Job sheet: Financial Director

The role of Financial Director

Reporting to senior management and the executive committee  (as a member) on finance and strategy, the Group Administrative and Financial Director has become a major figure in the field of corporate management in just a few years. They are in the front line of internal and external development, supervise any re-structuring and often lead financial communications for all of the vents in the life of a company.

Responsibilities of the AFD

Their responsibilities are traditional as follows:

1- Accounting

Production of the company and consolidated accounts - responsible for compliance and accuracy. Depending on the size of the group, they manage division and/or subsidiary Financial Directors, an Accounts Director, a Consolidation Director, a Management Control Director, one of the more shared Service Centres (responsible for general and subledger accounting for the various Group entities),

2- Financial information and banking relationships

Management of financial transactions (acquisitions, mergers and transfers), Management of cash and financing and third-party relationships: Bankers and Auditors etc., Supervision and approval of Group management control: planning, budgets, reporting, Contribution to improvement or introduction of management information systems, Preparation of industrial and financial investment reports,

3- Management and decision-making

Group-related supervision of the internal management control team and assistance with setting up new standards and regulations. They are tasked with defining corporate strategy (and operational structure), leading financial communication and the relationship with shareholders and investors and supervising internal audits (even though this department often reports directly to the Managing Director), legal and tax affairs, HR management and general services.

Reporting

The Financial Director generally reports to the Managing Director.

Academic background and Competencies

The profile of a Financial Director Traditionally a business school or university graduate, a Group Financial Director will often have followed an initial course of education with a view to acquiring accounting and financial expertise through a Diploma in Accounting and Finance. Where major groups are concerned, the classic route to this role is via a number of roles – such as Financial Controller for subsidiaries or Management Control Director and sometimes internal Audit Director or Accountancy Director.

In the case of listed companies, the Financial Director often has previous experience working for a merchant bank or Big4 audit form. The skills of a Group Financial Director need to go way beyond the technical ones related to their finance role – they need to have good people skills, an acute understanding of a company’s business activity and long-term vision. 

Prospects for the role of Financial Director

It is increasingly common for the Group Financial Director to step into a senior management role.