owning machinery (Reh 2010). A financial manager must have a keen understanding of numbers, but he or she must also understand his or her client. When suggesting sources of available funding, for example, the manager must remember some businesspersons wish to retain a high level of control over their organization's vision and decision-making. While venture capitalists can be a valuable source of financing, someone with high ethical standards might shy away from soliciting aid from someone who wishes a controlling interest in the business (Miller 2009). The regular nature of bank payments in exchange for financial independence might be a willing trade-off for someone beginning a new organic bakery, for example. However, a client proposing a very risky e-commerce venture might not be able to find adequate support from a bank at a sufficiently reasonable interest rate.

A financial manager can help the individual or organization balance goals, options, and 'dollars and cents.' Also 'thinking out of the box' for sources of funding, such as using smaller loans, or finding sources of government grants might be feasible in some instances. Knowing when and if it is financially sensible to incorporate and sell...

At smaller organizations, or for individuals, these functions may be performed by the same individual in consort with the business owner or family. But whether the organization is small or large, the need for astute financial management cannot nor never should be discounted.
References

Financial managers. (2010). Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS). U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved May 11, 2010 at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos010.htm

Miller, Miranda. (2009, August 4). 3 types of e-commerce start-up capital. Retrieved May 11,

2010 at http://ecommerce.suite101.com/article.cfm/3_types_of_ecommerce_startup_capital

Reh, F. John. (2010). Management 101. Retrieved May 11, 2010 at http://management.about.com/cs/generalmanagement/a/Management101.htm