Critical Skills for Strategic Finance Teams
The Global Finance Summit is addressing a critical topic for finance professionals – the essential skills required for strategic finance teams. As the finance function continues to evolve, organizations need finance leaders who can drive business value and act as strategic partners to the broader organization.
This session, led by experienced finance experts Catherine Marks, Dan Wells, and Christian Wattig, delves into the definition and boundaries of strategic finance. The speakers explore the key differences between a traditional back-office finance function and a best-in-class strategic finance team, highlighting the importance of data management, storytelling, and proactive value creation. The discussion covers the challenges and opportunities facing strategic finance professionals as they navigate the changing landscape. The speakers provide insights on developing critical skills, such as strategic thinking, relationship building, and technological proficiency, to enable finance teams to become true business partners and catalysts for growth.
Highlights:
- Defining strategic finance and its evolution from a transactional to a more analytical and strategic role
- Exploring the four stages of finance team development, from data focus to proactive value creation
- Emphasizing the importance of building trust and relationships with cross-functional partners
- Discussing the balance between just-in-time and just-in-case learning for technical and impact skills
- Providing practical tips for developing strategic finance competencies, including experiential learning, coaching, and broadening skill sets
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