Sophisticated finance systems increasingly underpin organisations’ financial operations. 53% of UK CEOs are taking personal responsibility for driving transformation within their company, and 71% have either recently completed, are currently running, or are planning a finance transformation. These efforts require skilled teams with knowledge of finance and technology.
These hybrid professionals who straddle both worlds are in high demand as technology plays an increasingly crucial role in operations and strategy. Candidates who have developed both skillsets are pursuing a relatively new but well-respected and well-paid position: The Finance Systems Manager.
This article defines the role and offers a guide for professionals aspiring to attain this high-demand position.
Key takeaways
- Finance Systems Managers bridge finance, IT, and operations
- ERP and EPM expertise are essential for success
- Accounting knowledge provides a strong foundation, but it’s not mandatory
- Communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills are critical
- Ongoing learning in data, automation, and AI will future-proof your career
What do Finance Systems Managers do?
A Finance Systems Manager ensures the effective operation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and enterprise performance management (EPM) systems, oversees data management, and aligns finance processes with business goals.
They often straddle both the finance and IT functions, managing the workstreams that pass through the systems they oversee.
“As a finance systems manager, you’re working at the confluence between Finance and IT departments,” explains David Hammel, UK Managing Director at SystemsAccountants. “You’re required to be a leader, and make sure that the activities of the team members and each project workstream are being executed to a high standard.”
The role demands both hands-on technical involvement and strategic foresight — enabling FSMs to have a measurable impact on business performance.
Core skills and areas of expertise
Successful Finance Systems Managers master a broad blend of technical and leadership skills. The following capabilities are central to the role:
1. Technology and systems expertise
FSMs need deep knowledge of ERP and EPM platforms such as NetSuite, Workday, Oracle, and OneStream. Understanding how to implement, customise, and optimise these systems — while knowing their limitations — is essential to drive adoption and performance.
2. Strategic awareness
A strong FSM will shape the roadmap for finance systems in line with corporate IT strategy and wider business objectives. They balance the long-term vision of digital transformation with practical execution.
3. Data management
Building integrity into finance data is a fundamental responsibility. FSMs must manage reporting accuracy while developing strategies for master data management and data governance that can scale over time.
4. Delivering quick wins
Especially following new system implementations, quick wins can demonstrate value early. Examples include improving reporting outputs, automating manual tasks, or removing redundant processes that slow operations.
5. Process improvement
FSMs drive process efficiency by integrating data across departments, automating workflows, and introducing real-time reporting. The outcome: better decision-making, improved data quality, and reduced operational costs.
6. Team and stakeholder management
Effective FSMs lead both direct teams and cross-functional stakeholders, ensuring users across departments understand and leverage the systems available to them.
7. Future-focused mindset
With technologies like AI, cloud computing, and robotic process automation (RPA) reshaping finance, FSMs must remain curious and forward-looking. Understanding emerging tools and trends enables them to position their organisations for innovation and competitive advantage.
8. External relationship management
Managing relationships with software vendors and implementation partners is another critical aspect of the role.
“External relationships with your partners and your vendors are important,” says David Hammel. “Managing SLA agreements, understanding best practices, what the latest releases are and being on top of what this means for your internal finance systems roadmap is one of the more strategic aspects a finance systems manager oversees.”
Does a Finance Systems Manager Need to be an Accountant?
Anyone who has a strong background in finance and accounting starts with an advantage. For example, candidates who already have qualifications such as CIMA, ACA, or ACCA who may already be a controller, auditor, or financial professional will have an edge over other applicants.
However, if you don’t have a specific qualification there’s still a way in if you have a rudimentary grasp of accounting and bookkeeping as well as compliance and security coupled with excellent communication skills.
“As the bridge between finance and IT, there’s a lot of acronyms and jargon used. As a finance systems manager you’re demystifying that and finding a common universal language which each side understands,” says David Hammel. “Communication and adapting that style and understanding different people’s perspectives is really important. It’s the business partnering skills which really make a finance systems manager.”
Other key skills are solid problem-solving abilities along with a willingness to find and embrace internal champions who hold finance roles. People with project management skills tend to handle this process effectively – particularly if they have managed the implementation of ERP or EPM recently.
Standing Out in The Job Market
Today, finding and securing a full-time position may be difficult, according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) trade body and accountants KPMG. The labour market in February 2024 reported the biggest drop in demand for talent since January 2021. With this added pressure, candidates must put their best foot forward when applying for a finance systems manager position.
You can build your personal brand and resume by researching accreditations from software vendors like NetSuite and Microsoft, or teaching yourself about emerging technologies that are quickly becoming part of the finance systems manager job description.
“In the last six to 12 months more finance systems managers and senior finance professionals are putting themselves on low coding courses, or data analytics or data insight courses, or SQL or programming like R and Python,” says David Hammel. “We’re seeing this more because there is clearly a lot of interest from the market, and hype around AI, and Gen AI in particular.”
These next-generation technologies will eventually be implemented within the core ERP and EPM layers, so those candidates who have some proficiency or exposure will have an advantage. To learn more about succeeding in a career in finance systems, download our comprehensive guide Mastering a Career in Finance Systems.
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