Fiscal Manager Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a fiscal manager. You can use our job description template in this article to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a fiscal manager.
Who is a Fiscal Manager?
Fiscal management is the process of maintaining an organization’s efficient operation while staying within its allocated budget. The terms fiscal and financial are sometimes used interchangeably, but fiscal management often refers to money management inside a government organization. A financial manager is a person who manages all of an organization’s crucial financial operations. One of a company’s most crucial and intricate tasks is its financial activity. Hence, a fiscal manager handles all necessary financial tasks to handle these activities. A fiscal manager is a professional who oversees an organization’s finances and works to ensure its sustainability.
For effective fiscal management, all financial transactions must be recorded in a checks-and-balances system that minimizes errors or omissions that could result in unexpected budget overages. Because financial activities are among the most significant and complex corporate activities in a business, a financial manager sees the completion of all necessary financial activities to take care of delicate demands. A fiscal manager is a person who is in charge of all financial activities for an organization. To make sure everything goes properly, they often collaborate closely with different departments on project management activities. Budget management, predicting future cash flows and expenses, offering feedback on financing requests, and making strategic choices about mergers and acquisitions are all included in the activities.
Fiscal managers simplify and deconstruct complex reports so that other team members may understand the numbers. Furthermore, they manage to account for and prepare financial statements, flowcharts, and profit estimates while paying close attention to detail to comply with numerous rules. The duties of a fiscal manager may also include training staff on financial topics, supervising accounting staff, and filing tax reports. All organizations can profit from the services a fiscal manager provides, regardless of their objective. In general, fiscal managers keep an organization’s finances in order and work to maintain their viability. They oversee crucial tasks like specifically focusing on cash flow, figuring out profitability, controlling spending, and creating reliable financial data.
Fiscal managers are essential to the success of a firm, whether they are in charge of overseeing the entire financial operation or a particular area of finance, like credit or risk management. Fiscal managers must remain knowledgeable of legal and regulatory standards to fulfill their responsibilities. The financial condition of an organization and how it manages its finances can be significantly impacted by changes in legislation, accounting pronouncements, and taxation. As a result, fiscal managers need to stay up to date on the regulatory frameworks that apply to their organizations.
Fiscal Manager Job Description
Below are the fiscal manager job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
Fiscal managers typically have a wide range of duties and responsibilities such as the following:
- Manage an organization’s accounting functions, including keeping an eye on cash flow and controlling accounts payable and receivable.
- Evaluate current financial trends to find any prospective problems that might need more research.
- Prepare financial activity reports for senior leaders of the company or organization.
- Organize the creation of annual reports with external or internal auditors as required by law.
- Regulate the organization’s spending by examining trends in income and expenses to find areas where costs might be cut.
- Examine financial statements and other accounting data to find errors or inconsistencies that may require further investigation.
- Conduct financial records audit for the organization to guarantee laws and regulations are being followed.
- Encourage modifications to account practices to boost productivity.
- Create financial statements, forecasts, and reports for various corporate functions.
- Keep an eye on and examine all financial information to ensure that all legal obligations are met.
- Assist personnel who are responsible for planning and financial reporting
- Analyze financial records from the firm and look for methods to save expenditures.
- Analyze market trends to look for chances for corporate growth through acquisition, merger, or joint ventures.
- Establish, execute, and monitor accounting systems and procedures while guaranteeing adherence to basic accounting principles for all programs and cost centers.
- Manage the upkeep of all financial records, oversee budget management, oversee internal record keeping, and sign any financial documents necessary for regular business operations.
- Prepare reports as necessary to satisfy departmental, university, federal, and state requirements.
- Manage the activities of staff members doing general accounting and bookkeeping tasks.
- Approve spending and keep an eye on the agreed budget within broad parameters.
- Organize and carry out purchases and other agreements in compliance with university and state rules.
- Ensure to be a resource for financial issues and in finding solutions to financial issues.
- Aid in the management’s financial decision-making
- Create and maintain the organization’s long-term strategic plans as well as annual operating budgets.
- Manage all facets of accounting, including payroll, general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, and financial reporting
- Compile your financial accounts on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis by generally accepted accounting principles.
- Control investments and cash flow to guarantee optimal resource usage.
- Analyze deviations from the budget and create necessary corrective action measures.
- Organize external agency audits and reviews
- Create and keep up internal controls to protect assets and make sure laws and regulations are followed.
- Act as the Board of Directors’ point of contact for all financial issues.
- Keep up with advancements in the area of nonprofit accounting and finance and offer suggestions for adjustments as necessary.
