Developing Finance Managers

Finance managers need a broad range of skills – in particular, being proficient with technical financial issues, using systems efficiently, having commercial awareness, as well as people and communications skills.

Where there is a need to develop finance staff into becoming fully rounded finance managers, Will Marr can help.

I often use bespoke, key-diagnostic software to identify key areas of strength and areas for improvement. In addition, I am able to:

• Use my knowledge, experience and training to help improve areas of weakness
• Mentor and support finance staff to become valuable finance managers and leaders
• Identify training needs and options.

Case Study – Windles Group

Background: Windles Group was a successful and rapidly expanding manufacturing business. Will Marr was the finance director and was becoming stretched as the business grew – he needed to recruit a finance manager. There was already a small finance team, amongst whom was a part-qualified accounts assistant. Will spotted that she had some great potential.

Scope: Will mentored the assistant accounts, encouraged her to take on more responsibility, and organised for external training to support her development.

Result: Will’s input enabled the accounts assistant to grow into a very successful finance manager, who would grow and develop further as the business expanded. It enabled Will Marr to stand back from a lot of the day-to-day finance needs and focus on higher-value areas; and it resulted in the business acquiring a first rate finance manager, with detailed knowledge of the business, without the expense and risk of recruiting one.

Testimonial

“The business was expanding rapidly and the finance team needed further investment to cope and develop further. Will had previously recruited an assistant accountant and had spotted the talent in her. With his direction and mentoring, Will developed Claire into a first-class finance manager who was skilled in system work, understood the numbers and was also aware of the commercial angle. She was encouraged to get involved in all areas of the business, and developed into a very valuable member of the business.”

Bruce Podmore, MD of Windles Group