Adding value to the finance department of the future requires skills that were not taught in your accounting degree. Success is no longer about what you know, but rather what you can do with what you know!

To be a trusted business partner you first need to be able to connect and communicate with all types of people. See how understanding personality styles turns communication breakdowns into communication breakthroughs!

Secondly, public speaking is an absolute necessity. Those who can speak in front of crowds by capturing their audience’s attention have a greater impact on the organization and tend to move up the corporate ladder more swiftly.

Third, while you are already amazing at analyzing data, most people outside of the finance department have a difficult time understanding financial statements and ratio analysis. Businesses need more than results—they need advice. Learn how to share your advice in a way that other stakeholders will understand.

Finally, in order to accomplish goals across the organization, a successful manager needs to lead both their subordinates and their superiors. Leading up is a method for providing insight and direction to improve the overall effectiveness of the organization. Leading up means thinking strategically and communicating persuasively.