Common finance skills examples for you

Common finance skills examples for you

Blog Article

If you are interested in breaking into the finance sector, this article is for you.


Today, technical finance skills are commonly associated with industry-specific positions, such as accounting, banking, underwriting, financial evaluation, or insurance brokerage. As William Jackson of Bridgepoint Capital would understand, such finance abilities only scratch the surface when examining the financial industry in general and what is expected of every professional or candidate in this sector. This is because financial specialists are expected to have a good blend between soft and hard abilities that enable them to manage stakeholder relationships successfully. Although the finance industry is unique and each position requires varying hard finance skills and experience levels, there are some skills that are regarded as mandatory throughout all roles in this dynamic sector. For example, being comfortable with numbers and data-driven analysis is absolutely up there as a priority ability, as you will likely be dealing with numbers and statistical datasets as a financial professional one way or another.


No matter what specific field you operate in, there are a few general finance skills that you will have embedded in your resume, as Edward Tilly of Clear Street would know. Accounting skills is one example of this. Nowadays, companies in the finance sector look for accounting backgrounds in graduates, or at least the capacity to dissect financial statements and company documents. This does not mean you must have previous experience as a professional accountant, but rather skill in reading and analyzing economic documents. This is due to the fact that the insights that can be derived from such reports are crucial for business leaders and stakeholders when it relates to assessing an organization's financial health. Moreover, since accounting knowledge is fundamental across a range of different financial positions in the industry, companies tend to offer competitive salaries for those that have professional accounting qualifications or demonstrate the required accounting skills.


The financial sector in today's world is probably one of the most competitive fields out there, which is why you must build the essential skills that are required as a minimum in this fast-changing and fiercely competitive field. For instance, relationship-building abilities are probably some of the most crucial soft finance skills out there today. As Hugo Bedford of JM Finn would know, reliable connections are integral to success for finance leaders, particularly in times of instability or complexity. As a leader in a financial organization, it's extremely crucial to ensure that your relationships with your clients are strong, as these clients are essentially relying on you with their money, and counting on you to make the best economic choices for them to maximize their assets and resources. Consequently, managing your strategic and long-term professional interactions with your stakeholders effectively takes time to build confidence, respect, and credibility with them.