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Finance Leader skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Experts

Dr. Frank Cabano Ph.D.,

Fang Lin

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical finance leader skills. We ranked the top skills for finance leaders based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.9% of finance leader resumes contained financial analysis as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a finance leader needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 finance leader skills for your resume and career

1. Financial Analysis

Here's how finance leaders use financial analysis:

Teamed directly with nine project departments in obtaining all information for proper budgeting, forecasting and actual financial analysis.
Provided financial analysis for annual balance sheet review for top management resulting in more accurate internal reporting.

2. Financial Management

Here's how finance leaders use financial management:

Provided P2S and PE operational and financial management with various reports necessary to make viable decisions and properly manage operations.
Directed development of integrated business turnaround, marketing, pricing, and financial management strategies.

3. Business Development

Business development is the ideas or initiatives that work to make business work better. Selling, advertising, product development, supply chain management, and vendor management are only a few of the divisions involved with it. There is still a lot of networking, negotiating, forming alliances, and trying to save money. The goals set for business development guide and coordinate with all of these various operations and sectors.

Here's how finance leaders use business development:

Support business development initiatives by analyzing impact of product expansions, strategic partnerships and acquisitions.
Reviewed Business Development deals, plans, strategies, asset rationalization and competitive environment.

4. Financial Performance

Here's how finance leaders use financial performance:

Managed branch overall balanced financial performance with an emphasis on retail lending, deposit acquisition and non- interest income generation.
Direct over 250 Colorado based financial lending institutions utilizing SBA loan programs with budgeting and financial performance business lending functions.

5. Strong Analytical

Here's how finance leaders use strong analytical:

Secured credit applications, and used strong analytical skills to evaluate credit and educate the consumer regarding purchase requirements.
Demonstrated strong analytical skills including trend analysis and the ability to develop innovative tactics to resolve automobile investment issues.

6. HR

HR stands for human resources and is used to describe the set of people who work for a company or an organization. HR responsibilities revolve around updating employee records and carrying out management processes like planning, recruitment, evaluation, and selection processes. HR is a key contributor to any company or organization's growth as they are in charge of hiring the right employees, processing payrolls, conducting disciplinary actions, etc.

Here's how finance leaders use hr:

Evaluated SAP HR system configuration and made adjustments to increase payroll efficiency and accuracy for financial reporting.
Supervised on and off-site accounting staff and directed HR, payroll, and benefits for 200 full-time and 500-1000 seasonal employees.

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7. Cost Savings

Here's how finance leaders use cost savings:

Provided financial leadership on strategic planning initiatives, business processes improvements, operations best practices, and cost savings opportunities.
Coordinated and oversaw $20MM Global Procurement functional budget and involved in the implementation of related cost savings initiatives.

8. Process Improvement

Here's how finance leaders use process improvement:

Implemented process improvements to improve incoming payments from customers by fixing issues due to inconsistencies in Banking interfaces for automatic processing.
Generated $250,000 in annual savings by streamlining finance organization on two occasions through process improvement and performance optimization efforts.

9. Hyperion

Here's how finance leaders use hyperion:

Led successful project to implement Hyperion Planning system and associated process enhancements resulting in 50% cycle-time improvement.
Completed all testing processes, developed and delivered training to end users in Hyperion functionality.

10. Financial Operations

Here's how finance leaders use financial operations:

Consolidated 6 decentralized financial operations using 22 independent software programs into single uniform financial system, using the same software systems.
Oversee financial operations of subsidiary corporations - providing guidance as needed to supporting accounting staff members.

11. ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is computer software used by major corporations and organizations for conducting their management and accounting tasks efficiently. ERP systems bind different business processes with each other allowing smoother flow of data between them resulting in swift project assessment and completion.

Here's how finance leaders use erp:

Managed all financial aspects of an on time, on budget Microsoft Dynamics ERP implementation from process alignment to user acceptance.
Implemented and enhanced existing, ERP, accounting and Finance systems for the roll materials and office products divisions in Mexico.

12. Financial Planning Analysis

Here's how finance leaders use financial planning analysis:

Provide leadership to the Financial Planning Analysis/Management Reporting department for business activities.

13. Business Process

A business process is a group of tasks that are performed by people working in a business to attain a worthy product and to present it to their customers. A business process can also be defined as performing several steps to achieve a certain goal set by a company. Business processes need to set purposeful goals and the outcome of that goal should be clear.

Here's how finance leaders use business process:

Coordinate the development of Client-facing finance and accounting business process outsource and transformation solutions as well as go-to-market service solution offerings.
Created process documentation and revenue narrative for internal stakeholders to implement business processes and best practices.

