The Role of a Finance Manager
As an essential figure in a company’s financial landscape, the finance manager plays crucial part in navigating the organization towards its immediate and future financial success.
What Does a Financial Manager Do?
A financial manager is responsible for overseeing the financial health of an organization. This includes managing financial planning, maintaining financial records, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. The finance manager’s responsibilities are broad and varied, making it an exciting career choice for those interested in the field of finance.
Finance Manager Job Description
Here is a typical high-level job description for a finance manager position:
We are working with a leading media business in Canada to recruit a Finance Manager to join their team on a permanent basis. In this role, you’ll be the key player in providing accurate and insightful decision support to two of our client’s commercial teams. You’ll have access to the latest profit and loss data and work hand-in-hand with finance experts to analyze key financial information.
What You’ll Do:
As a Finance Manager, your role will be pivotal in providing accurate and insightful decision support. You will collaborate closely with various teams, using data-driven analysis to aid the Business Partner for Operations. Your ability to develop financial models will play a crucial role in supporting financial planning and decision-making. You will also be responsible for analyzing large volumes of data to identify trends and opportunities. Your leadership skills will ensure high-quality output from your team members.
- Provide analysis and recommendations to support decision-making processes.
- Use data-driven analysis and insight to support the Business Partner for Operations.
- Develop and maintain financial models to support financial planning and decision-making.
- Analyze large volumes of data to identify trends, performance, opportunities, and risks.
- Provide leadership and guidance to team members, ensuring high-quality output.
- Prepare quarterly presentations for senior management, including financial forecasts, budgets, and variance analysis.
- Drive continuous improvement and identify opportunities for process efficiency and optimization.
What You’ll Bring:
- 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
Beyond Technical Skills
The role of 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
- Understanding and managing financial risks, including mitigation strategies and risk assessment
- Experience in contributing to financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial strategy development
-
Rewards and Compensation
Salaries for finance managers are generally within the range of approximately $110,000 to $130,000 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 and benchmark appropriately. Be flexible - indicate that you are willing to negotiate for the right opportunity and confirm that you value the finance manager position strongly. Interested in which finance roles are paid the most? Take a look at our list of highest paying finance jobs.
Finance Manager Job Profile
The finance manager position is a critical one, and the responsibilities that come with the role are broad and varied, making it an exciting career choice for those interested in the field of finance.
Enhance Your CV with Keywords
Make your CV stand out by strategically emphasizing suitable finance manager job requirements, including:
- ‘Big 4 experience’: Highlight experience gained from well-known accounting firms for added credibility. This is often a key aspect of a finance manager job profile.
- International exposure: Showcase experience or skills acquired from working in diverse global environments, a crucial part of the finance manager role.
- 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, a vital part of the finance manager position description.
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.
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. This is a testament to the broad job responsibilities of a finance manager. Take a look at our latest finance manager job roles on our website.
As a leading recuitment agency in Toronto, Robert Walters specializes in finance recruitment services, expertly matching top candidates with their ideal job opportunities. Browse our latest job openings or contact us today to discover how we can support your career journey.