Common finance skills examples for you

Common finance skills examples for you

Blog Article

Find out some examples of financial organizations and what they look for in applicants.


Nowadays, technical finance skills are often linked to industry-specific positions, such as accounting, banking, underwriting, financial analysis, or insurance brokering. As William Jackson of Bridgepoint Capital would understand, such finance abilities only scratch the surface when examining the financial industry as a whole and what is required of every professional or applicant in this industry. This is due to the fact that finance specialists are expected to have an excellent balance between soft and hard abilities that enable them to manage stakeholder relationships successfully. Although the finance sector is unique and each role requires different hard finance skills and experience levels, there are some abilities that are regarded as essential across all roles in this dynamic sector. For example, being comfortable with numbers and data-driven analysis is definitely up there as an important skill, as you will likely be working with numbers and statistical datasets as a finance specialist at some point.


Regardless of what particular department you work in, there are some general finance skills that you must have embedded in your CV, as Edward Tilly of Clear Street would know. Accounting abilities 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 records. This is because the conclusions that can be derived from such documents are essential for business leaders and stakeholders when it comes to evaluating a company financial health. Moreover, since accounting knowledge is fundamental across a range of diverse financial roles in the industry, companies tend to offer competitive compensation for those that have professional accounting qualifications or demonstrate the necessary accounting skills.


The financial sector in today's world is probably one of the most competitive fields out there, which is why you should build the core skills that are expected 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 very important to ensure that your relationships with your clients are solid, as these customers are essentially entrusting you with their investments, and trusting you to make the best economic decisions for them to maximize their assets and resources. As a result, managing your key and long-term professional relationships with your stakeholders effectively requires time to cultivate trust, respect, and authenticity with them.