of financial needs of the company. This position is usually in charge of teams of accountants, bookkeepers, and financial analysts. They may report to additional managerial titles above them or directly to the CFO or CEO.

Human resources manager

A human resources manager is someone who oversees projects and employees within the human resources department. They may report to the COO or CEO, depending on the size of the company. They recruit new employees and establishing hiring practices that can have a large impact on the direction of the company. The CEO or COO is frequently in contact with them to strategise about hiring and training practices.

What Are Examples Of Operational Job Titles?

here are some examples of operational job titles you can hold within a company:

Marketing specialist

A marketing specialist is someone who does not have managerial power over other employees but has experience in marketing that qualifies them to be a specialist. They can gather customer data and conducting market research. There can be multiple marketing specialists, depending on the size of the organisation, working under a marketing manager.

Business analyst

A business analyst analyses the business prospects of an organisation and its growth potential. They may report to managers and CEOs depending on the size of the company. They use skills like analysis, problem-solving and statistics to evaluate a business standing within the market and trends in an industry.

Accountant

An accountant works in the financial department of a company. They record profits and expenses and draw up invoices. They typically report to managers or the CFO. Accountants have strong mathematical skills and an extensive understanding of accounting and budgeting principles.

Sales representative

A sales representative works with customers and clients, making sales and generating profit for the company. They typically report to sales managers, vice presidents or CEOs. They use skills like communication and teamwork to build relationships with their clients.

What Are The Ranks In A Company?

Ranks in a company are positions that have certain sets of responsibilities. Business owners typically plan an organisational structure outlining the different jobs and the tasks that each job type handles. Depending on the industry and the nature of a company, the company titles can range from executive-level titles, such as chief executive officer (CEO), to more operational titles like an administrative assistant or customer service representative. Setting up company titles allows employers to delegate important tasks to professionals who are qualified to perform these jobs. When employees clearly understand their responsibilities, they can better contribute to the company's success.

Can You Choose Your Own Job Title?

Company titles allow owners and stakeholders to designate specific titles and duties to employees. You do not choose your job title unless you are in an HR position or the highest level of management at a company. However, you can determine what level of responsibility you want, learn what job title corresponds with it, and apply for jobs with that title. The best job titles are the ones that are appropriate for your skill level.