As a fundamental figure in a company's financial landscape, the duties of a finance manager include heading the day-to-day operations of the finance team, driving monetary strategies and ensuring accurate financial reporting. They play an essential role in navigating the organization towards its immediate and future financial objectives. Here is a typical high-level job description for a finance manager:
Reporting to the COO, we are seeking to recruit a Finance Manager who possesses a strong finance background and can confidently manage a team of 2 direct reports.Finance manager responsibilities will include:
- Managing all areas of day-to-day finance
- Managing accounts receivable and accounts payable ledgers
- Preparing weekly, monthly and quarterly financial reports
- Leading annual budget process
- Producing monthly and quarterly forecasting reports
- Preparing VAT returns
- Producing year end statutory accounts and acting as main point of contact for the auditors
- Supporting financial analysis for various projects
- Ad hoc tasks as required
Qualifications and skills essential for success
Becoming a finance manager typically demands a tertiary-level qualification in accounting. Most often, candidates are expected to hold a CA qualification and possess extensive post-qualification experience. The ideal candidate showcases:
- ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified
- Proficiency in managing staff effectively
- Several years of experience in a corporate setting after acquiring their qualifications
- A blend of business acumen and accounting expertise
- Familiarity with financial systems and ERP software
- Strong computer skills, particularly in spreadsheets and reporting tools
The must-have personal traits for a successful finance manager
Succeeding as a Finance Manager reaches beyond technical skills alone. It requires a unique set of personal characteristics, including:
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, vital for collaboration across various departments
- An interest in process enhancement, actively identifying and suggesting improvements
- Business savviness, understanding the intricate technicalities of financial decisions
- Proficiency in people management, motivating and guiding team members
- Ability to work as part of a team and independently
- A keen sense of meeting deadlines, setting and achieving reporting timelines
- Understand and manage financial risks, including mitigation strategies and risk assessment
- Experience in contributing to financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial strategy development
Enhance your CV with keywords
Make your CV stand out by strategically emphasizing suitable keywords, including:
- 'Big 4 experience': Highlight experience gained from well-known accounting firms for added credibility.
- International exposure: Showcase experience or skills acquired from working in diverse global environments.
- Risk management: Demonstrate expertise in identifying, assessing, and mitigating financial risks.
- Team leadership: Illustrate your ability to lead and motivate teams toward achieving financial objectives.
- Process optimization: Emphasize your role in streamlining operations for improved efficiency.
- Efficiency enhancement: Highlight any achievements or contributions that improved productivity or performance.
- Additionally, showcasing proficiency in relevant tools or software applications can significantly boost your CV's impact during the hiring process.
Rewards and compensation
Salaries for finance managers are generally within the range of approximately $125,000 to $170,000 on average.
While you should never mention salary unless asked or prompted in an interview, it's important to understand the value of someone with your skills. Be flexible - indicate that you are willing to negotiate for the right opportunity and confirm that you value the position strongly. Use a salary benchmarking tool to understand how your salary expectations compare against the market.
The career roadmap for finance managers
Successful finance managers can expect an impressive career path, advancing to roles such as financial controllers or commercial managers, showcasing the ample opportunities for growth within the finance sector.
Take a look at our latest finance roles on our website.
