Career aspirations in financial leadership and organizational management

¶ … Finance Director in a Reputable Organization

A couple of weeks ago, I came across a poster in a gift shop that read: "you cannot run away from your destiny!" I couldn't agree more. Deep down, I have this great conviction that I was destined to be a Finance Director in a reputable organization.

I developed a liking for things monetary at a very early age. When I was only 6 years old, I used to have a small jar of coins that I hid under my bed. This was my 'savings account' and every coin I got (mostly solicited handouts from family members) went into the jar. Every day, before going to bed, I would pour out the contents of the jar on my bed and take stock of the number of coins I had. Looking back, I guess I was slowly honing (albeit subconsciously) the prerequisite cash management skills I would need to succeed as a Finance Director years later.

Over time, I have had a rare opportunity of interacting with a number of people in the field of finance. One individual who has enabled me to gain an even greater insight of the profession is a family friend who currently heads a private equity firm. Previously, he served as the Finance Director of one of the leading banks in the country. My interaction with him has offered me a glimpse of what it would be like to work as a Finance Director in a large organization. I must say that his description of the roles, challenges, and benefits that come with the position has somewhat intrigued me. Although, the position has its own unique challenges, I feel I would be most comfortable playing the role of Finance Director in a reputable organization than I would be playing any other role. In the final analysis, my interaction with professionals in this field has only further ignited my desire to become a Finance Director in a reputable organization.

To further familiarize myself with the duties and responsibilities of Financial Directors, I have in the past conducted significant research on the same. I have also conducted research on the skills and qualifications necessary to succeed in this exciting field. According to the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2010), individuals working in financial management positions should ideally have a variety of skills including but not limited to strong interpersonal and problem solving skills. The relevance of good decision making skills in this case cannot also be overstated. This is more so the case given that individuals in managerial positions are required to be good decision makers (Griffin, 2010). I believe I have the necessary skills to succeed as a Finance Director of a large and reputable company. Given my interest in the field, I have in the recent past also sought to ensure that in addition to acquiring the prerequisite skills, I also enhance my strengths in a number of critical areas. For instance, knowing that good decision making skills are a perquisite in this field, I have read a number of books on effective decision making. This goes a long way to demonstrate just how much I desire to become a Finance Director in a reputable organization.