How Do I Become a Financial Reporting Director?

A financial reporting director is an executive level employee who is tasked with preparing and delivering financial reports on behalf of a publicly traded company. Typically, those wishing to become a financial reporting director must graduate from high school with higher than average grades in mathematics and complete a college degree program. Additionally, people working in these roles normally have to gain several years of related work experience while working in lower level positions within the finance department.

Someone wishing to become a financial reporting director must complete an undergraduate degree program in finance, economics, business administration or a related topic. Due to the seniority of these individuals, many companies also require applicants to have completed an advanced degree program in a finance related subject. Additionally, someone overseeing operations in a multinational firm may also have to complete some kind of formal second language education course.

Laws in many nations require anyone who is involved in financial reporting to be a certified accountant. Consequently, a college graduate wishing to become a financial reporting director may have to enroll in accounting courses that are administered by regulatory authorities or industry associations. In most instances, these courses culminate in a series of written tests. Attendees must achieve minimum passing scores to become eligible to apply for an accounting license. In some countries, licensed accountants have to attend occasional continuing education classes to keep their licenses current.

Many major companies actively recruit college students and someone wishing to become a financial reporting director may benefit from taking part in an internship program. Students involved in these sessions receive on-the-job instruction from qualified accountants and people who impress during internships are sometimes given job offers. Typically, graduates and qualified accountants begin work as junior accounting clerks. While in these positions, these individuals perform departmental audits and compile reports detailing company expenses. Generally, people are required to spend a number of years working in these roles before transitioning into more senior positions.

Experienced accounting clerks often assume departmental manager roles and people employed in these positions are responsible for ensuring that clerks prepare reports in compliance with company policies and regional accounting laws. Additionally, managers are tasked with hiring and firing employees. Senior managers are able to apply for director roles. Aside from academic credentials and job relevant experience, financial directors are required to have good interpersonal, organizational and administrative skills. In many nations, directors must make public reports to securities regulators and the media in which case anyone wishing to become a financial reporting director must have good leadership and communication skills.