14. GAAP

Here's how finance leaders use gaap:

Manage impairment and troubled debt restructures identification & measurement process in compliance with regulatory and GAAP guidance.
Managed and coordinated annual GAAP audit of corporation financial statements.

15. Balance Sheet

Here's how finance leaders use balance sheet:

Prepare and analyze balance sheet reconciliations with appropriate supporting schedules for management as well as internal and external auditors.
Detailed inventory analysis, manufacturing and efficiency variances analysis, balance sheet reconciliation, operational performance matrix.

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What skills help Finance Leaders find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on Finance Leader resumes?

Dr. Frank Cabano Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Texas at El Paso

I think these days something that really stands out on a resume is data analytic skills. Given the large amounts of data that companies have access to nowadays, employers are often looking for employees who have the knowledge and skills to be able to manage, analyze, and draw insights from that data. Therefore, knowledge of advanced statistics and being able to use different statistical packages to analyze large data sets, and then being able to offer evidence-based insights from this data, are important skills to have on today's job market. In addition, and related to the importance of having data analytic skills, is being able to demonstrate one's communication skills. Both written and oral communication skills are critical, and pairing these "soft" skills with the "hard" skills of data analytics, where one can effectively communicate practical implications from data analyses, should be great assets for a candidate currently on the job market.

What Finance Leader skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Fang Lin

Assistant Professor of Finance, Pacific Lutheran University

Don't be afraid to negotiate your starting salary. Young journalists have a lot to offer newsrooms through social media skills and a willingness to adapt to new technologies such as artificial intelligence. Technology skills have value and should not be undersold. Also, young journalism students should not discount the value of their student media and internship experiences. Young journalists must use everything on their resumes to show how they bring value to their position and ask to be compensated fairly for the work they will contribute to the newsroom's success.

What type of skills will young Finance Leaders need?

Karyl Leggio Ph.D.

Professor of Finance, Loyola University Maryland

For the past several years, it is a given that graduates will have strong financial skills. In addition, new employees need to work effectively in teams, be strong critical thinkers, be self-directed, and be able to present their views in a persuasive and well-documented way.

What technical skills for a Finance Leader stand out to employers?

Dr. JP Krahel Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Accounting, Accounting Department Chair, Loyola University Maryland

First, Excel. It's the most basic, essential tool for the accounting professional. If you can come in on Day 1 knowing essential keyboard shortcuts, proper formula and reference use, and how to format a spreadsheet properly, you'll have an immediate advantage over your peers.

Second, believe it or not, is writing. People think that accounting is all about numbers, but really, it's less about the math (which Excel does for you) and more about being able to explain the deeper meaning behind the results. Can you explain complex depreciation methods to an audit client? Give bad news to a tax client in an understandable way? These are big deals.

Third is data analytics. Given the immense volume of data now available to firms, someone who can extract, clean, and present that data using modern software tools will have an edge. It's really another form of communication, and one that early-career accounting professionals would do well to familiarize themselves with before entering the workforce.

What soft skills should all Finance Leaders possess?

Dr. Douglas Boyle

Chair & Professor, Director, Doctorate in Business Administration Program , Director, Nonprofit Leadership Program, The University of Scranton

Our research shows that achieving a high level of emotional intelligence is viewed as most important by senior accounting professionals. Emotional intelligence is made up of self-awareness that includes emotional awareness and self-confidence. Self-management includes self-control, trustworthiness, conscientiousness, adaptability, and innovation. Social awareness includes empathy and organizational awareness. Relationship management includes influence, conflict management, teamwork, leadership, and communication. While it is important to work on all these skills, the three that are deemed most critical for accounting professionals are trustworthiness, conscientiousness, teamwork, and communication.

What hard/technical skills are most important for Finance Leaders?

Kris Allee Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Doyle Z. Williams Chair in Professional Accounting, University of Arkansas

Knowledge of US GAAP and applicable regulatory standards. Proficiency in word processing and spreadsheet applications as well as specialized accounting software as needed.

Do you want to know more?

List of finance leader skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a finance leader resume and required skills for a finance leader to have include:

Financial Analysis
Financial Management
Business Development
Financial Performance
Strong Analytical
HR
Cost Savings
Process Improvement
Hyperion
Financial Operations
ERP
Financial Planning Analysis
Business Process
GAAP
Balance Sheet
Shared Services

SQL
Financial Statements
Leveraged
Financial Reports
Financial Results
Internal Controls
Financial Models
Variance Analysis
Liability Management
Payroll
Financial Processes
Treasury
Financial Support
Financial Data
BI
Business Operations

External Auditors
SME
Financial Systems
Cash Flow
General Ledger
Direct Reports
SOX
CRM
Client Facing
Fixed Assets
User Acceptance
Reconciliations
Financial Leadership
Sarbanes-Oxley

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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