• SKILL LEVEL:
  • Leader

Finance director


What is a finance director and what do they do?

A finance director (FD) assumes a leading strategic role in influencing the future direction of an organisation, or large division within an organisation. They provide financial leadership and help to align business and finance strategy to grow the company, often driving change management or business improvement initiatives within the organisation. They must also perform effective risk management and ensure compliance with financial regulations as well as building and maintaining strong relationships with lenders, banks, investors, and other financial institutions.

Traditionally, the finance director is the most senior finance professional in an organisation and will typically sit on an organisation's board of directors. However, within some organisations, the most senior role has been retitled to be chief financial officer (CFO) with the title of finance director offered to the most senior finance professional in a division, subsidiary or territory.

Capabilities

While the accountancy profession offers diverse career options and paths, the core capabilities required to perform at the highest standards remain the same - irrespective of skill level or job role.

Collaboration Digital Drive Ethics Expertise Insight Sustainability
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Continuing professional development at ACCA

A commitment to life-long learning is a vital part of your ACCA membership; it unlocks the full potential of your career choices - and drives forward the profession.

We deliver a wide range of CPD resources tailored to different areas of expertise - and an ever-changing profession. Our, and your, commitment to quality CPD ensures you will have the most up-to-date skills to perform at the highest standard. 

So, get started (or restarted) and take a look at our curated list of the most relevant CPD resources to secure and succeed in this role.

units 21

Online course

Career progression pathway: chief financial officer

The CFO is one of the most prestigious roles in business – the partner and natural deputy to the CEO. As a senior leadership position, it calls for a credible and trusted professional who can look beyond the traditional accounting perspective to meet the needs of key internal and external stakeholders.

This pathway will help you to develop an understanding of the evolving finance function of the future and the role of the CFO in driving business improvement and success. You will look both outwards to the needs of stakeholders, and inwards to the effective performance management of the organisation. As you go, you will learn from our panel of experienced CFOs, who share the secrets of their success in extended video interviews.
 

  • Explore core areas in the future skillset of the CFO as identified by ACCA and IMA in 'The CFO of the Future'
  • Discuss the key skills and capabilities identified in the CA ANZ 'CFO Recruitment Guide'
  • Natural progression from our Finance Leader pathway, covering similar topics at a higher level, with a wider business viewpoint.
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unit 1

Online course

Women on boards

Women on Boards is an action-oriented social enterprise supporting women seeking to leverage their professional skills and experience into non-executive director and other board level roles.

Women on Boards exists to help women make the right connections and career choices to get to board level within their own company or to take on a non-executive board role. We are lowering the barriers to entry to the boardroom and building the pipeline of board-ready women. 

There are many different types of boards, all of which need directors or trustees, including charity boards, Public Sector boards and committees, housing associations, education and sports bodies, NHS Trusts - all the way up to FTSE Boards. However women are under-represented in all sectors; they are less likely than men to be asked to join a board and many lack information about how to access these roles successfully..

Find more CPD resources on ACCA Learning

How does the ACCA qualification prepare you for this job role?

From a combination of exams, ethics and experience, the ACCA Qualification will boost your employability and performance at every stage of your career journey.

Here we have listed some elements of the ACCA Qualification that will help you perform at the highest standard in this job role.

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Case study for this role

From AB magazine interview

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Digital champion

For Fanny Lung FCCA, finance director at Hong Kong mixed-use property developer Swire Properties, enabling her team to embrace technology has driven the business forward
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