Although experience, ability, and leadership are emphasized for promotion, advancement may be accelerated by special study. Firms often provide opportunities for workers to broaden their knowledge and skills and encourage employees to take courses at local colleges and universities. In addition, financial management and banking associations, often in cooperation with colleges and universities, sponsor numerous national or local training programs. Their schools, located throughout the country, each deal with a different phase of financial management. Persons enrolled prepare extensively at home, then attend sessions on subjects such as accounting management, budget management, corporate cash management, financial analysis, international banking, and data processing systems procedures and management.
Firms also sponsor seminars and conferences and provide textbooks and other educational materials.
Many firms pay all or part of the costs for those who successfully complete courses. Persons interested in becoming financial managers should like to work independently and analyze detailed information. The ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, with top managers is important. They also need tact, good judgement, and the ability to establish effective personal relationships to oversee supervisory and professional staff members. Financial analysis and management have been revolutionized by technological improvements in computers and data processing equipment.