Survival skills you will need in the finance department

Finance roles are changing faster than ever before, which means finance professionals need continuously to refresh and update their skills. They also need to learn how to be flexible.

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For finance professionals, the following four key skills will soon be the most important ones, according to an article on the cfo.com website.

Adaptability

This is the ability to learn and develop. You need to keep a curious mind. Once again it is all about having a growth mindset, which means you like investigating new things and are not simply content with what you already know or can do. It is also about not giving up if you occasionally fail.

Flexibility

It is not only a question of different business models, but also about being sensitive to cultural and generational differences. In virtual teams it is easy to find yourself in a position where you need to deal with colleagues from abroad. In that case you need to be able to bridge cultural gaps that may be there and collaborate effectively.

A generational gap might also be present in your team. How to communicate with a colleague who is much older? People now tend to work longer; therefore, finding a common language within the team may prove a challenge.

Accountability

Accountability is important in the sense that finance professionals need to take personal responsibility for enhancing their expertise and skills. Here the first step is crucial: they must be able to take that initiative and have some idea about what they want to achieve. If they do have it, people will help them. But without the first step, things will be difficult.

Innovation

Thinking outside the box is becoming highly appreciated. The ability to drive change is very much in demand. If you have a desire to improve and do things differently, you will very quickly be valued.

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Article source CFO.com - US website for financial managers
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