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International business manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Bernie Cerasaro,

Attila Yaprak Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical international business manager skills. We ranked the top skills for international business managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.7% of international business manager resumes contained financial statements as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an international business manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 international business manager skills for your resume and career

1. Financial Statements

A financial statement is a report of an individual or a company that includes all the information about the declared assets, the use of money, income, and also the contribution of shareholders over a certain period.

Here's how international business managers use financial statements:

Worked closely with internal and external auditors to provide support for quarterly and year-end financial statements and interim audits.
Conduct operational and financial audits, bank-wide, ensuring accuracy of financial statements and SOX requirements.

2. International Trade

Here's how international business managers use international trade:

Developed monthly newsletter communicating international trade developments with company-wide circulation.
Managed banking relationships with several international trade banks providing invoice payment services for Target and financing for import vendors.

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 international business managers use business development:

Manage relationships with international governments, including Ambassadorial staff to support Chevron's political advocacy and business development.
Performed compliance training for programs, executive management, and business development.

4. Reconciliations

Here's how international business managers use reconciliations:

Prepared and reviewed GL account reconciliations.
Handle monthly close process for international business units Prepare account reconciliations Prepare and post complex journal entries Translation of foreign statements

5. Import Export

Here's how international business managers use import export:

Negotiated new branch of business for import export division.

6. International Markets

Here's how international business managers use international markets:

Coordinate and facilitate team meetings and activities to promote business export expansion within targeted industry sectors in international markets.
Established a framework for performance measurement and financial reporting from international markets.

7. Treasury

Here's how international business managers use treasury:

Coordinate with finance team to prepare reporting as required for both Tax and Treasury.
Cash flow analysis; Treasury and Balance Sheet.

8. 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 international business managers use erp:

Maintain the ERP keep it updated with new marketing info.

9. Hyperion

Here's how international business managers use hyperion:

Contributed to the successful implementation of Hyperion Enterprise for consolidation and SEC reporting.
Ensured financial analysis and management services through the use of systems like ALCAR (TM) (bought by Hyperion).

10. Foreign Exchange

Here's how international business managers use foreign exchange:

Developed a spreadsheet to track foreign exchange losses for entities in hyper-inflationary environments.
Full financial responsibility for each project including complex Letters of Credit and Foreign Exchange transactions.

11. Business Plan

Here's how international business managers use business plan:

Designed and implemented new International Business Plan for our International Representatives to successfully make International program profitable.
Assisted management in business plan development and budgeting.

12. Internal Controls

Here's how international business managers use internal controls:

Reviewed internal controls of subsidiaries & served as a subject matter expert for any questions on accounting policy from them.

13. Financial Management

Here's how international business managers use financial management:

Handled administrative tasks, financial management, and credit/collection needs with detailed precision.

14. ITAR

Here's how international business managers use itar:

Serve as International export ITAR and DEC03 manager.
Managed programs for second largest international client and fastest growing domestic account for $30M ITAR microboard manufacturer.

15. Export Compliance

Here's how international business managers use export compliance:

Manage Intelsat Corporation's global Export Compliance programs.
Developed Import/Export Compliance Manual & Training Programs to ensure TE personnel compliance.

What skills help International Business Managers find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on international business manager resumes?

Bernie Cerasaro

Assistant Teaching Professor, Pennsylvania State University - Greater Allegheny

Skills employers would be looking for would be functional skills and interpersonal skills. Functional skills should stand out on a resume and be aligned to the business job in question. For example, if focused on marketing positions, marketing skills such as data analytics, market research, consumer behavior, global marketing, and professional selling skills would be areas for which employers would be looking. If the job market is looking for someone in accounting, then functional skills that would stand out would be intermediate financial accounting skills and courses on taxation and auditing. For those seeking positions in project management or supply chain management, skills that would stand out would encompass subject matter such as project management, portfolio management, operations planning and control, purchasing and materials management, and knowledge of ERP type systems and other business processes.

Skill sets can be enhanced via various types of certification. For example, those interested in accounting might pursue a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license, which requires 150 credits. As most universities require 120 credits for a bachelor's degree in business, a CPA would require just an additional 30 credits, which students can start accumulating while still at college. Project management certification is also an opportunity to enhance the aforementioned skills and would certainly stand out on an applicant's resume. The Project Management Institute (PMI) promotes PMP certification, which validates that you are highly skilled in soft skills to lead project teams and have the required technical aspects of managing projects. Some universities are working with the PMI to have PMI-approved courses. Approved courses are used toward the PMP training hours required to sit for the exam. For example, Penn State University has received approval for two such courses, Portfolio Management and Organizations and Project Planning and Resource Management.

Due to the high rate of interaction with the global marketplace and the complexity of international business, managers are looking more closely at applicants who have some familiarity with global markets and international culture, such as applicants who may have study abroad experience, traveled internationally, speak a foreign language or have lived or worked in another country.

What soft skills should all international business managers possess?

Attila Yaprak Ph.D.

Professor of Marketing and International Business, Director, Doctoral Programs, Wayne State University

Humility, tolerance, appreciation for diversity, empathy, cultural adaptability.

What hard/technical skills are most important for international business managers?

Attila Yaprak Ph.D.

Professor of Marketing and International Business, Director, Doctoral Programs, Wayne State University

Functional area knowledge, i.e., in (international) marketing, finance, strategic management, etc.; world area knowledge, i.e., expertise in West Africa and digital facilities.

What international business manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Kim Roberts

Professor of Operations Management, Website

Business professionals lead organizations by focused efforts that revolve around products/services, processes, and people. Business professionals work to ensure the firm's products and/or services meet customer expectations, with an eye toward an ever-changing market. They manage processes that produce or support the firm's products. This requires the ability to analyze data to make informed decisions, to drive continuous improvement, and to solve problems through critical thinking. Successful business professionals must also create climates that promote teamwork and foster collaboration.

Do you want to know more?

List of international business manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an international business manager resume and required skills for an international business manager to have include:

Financial Statements
International Trade
Business Development
Reconciliations
Import Export
International Markets
Treasury
ERP
Hyperion
Foreign Exchange
Business Plan
Internal Controls
Financial Management
ITAR
Export Compliance
International Operations

Direct Reports
International Subsidiaries
Balance Sheet
Financial Data
Government Agencies
Business Management
Financial Analysis
Executive Management
Business Model
Swot Analysis
UK
Market Research
Trade Shows
RFP
Transfer Pricing
Hong Kong

Joint Venture
ROI
Foreign Subsidiaries
International Sales
Contract Negotiations
HR
USD
Cost Savings
Financial Reports
Product Development
Market Trends
Caribbean
Strategic Alliances
Business Operations
Product Line

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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