To reduce risks and maximize profits, firms rely more and more on the guidance of experienced and knowledgeable financial managers in mergers and consolidations, and in international expansion and related financing. Firms increasingly hire financial managers as temporary consultants to advise senior managers on these types of business operations. In fact, some small firms hire contracting companies to handle all of their accounting and financial needs.
Technological advances that continue to reduce the time it takes to create financial reports have forced the financial manager’s role to evolve, especially in business. These managers often work on teams and spend more time analyzing data. From these analyses, they create strategies for more efficient business procedures, which they in turn us to advise top management. Because of this increasing reliance on computers, financial managers need to keep up with the latest technological advances in order to maximize their firm’s efficiency.