Financial Management

3Skills, Knowledge, and Attributes for Financial Business Partners

As evidenced by opening the cover of this book, you have a desire to improve and develop your ability to contribute as a Financial Business Partner (FBP). This chapter will offer a number of ways the author has found helpful to improve our value as an FBP, and ultimately, as a financial executive. This chapter will provide suggestions on how individuals can assess their skills and competencies, learn and grow, and increase their value as a business partner. A broader view of building an overall finance organization will be covered in Chapter 7.

WHERE DO I STAND ON EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, AND ATTRIBUTES OF SUCCESSFUL FINANCE PARTNERS?

Successful FBPs (those perceived as adding value and assuming roles of greater responsibility) tend to have certain personal traits, core skills, specific knowledge, and overall business acumen (Figure 3.1). Not all of these knowledge or experience areas are important to all FBP roles nor can an individual be expected to achieve proficiency in all. This summary, and the assessment following tool, is intentionally broad to provide a comprehensive view of those characteristics and experience of individuals who assume greater roles as senior FBPs.

FIGURE 3.1 Business partner characteristics, skills, and knowledge.

Personal Traits

Successful financial planning and analysis (FP&A) ...