Post-2020 work life has been a whirlwind of changes — and we’re talking about more than just working from home. COVID-19 has changed work as we know it, and as a result, employee career paths have also changed. If you’re actively seeking a role in the finance market, you need to be thinking about ways to stand out. Acquiring in-demand skills that fit the needs of today’s top financial companies could be the ticket to landing a great role.

These finance skills will help you to make a strong impact in a business organization; check them out:

Analytical Thinking
Analytical thinking is a crucial skill for finance professionals. It refers to looking at and understanding a situation to interpret it and deriving an intelligent and thoughtful response. As a finance professional, you’d have to solve all kinds of problems from technical to interpersonal. When analytical thinking and problem-solving are your forte, you can devise smart solutions quickly which would greatly benefit the company, making you its valuable asset. Some of the areas where analytical thinking plays a key role include financial analysis, risk analysis, risk management, strategic financial planning, and data analysis.

Accounting Skills
Accounting skills refer to the techniques and abilities that allow you to track, record, and manage financial transactions efficiently and effectively. Many recruiters expect you to have accounting skills as they are crucial for performing financial analysis, financial reporting, data management, financial modeling, and plenty of other related tasks.

A fundamental understanding of accounting skills can certainly help you in getting a good job as a finance professional. After learning these finance skills, you can focus on bagging some of the lucrative roles in the industry such as Chartered Accountant, Certified Public Accountant, etc.

Financial Modeling
Financial modeling is the process of representing a real financial situation through abstract methods. In financial modeling, you design a mathematical model that represents an assets or portfolio’s financial performance in a specific period.

Financial models help you estimate the valuation of a business or compare multiple businesses. You might use them for strategic planning such as for calculating the cost of a new project, deciding on a budget, or testing a particular scenario. If you’re applying for senior-level roles, companies almost always will expect you to be proficient in financial modeling.

Financial Reporting
Financial reporting is the process of disclosing financial results and pertaining information to the stakeholders and upper management. Like the accounting skills we discussed previously, financial reporting is another necessary skill if you want to get ahead in the finance industry. In financial reporting, you’d be focusing on creating financial statements, balance sheets, and income sheets, through which you can show the financial position of your company to the concerning party.

Data Management
Data management is the process of gathering, storing, managing, and maintaining an organization’s data. Proper data management is necessary to help the business in performing data analysis and use the data to guide its decisions.

While as a finance professional you might not have to work extensively on data management solutions, having this skill will make your job a whole lot easier. You wouldn’t face problems in using the data or accessing the same for performing financial analysis or predictive analysis. Financial data management allows a company to consolidate its relevant data to comply with laws and regulations. This is another reason why it’s a sought-after skill.

Developing a new skill can be quite challenging. However, once you begin your journey and choose the right milestones, you will gain new skills and experience as you progress. The key is to identify your career goals and then figure out how you can accomplish them. If you know what you want, nothing can stop you from growing into a competent professional.
Looking for a role in the finance industry? Contact Phyton Talent Advisors to learn more about our open financial roles.