We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Roles

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What does a Financial Executive do?

By Carol Francois
Updated: Mar 02, 2024
Views: 53,343
Share

A financial executive holds a position of responsibility within an organization. He or she is typically provided with access to department budgets, expense approvals and project budgets. It is important to note that there are two types of financial executive positions: an executive position in the financial industry and a financial management position in a different industry.

In the financial industry, a financial executive can be responsible for a range of departments from marketing to sales. The qualifications required to hold this type of position include post-secondary education and significant experience in management and the subject matter. An executive position often is the culmination of a long, successful career.

A financial executive in another industry is responsible for the management of a division of a department. He or she is responsible for budgetary authorization, controls revenue and is charged with controlling the financial activities of the department. Many people who are in this position hold a degree in accounting, finance or commerce.

Financial reports are typically required to be given to senior managers on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. The purpose of this type of reporting is to manage the performance of the division, increase revenue and minimize losses. The vast majority of firms that have a financial executive position are large, multinational organizations that generate significant revenue streams.

The financial executive is the ultimate authority within his or her division. Depending on the industry and the area of responsibility, he or she reports directly to a person at the managerial level. It is the responsibility of the executive to manage the financial position of the division, support the overall corporate mission and ensure that all tools are utilized to guarantee success.

People who are successful as a financial executive possess excellent interpersonal skills, are skilled leaders and can manage conflicting priorities. In addition to these skills, he or she must be able to inspire dedication in others, resolve problems and communicate with people throughout the organization. People who do not work well under pressure or do not enjoy dealing with multiple challenges are not suitable for this role.

In addition to providing leadership and communication expertise, most financial executives are expected to have intermediate to expert-level computer skills. He or she might have a team of financial analysts and managers but must be able to use the various financial and planning systems to create reports and investigate the potential outcome of various financial decisions.

Share
Practical Adult Insights is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By LisaLou — On Jun 10, 2011

Having a job as a financial executive means being able to understand and make sense of many reports that many people do not take the time to understand. It can be hard for some to read through something like a company financial report and really grasp the bottom line.

That is where having good people skills really helps, because not only do you have to understand the information, but also explain it so that others will understand it too. Finances play such an important role in both our personal and public lives, that it really helps when you understand how it all works.

By SarahSon — On Jun 08, 2011

A financial executive position can be a very challenging position. My father spent his career in various finance jobs for several different industries. It can be most challenging if the company is struggling financially.

Many times the person who is in charge of the finances and sees the reports in black and white is the first one to know if the company is financially struggling or not. Being able to read and understand all of the financial information they have access to is very important. Being able to present this information to other executives in the company is also an important part of the position.

Share
https://www.practicaladultinsights.com/what-does-a-financial-executive-do.htm
Copy this link
Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.