That CFOs continue to make the salary progress they have over the last several years is in large part indicative of changing status, she adds.

"Five or six years ago the CFO was something of a transactional partner," she says. "Today, the CFO is a key strategic business partner," representing the company more prominently at the board level, and among analysts and investors.

Another indicator of higher CFO status comes from looking at the overall compensation mix.

The pay mix for CFOs has shifted somewhat recently, with incentive-based compensation hitting 80% of CFO remuneration, up from 2008's 77%, "showing that the pay mix for CFOs is moving closer to that of CEOs," according to the report.