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How to become finance director in five years
The role of a finance director is one of the most prestigious and influential positions within an organisation. Achieving such a coveted role in just five years requires a strategic and dedicated approach
Words Habiba Khatoon, director at recruitment consultancy Robert Walters
As a finance director (FD), you are the company’s financial face. It is about striking the balance between your technical know-how, commercial and business intelligence, and leadership skills to ensure your company’s financial record is immaculate.
Five years is a short timeframe in which to attain such a senior role, but here is how it can be achieved.
Year 1
Establish yourself in the organisation
Be alert and eager, and open yourself to as many opportunities as possible. Develop a varied skillset, travel with work and climb the ranks, and increase your knowledge and understanding of what a strong finance institution looks like from within.
Seek out a mentor
Mentors are incredibly helpful sources of wisdom for ambitious finance professionals. A more senior head can provide a wealth of ‘been there and done that’ knowledge about the important decisions and milestones you’ll encounter on your journey to becoming FD.
Year 2
Set clear goals
Define your career goals and establish a clear vision of where you want to be in five years. Break down your goals into short-term and long-term objectives, ensuring they align with your overall career ambitions.
Excel in your current role
Consistently exceed performance expectations. Volunteer for challenging assignments and show your ability to handle responsibilities beyond your job description.
Year 3
Continuous learning
By now, you are probably noticing a trend: the learning never stops! Stay updated on industry trends, regulations and technological advancements. Attend workshops, seminars and online courses to enhance your knowledge and stay ahead in the rapidly evolving financial landscape.
Show leadership skills
Take on leadership roles within projects or teams to showcase your ability to lead and manage others. Develop strong communication and interpersonal skills, as effective communication is crucial for leadership positions.
Grow your commercial acumen
Having a wealth of commercial knowledge is what sets FDs apart from many other finance roles. This means knowing your business and industry inside out. Working at company headquarters, playing a part in mergers and acquisitions, and even working overseas can all help you gain more commercial know-how.
Plan any career moves wisely
Don’t be persuaded to abandon ship by the offer of more money – always look towards the bigger picture and choose roles that will add to your repertoire. You need to be fulfilling positions that don’t only pay but arm you with the skills that will make you an ideal candidate for FD.
Year 4
Strategic moves
Look for opportunities to move laterally within the organisation to gain exposure to different departments and functions.
Deliver on KPIs
By now, you are likely to be in a senior role such as finance manager, head of finance or similar. Particularly important is gaining hands-on experience in these roles that involve leading and being responsible for teams, delivering KPIs and adding to the overall value of a business.
Understand other departments
Having a holistic approach is important as an FD in any size of organisation. This means having a clear oversight of other departments within your company, how they interact with your finance department and how you can best optimise your relationship with them.
Year 5
Position yourself as a strategic thinker
Develop a strategic mindset by understanding how financial decisions impact the overall success of the organisation. Showcase your ability to contribute to the company’s long-term vision and goals.
Clear track record
You can point to all the places where you have improved and grown your company’s financial health, as well as examples of where you have improved or completely overhauled current finance practices to drive innovation.
TOP TIPS
How to optimise your CV
1
Include a professional summary that clearly highlights your trajectory as well as future goals and ambitions. Create a dedicated learning space, free from distractions.
2
Draw attention to role-critical skills, such as finance-specific technical skills, commercial and industry know-how, and an anthology of softer skills for successful leadership.
3
Back up your employment history with key metrics to clearly explain important achievements and successes.
4
Use keywords. ATS scanners are utilised by many companies to weed out weaker applications by only selecting those who have included keywords that correlate to the applicant having the required experience and skills.
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