Safra Catz of Oracle is at the very top of the list, with a package worth 43 miliion dollars. Catz also serves as co-President of the company. Most of her pay came from stock option grants.  Pamela J. Craig of Accenture is No. 8, with comp worth over 12 million annually. She had retired last year and much of her salary is represented by accelerated vesting of some shares.

Ms. Craig noted that the CFO job is not for the feint-hearted, but if you can collaborate with the CEO and the Board, things can click for you.  She noted that stock options may not be the best incentive for executives.  Stock grants by the board when certain performance criteria are met may be better.

Marcia Dall, CFO of Erie Industries, remarks that women still have a tough time overcoming society’s knee-jerk expectations of women as moms.  “It’s hard when society judges you because you haven’t always been with your children.”