What does a Finance Manager do?

A Finance Manager runs the financial planning and reporting function and manages the finance team. They own the budget and forecast, oversee the monthly close, control cash, and give leadership a clear picture of performance and risk. They sit between the detail of the books and the strategy of the business, translating one into the other.

What are the main responsibilities of a Finance Manager?

The core duties are budgeting and forecasting, monthly reporting, cash flow management, and leading a small finance team. Most finance managers also strengthen controls, prepare board and investor materials, and coordinate audits and tax filings with outside advisors.

What skills does a Finance Manager need?

Strong budgeting, reporting, and modeling skills are essential, along with a solid grasp of accounting standards and financial controls. Because the role manages people and advises leaders, team leadership and stakeholder management matter just as much. The best finance managers pair process discipline with commercial judgment.

What should a Finance Manager job description include?

A good job description states the definition and brief, then lists the leadership and technical responsibilities, the required years and certifications, and the priority skills. Naming the team size, the systems in use, and reporting lines helps candidates judge scope and seniority.

Who does a Finance Manager work with?

Finance Managers work closely with leadership, often reporting to a CFO or founder, and manage the accountants and analysts on their team. They partner with department heads on budgets and collaborate with external auditors, tax advisors, and sometimes lenders or investors.

Finance

Finance Manager Job Description

About the role

We need a Finance Manager to lead our financial planning and reporting and to manage the day-to-day finance function. You will own the budgeting cycle, guide a small team, and give leadership a clear read on performance, cash, and risk. This is a role for someone who can both run a tight process and step back to advise the business on where the money should go.

Key responsibilities

Own the budgeting, forecasting, and reporting process
Lead and develop the finance team
Advise leadership on financial performance, cash, and risk

Day-to-day responsibilities

Own the annual budget and rolling forecast across all departments
Lead the monthly close review and present results to the leadership team
Manage, coach, and develop accountants and analysts on the finance team
Oversee cash flow, working capital, and treasury planning
Review and improve financial controls, policies, and approval workflows
Partner with department heads to manage spend against budget
Prepare board packs, investor updates, and lender reporting
Coordinate audits, tax filings, and compliance with external advisors
Evaluate major decisions and investments with modeling and clear recommendations
Improve finance systems, reporting tools, and month-end efficiency

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in finance or accounting; CPA, ACCA, CMA, or MBA is strongly preferred
5 or more years of finance experience, including budgeting, reporting, and team leadership
Proven experience managing a close cycle and a small finance team
Strong knowledge of GAAP or IFRS, financial controls, and cash management
A track record of advising leadership and improving finance processes