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Management Control - DFCG – Decision Performance Conseil
THE COMPETENCIES NEEDED BY THE FUTURE FINANCIAL CONTROLLER FOR GREATER
EFFICIENCY
Change Manager?
Like the technical and/or organizational means (tools, data growth,
cross-cutting
, working in
project mode, etc. ...), the competencies needed for a Financial Controller will no longer be the
same as today. In fact, "making numbers speak," being a "project manager", communicating,
persuading, negotiating: these are all competencies that the Management Control function will
have to learn.
Specifically, the Management Controller must upgrade his/her simple role of guarantor of the
accuracy of financial information (which remains essential, however) to a broader role as a
"Change Manager". Now supporting the Directors in the development of a more predictive
business vision implies learning to work increasingly on the basis of "a priori”; although so far
Management Control has been more used to dealing with current and historical accounting data.
In this context, it seems logical that maintaining the control function competencies remains
ensured (e.g. nowadays, the mastery of a foreign language or the acquisition of certificates are
taken for granted). IT control and negotiation techniques (including skill of persuasion) will have
to be part of the toolkit of the Financial Controller to allow her/him to be relevant both technically
and in the field of communication. For Controllers, the need to strengthen listening competencies,
as well as synthesis and analysis is reported, so that they are ready to deal with the evolution that
awaits them in the coming years. Thus, they could become a key player in supporting change.
Learn Foreign language
Get Professional certification
(CIMA….)
Get Communication /
Negociation skills
Get Change management skills
Get broad IT knowledge
IAFEI Quarterly | 45