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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Manager of Finance

💰 $110,000 - $165,000

FinanceAccountingManagementCorporate Finance

🎯 Role Definition

The Manager of Finance is a pivotal leadership role that serves as the backbone of the organization's financial health and strategic direction. This position is not just about crunching numbers; it's about interpreting the story they tell to guide critical business decisions. The Finance Manager oversees all aspects of financial management, from detailed accounting operations and robust internal controls to strategic financial planning and analysis (FP&A). This individual acts as a key business partner to senior leadership, providing the insights and financial guidance necessary to drive growth, efficiency, and profitability. Success in this role requires a blend of technical accounting prowess, strategic foresight, and exceptional leadership to mentor a high-performing finance team and steer the company toward its long-term financial objectives.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Financial Analyst / Lead Financial Analyst
  • Senior Accountant / Accounting Supervisor
  • FP&A Manager (in a smaller organization)

Advancement To:

  • Director of Finance / Senior Finance Director
  • Corporate Controller / Financial Controller
  • Vice President (VP) of Finance

Lateral Moves:

  • Business Unit Controller
  • Treasury Manager
  • Manager, Strategic Planning

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Direct and oversee all aspects of the finance and accounting functions, ensuring the accurate and timely delivery of financial statements and reporting in compliance with GAAP/IFRS standards.
  • Lead the comprehensive annual budgeting process and periodic forecasting cycles, collaborating with department heads to develop challenging but achievable financial plans.
  • Develop and present insightful financial analysis, variance analysis, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to the executive team to support strategic decision-making.
  • Manage the month-end and year-end close processes, including journal entry review, account reconciliations, and financial statement preparation and consolidation.
  • Establish, monitor, and enforce a robust system of internal controls to safeguard company assets and ensure the integrity of financial data.
  • Oversee daily treasury and cash management functions, including optimizing cash flow, managing banking relationships, and forecasting short-term and long-term cash needs.
  • Serve as the primary liaison for external auditors, managing the annual audit process and ensuring all required documentation and support are provided.
  • Drive the continuous improvement of financial processes and systems, identifying opportunities for automation and efficiency gains to scale the finance function.
  • Mentor, train, and develop the finance team, fostering a culture of high performance, professional growth, and collaborative partnership with the business.
  • Prepare and deliver compelling financial presentations and dashboards for senior leadership and the Board of Directors, translating complex financial data into actionable insights.
  • Manage the full cycle of accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll processes, ensuring operational effectiveness and accuracy.
  • Develop complex financial models to support strategic initiatives, such as new business ventures, capital expenditure decisions, and potential M&A activities.
  • Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal tax regulations and reporting requirements, coordinating with external tax advisors as necessary.
  • Analyze and interpret financial results to identify trends, risks, and opportunities, providing proactive recommendations to management.
  • Partner with operational leaders to provide financial guidance and support, helping them understand the financial impact of their decisions and manage their budgets effectively.

Secondary Functions

  • Participate in the evaluation and implementation of new financial software and ERP systems to enhance reporting capabilities and operational efficiency.
  • Provide financial perspective and due diligence support for contract negotiations with vendors, customers, and partners.
  • Collaborate with the Human Resources department on compensation planning, benefits analysis, and headcount forecasting.
  • Assist in the preparation of materials for investor relations and financing activities, including presentations and data room management.
  • Lead or contribute to special ad-hoc projects, such as cost-saving initiatives, pricing analysis, and profitability studies for products or business lines.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced Financial Modeling: Proven ability to build complex, dynamic, and scalable financial models from scratch for forecasting, valuation, and scenario analysis.
  • ERP System Proficiency: Hands-on experience and deep understanding of major ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle NetSuite, or Microsoft Dynamics 365.
  • GAAP/IFRS Expertise: Expert-level knowledge of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or International Financial Reporting Standards.
  • Advanced Excel Skills: Mastery of Microsoft Excel, including complex formulas, pivot tables, Power Query, and data modeling.
  • Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Experience utilizing BI and data visualization tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker to create insightful dashboards and reports.
  • Budgeting & Planning Software: Proficiency with corporate performance management (CPM) software such as Anaplan, Planful, or Oracle Hyperion.
  • SEC Reporting: Experience with public company reporting requirements, including the preparation of 10-K and 10-Q filings, is highly valued.

Soft Skills

  • Strategic Leadership: The ability to not only manage a team but also to inspire, mentor, and align them with the company's strategic financial goals.
  • Exceptional Communication: Capable of clearly and concisely articulating complex financial information to diverse audiences, from junior analysts to the C-suite.
  • Business Acumen: A deep understanding of the business's operations and strategy, with the ability to connect financial performance to underlying business drivers.
  • Analytical & Problem-Solving Mindset: A natural curiosity and skill for digging into data to uncover root causes, identify trends, and recommend solutions.
  • Attention to Detail: An unwavering commitment to accuracy and precision in all financial reporting and analysis, ensuring data integrity.
  • Stakeholder Management: Excellent interpersonal skills to build trust and effective partnerships with department heads and executive leaders across the organization.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Finance
  • Accounting
  • Business Administration
  • Economics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 7-10 years of progressive experience in corporate finance, financial planning & analysis, or accounting roles. A minimum of 3 years in a leadership or supervisory capacity is typically required.

Preferred: Experience within a "Big Four" or national public accounting firm is highly desirable. Direct experience in the company's specific industry (e.g., SaaS, manufacturing, retail) is a significant plus. A proven track record of process improvement and scaling a finance function in a high-growth environment is often sought.

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