Interview Questions for Contract Finance Director: How to hire better
In a larger organization, the Director of Finance is the bridge between the CFO, VP and senior managers. They need to be able to ramp up quickly, gain buy-in and likely deliver under tight timelines. Regardless of why you’re in a position to hire a contract Finance Director, there are interview questions you can ask to help you select an all-star candidate.
How to Retain Top Accounting and Finance Talent
With the average worker staying 4 years in a role, it’s not enough to simply attract and land top accounting and finance talent. You also need to retain them. Increasingly, progressive organizations are offering perks outside of the norm. Here are 4 strategies you can use to retain your difference makers.
How to Praise Your Team
In a world of participation ribbons, genuine praise can still be an effective way to motivate a finance team. People crave positive feedback and real recognition, and it’s a lot easier to praise your team than you may realize. Here are some tips:
Tip 1: Be Timely
As much as possible try to offer praise
How to Build Confidence in Your Finance Team
As a finance leader you need to know how to bring out the best in your team. Part of doing this is building their confidence. By empowering them and making them understand that their talents and contributions matter, you can increase employee engagement and productivity. Here are 6 ways to create
How to Know if an Employee is Ready to Become a Manager
Your organization believes in promoting from within. As such, it makes sense that someone from your existing employee pool should become your next manager. The question is, how do you know if someone is truly ready to become a leader? Here are 8 signs that you have your next manager in
How to Deal With Challenging Finance Team Members
We’ve all had them – difficult finance team colleagues that make us want to tear our hair out. Whether it’s the know-it-all or the office gossip, challenging co-workers are a part of the gig. But accountants today often need to communicate collaboratively with different kinds of personalities to be
How to Run Better Finance Meetings
According to this article from The Wall Street Journal, CEOs spend, on average, 18 hours a week in meetings. And while you may not be a CEO, chances are you’re attending weekly or monthly finance meetings. If done well, finance meetings are an opportunity for teams to connect, discuss what’
New Accounting Managers: Avoid These Mistakes
Ken Poirot, author of Mentor Me, once wrote, “Wisdom comes from life experience; life experience is the result of repeatedly taking corrective action while courageously learning from mistakes.” As a new accounting manager you need to make a positive first impression by establishing credibility and
What Millennials Want from an Accounting Job
As baby boomers retire and millennials replace them, an understanding of what the millennial generation wants in an accounting job is integral to attracting, landing and keeping quality talent. And here’s the thing, if two firms are offering essentially the same financial compensation and benefits, a millennial accountant’s
Top Leadership Skills for New Finance Mangers
The CPA Competency Map is fascinating (ok fascinating might be bit of a stretch, but it is revealing). While technical skills such as finance and taxation are listed, so too are skills such as ethical behaviour and leadership. For new finance managers, who are just getting their leadership legs underneath
How to Make the Leap from Accountant to Financial Analyst
In football, players are often asked to take on a new role for the good of the team. Defensive backs become, gasp, full backs and in the odd case, a college quarterback becomes a receiver. Those who can adapt, succeed, while those who can’t flounder at the wayside. For
The Yeti and Other Myths (Including Some About Accountants)
The Yeti, or Sasquatch is actually a story originating from ancient Himalayan mythology (fun fact that you can use to impress your friends). Whether or not the Abominable Snowman actually exists is up for discussion in forums, coffee houses and random YouTube clips of guys in the woods running around