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A manager of financial strategy is a administrative professional who handles various strategic planning and operations activities in financial firms. Finance managers may be involved with insurance, real estate, capital structure, income protection, asset management and organizational restructuring analysis and planning, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Financial Strategy Manager – General
A general financial strategy manager is responsible for providing analytical recommendations for a range of corporate actions, transactions and decisions. They could involve portfolio shaping, confidential projects, mergers and acquisitions research and capital allocation decisions. They usually report to the executive management team or the board of directors. These managers perform risk, outcome, merger and valuation and due diligence analysis and modeling. They may be involved in corporate goal setting, peer competitive analyses, strategic position evaluations and long-range strategic planning.
Financial strategy managers need excellent attention to detail and a solid track record of academic and professional excellence. The job involves extensive coordination and cooperation with internal and external parties, such as bankers, consultants, executives and CFOs, so impeccable business communication skills are a must. They must have the presence and maturity to work effectively with executive management and advanced accounting, Excel modeling and PowerPoint skills. A four-year degree with at least five years of corporate finance experience is the basic job requirement.
Financial Strategy Manager – Health Care
A financial strategy manager who works in a health care organization will execute financial plans based on corporate goals and guidelines. They will facilitate the enhancement of data modeling and analysis for management. They spend a large portion of work time preparing pricing, billing, revenue cycle analyses reports. They provide executives with consultations and recommendations through creative modeling and competitive analyses. They conduct in-depth evaluations to identify specific trends and billing issues as well as explain past program performance and recommend improvement opportunities.
They supervise key initiatives and projects, such as developing new financial models based on specific needs and requests. They use quantitative and qualitative evidence to provide sound financial advice. They provide analytical and financial cost modeling support to account managers. They may be asked to travel to work sites to lead financial discussions on things like cost management strategies and programs. A bachelor’s degree in finance is required, but also related health care experience and knowledge of the health care industry.
Master of Science in Financial Strategy
Financial analysts and strategists who want to become managers usually pursue either an MBA in Finance or a master’s degree in financial strategy. These degree programs produce professionals who are equipped to serve as financial experts, business leaders and corporate finance consultants. These degree programs present financial management as a practical discipline, so students learn about networking with stakeholders, handling international marketplaces and allocating resources to maximize economic and organizational value.
The curriculum develops enterprise-wide financial decision making skills by focusing on value optimization, risk management and business strategy in real-world situations. After graduation, students will be able to apply critical and strategic thinking skills to evaluate data and effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders. Students will know how to create strategies that address the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of an organization’s business operations and environment.
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A manager of financial strategy must understand the local and national economy’s revenue and cost drivers in order to recommend advice that is both market competitive and protective of the company’s ROI.
