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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Dynamic Finance Manager

💰 $110,000 - $165,000

FinanceAccountingManagement

🎯 Role Definition

As a pivotal member of our finance organization, the Finance Manager will be responsible for overseeing the full spectrum of financial planning and analysis (FP&A). You will not just be a number cruncher; you will be a strategic business partner, translating complex financial data into actionable insights for executive leadership and department heads. This role requires a leader who can manage a high-performing team, drive process improvements, and provide the financial backbone for our company's ambitious growth plans. You will be instrumental in shaping our financial strategy, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and championing data-driven decision-making across the entire organization.


📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Financial Analyst (SFA)
  • Accounting Manager
  • Senior Accountant with FP&A exposure

Advancement To:

  • Senior Finance Manager
  • Director of Finance / Director of FP&A
  • Corporate Controller

Lateral Moves:

  • Strategic Finance Manager
  • Business Unit Controller

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead the annual budgeting process and quarterly re-forecasting cycles, partnering with business leaders to develop challenging but achievable targets.
  • Oversee the preparation and delivery of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting packages for senior management and the Board of Directors.
  • Develop and maintain sophisticated financial models to support long-term strategic planning, new business initiatives, and M&A activities.
  • Provide in-depth variance analysis of financial results against budget, forecast, and prior periods, delivering clear and concise commentary on key business drivers.
  • Manage and mentor a team of financial analysts, fostering a culture of high performance, professional development, and continuous improvement.
  • Act as a key business partner to operational departments, providing financial guidance and decision support to enhance profitability and efficiency.
  • Manage cash flow forecasting and working capital to ensure liquidity and optimize the use of company funds.
  • Drive the enhancement and automation of financial reporting processes and systems to improve accuracy, efficiency, and the quality of insights.
  • Ensure strict compliance with GAAP/IFRS, internal policies, and relevant regulatory requirements in all financial reporting and operations.
  • Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and financial metrics to track business performance and identify areas for improvement.
  • Prepare compelling presentations and financial narratives to communicate results and strategic recommendations to executive leadership and stakeholders.
  • Oversee the month-end close process in collaboration with the accounting team to ensure timely and accurate financial statements.
  • Evaluate and advise on the financial impact of strategic decisions, investment opportunities, and long-term business plans.
  • Implement and maintain robust internal controls over financial reporting to safeguard company assets and ensure data integrity.
  • Lead financial due diligence for potential acquisitions, partnerships, or other strategic investments.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory financial analysis for executive and departmental inquiries.
  • Contribute to the organization's data governance strategy and roadmap, particularly regarding financial data.
  • Collaborate with IT and business units to translate data needs into engineering and system requirements for BI tools and ERP systems.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies for finance-related technology projects.
  • Assist in the coordination and management of annual external audits and internal control testing.
  • Conduct competitor analysis and industry benchmarking to provide context for the company's financial performance.
  • Support the treasury function with debt management and covenant compliance reporting.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Financial Modeling & Valuation: Expert ability to build complex, dynamic, and scalable financial models from scratch for forecasting, LBOs, and DCF analysis.
  • Advanced Excel Proficiency: Mastery of pivot tables, complex formulas, Power Query, macros, and data visualization tools within Excel.
  • Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A): Deep expertise in all facets of FP&A, including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and long-range planning.
  • ERP & EPM Systems: Hands-on experience with enterprise-level financial systems such as SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Workday Financials, or planning tools like Anaplan or Hyperion.
  • Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Proficiency in using BI software like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker to create insightful dashboards and reports.
  • GAAP / IFRS Knowledge: Strong, comprehensive understanding of accounting principles to ensure accuracy and compliance in financial reporting.
  • Data Querying (SQL): Ability to write basic to intermediate SQL queries to extract and manipulate financial data directly from databases.

Soft Skills

  • Strategic Thinking: Ability to see the bigger picture and provide financial insights that align with and support long-term business objectives.
  • Leadership & Mentorship: Proven experience in managing, developing, and motivating a team of finance professionals.
  • Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to distill complex financial information for non-financial audiences.
  • Stakeholder Management: Adept at building relationships and influencing senior leaders, department heads, and cross-functional partners.
  • Attention to Detail & Accuracy: Meticulous and precise in handling financial data, ensuring the highest level of integrity in all outputs.
  • Problem-Solving Acumen: Proactive in identifying financial issues, performing root-cause analysis, and recommending effective solutions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Professional Certification (CPA, CFA, CMA)

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Finance
  • Accounting
  • Economics
  • Business Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5-8 years of progressive experience in corporate finance, FP&A, or a related field.

Preferred:

  • At least 2 years of experience in a management or team leadership capacity.
  • Experience within a fast-paced, high-growth environment (e.g., tech, SaaS, or private equity-backed company).