<PAGE>
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints either of DEBRA H. SNIDER or
MARK J. OHRINGER, with full power to act alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-
fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to sign the name of
the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and to any and all
amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document filed as a part of or
in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any amendment thereto.


Dated:  January 30, 1998
        ------------------



                                       /s/ RICHARD J. ALMEIDA
                                           ------------------
                                           Richard J. Almeida


<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 24





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints either of DEBRA H. SNIDER or
MARK J. OHRINGER, with full power to act alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-
fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to sign the name of
the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and to any and all
amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document filed as a part of or
in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any amendment thereto.


Dated:  January 30, 1998
        ----------------



                                       TSUTOMU HAYANO
                                       --------------
                                       Tsutomu Hayano
<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 24





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints either of DEBRA H. SNIDER or
MARK J. OHRINGER, with full power to act alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-
fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to sign the name of
the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and to any and all
amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document filed as a part of or
in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any amendment thereto.


Dated:  January 30, 1998
        ----------------




                                       MARK KESSEL
                                       -----------
                                       Mark Kessel
<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 24





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints either of DEBRA H. SNIDER or
MARK J. OHRINGER, with full power to act alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-
fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to sign the name of
the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and to any and all
amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document filed as a part of or
in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any amendment thereto.


Dated:  January 30, 1998
        ----------------




                                       MICHAEL J. LITWIN
                                       -----------------
                                       Michael J. Litwin
<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 24





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints either of DEBRA H. SNIDER or
MARK J. OHRINGER, with full power to act alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-
fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to sign the name of
the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and to any and all
amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document filed as a part of or
in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any amendment thereto.


Dated:  January 30, 1998
        ----------------



                                       DENNIS P. LOCKHART
                                       ------------------
                                       Dennis P. Lockhart
<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 24





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints either of DEBRA H. SNIDER or
MARK J. OHRINGER, with full power to act alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-
fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to sign the name of
the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and to any and all
amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document filed as a part of or
in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any amendment thereto.


Dated:  January 30, 1998
        ----------------



                                       HIDEO NAKAJIMA
                                       --------------
                                       Hideo Nakajima
<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 24





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints either of DEBRA H. SNIDER or
MARK J. OHRINGER, with full power to act alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-
fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to sign the name of
the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and to any and all
amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document filed as a part of or
in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any amendment thereto.


Dated:  January 30, 1998
        ----------------


                                       OSAMU OGURA
                                       -----------
                                       Osamu Ogura
<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 24





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints either of DEBRA H. SNIDER or
MARK J. OHRINGER, with full power to act alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-
fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to sign the name of
the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and to any and all
amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document filed as a part of or
in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any amendment thereto.


Dated:  January 29, 1998
        ----------------



                                       MASAHIRO SAWADA
                                       ---------------
                                       Masahiro Sawada
<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 24





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints either of DEBRA H. SNIDER or
MARK J. OHRINGER, with full power to act alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-
fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to sign the name of
the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and to any and all
amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document filed as a part of or
in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any amendment thereto.


Dated:  January 30, 1998
        ----------------



                                       TAKESHI TAKAHASHI
                                       -----------------
                                       Takeshi Takahashi
<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 24





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints either of DEBRA H. SNIDER or
MARK J. OHRINGER, with full power to act alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-
fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to sign the name of
the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and to any and all
amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document filed as a part of or
in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any amendment thereto.


Dated:  January 30, 1998
        ----------------



                                       ATSUSHI TAKANO
                                       --------------
                                       Atsushi Takano
<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 24





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints either of DEBRA H. SNIDER or
MARK J. OHRINGER, with full power to act alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-
fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to sign the name of
the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and to any and all
amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document filed as a part of or
in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any amendment thereto.


Dated:  January 30, 1998
        ----------------



                                       KENICHIRO TANAKA
                                       ---------------- 
                                       Kenichiro Tanaka
<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 24





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints either of DEBRA H. SNIDER or
MARK J. OHRINGER, with full power to act alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-
fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to sign the name of
the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and to any and all
amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document filed as a part of or
in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any amendment thereto.


Dated:  February 2, 1998
        ----------------




                                       KENICHI TOMITA
                                       --------------
                                       Kenichi Tomita