- Watch over and educate staff personnel on all parts of their duties.
- Carry out additional tasks as directed by the CEO or the board of directors
- Attend board meetings and present financial condition updates for the organization.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or any related discipline.
- A minimum of 5 years of experience as a fiscal manager, financial manager, or a similar role.
- Previous experience in FP&A, investment banking, business administration, or management consulting.
- Demonstrated experience in budget development and management.
- Thorough understanding of GAAP standards
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency in Excel.
- Problem-solving and analytical skills,
- In-depth understanding of the business process, and systems optimization.
- Ability to interact with all levels of management in multiple areas.
- Excellent knowledge of financial reporting.
- Must be able to assess data.
- Ability to make relevant management decisions.
- Thorough knowledge of financial systems and business administration.
Essential Skills
- Accounting skills: Because accounting is a major part of fiscal management, a fiscal manager needs to be skilled in accounting. They analyze financial data, make budgets, and forecast financial statistics using accounting skills. Additionally, they use their accounting expertise to provide financial projections and reports for investors and business executives.
- Budgeting and forecasting skills: A budget is a strategy for how a business will spend its funds. A fiscal manager may be in charge of preparing an organization’s budget. They might also be in charge of estimating the amount of money the business will have in the future. This entails predicting the future and determining how much money the company will require to thrive. Strong budgeting and forecasting skills enable fiscal managers to assist their organization save money and make sound financial decisions.
- Data analysis skills: Data analysis is an essential skill for this role because a fiscal manager is responsible for overseeing the company’s budget and financial projections. They use their expertise in data analysis to make wise financial decisions for the organization. Additionally, they give suggestions for adjustments and identify areas that need improvement through data analysis.
- Communication skills: Another skill that is essential for a fiscal manager is communication. This is because they regularly collaborate with a wide range of people, including other managers, accountants, salespeople, and other experts. They might have to get in touch with these people in several methods, such as verbally, on the phone, or via email. To ensure that everyone can understand your instructions and feedback, you should possess strong written and verbal communication skills. You can work effectively on projects and initiatives with other management team members when you have strong communication skills.
- Leadership skills: You can manage your finances more skillfully if you have leadership skills. You can be in charge of managing a group of accountants, auditors, or other financial experts as a manager. Your staff can be motivated and inspired to work to their optimal capacity with your assistance. Additionally, you can use your leadership skills to improve teamwork on your team.
- Knowledge of GAAP: Fiscal managers must have a thorough understanding of the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). GAAP is a collection of rules that control how businesses report financial information to the public and investors. It contains rules for everything, from how businesses should classify their expenditures to the kinds of transactions they are allowed to perform. Fiscal managers who are familiar with GAAP can make sure that the financial information they give to others complies with all applicable regulations. Consider joining the professional organization for CPAs in your state or a similar organization to stay current on changes to GAAP. Members of these organizations usually have the opportunity to learn about recent advancements in accounting and finance.
- Contract management skills: The procedure of examining and approving contracts between a company and a third party is known as contract management skills. You can be in charge of negotiating and signing contracts with suppliers or vendors as a fiscal manager. You may ensure that your business satisfies its contractual responsibilities while also saving money on resources if you have great contract management skills.
How to Become a Fiscal Manager
Step 1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
The majority of companies employing fiscal managers require at least a bachelor’s degree. The knowledge and skills required to carry out financial management responsibilities will be made available to you with a degree in accounting, finance, or business administration. Some employers prefer hiring applicants with a master’s degree in finance or accounting. Accounting, business law, economics, finance, management, and taxation are among the relevant courses. A Bachelor of Science in Accounting (BSBA) is a degree that certain universities offer that integrates a curriculum in both accounting and business administration. You can have a solid understanding of how accounting impacts an organization as a whole by earning a BSBA.
Step 2. Acquire work experience
Your career in accounting or financial management might begin once you have earned your bachelor’s degree. Auditing and tax preparation are common entry-level CPA positions, but you can also seek a job in finance and accounting-focused businesses. You can learn about budgeting, forecasting, and other duties of fiscal management by working as an accountant or financial analyst. You can also consider applying for internships with businesses in the public or private sectors that can give you practical experience and information about how government accounting functions. When they begin a new position, most fiscal managers will undergo on-the-job training. The finance manager will get knowledge of the organization’s policies and practices thanks to this training. Additionally, it will assist the fiscal manager in becoming familiar with the software and computer systems they will utilize regularly. Internships are another avenue for training fiscal managers. Students will learn the fundamentals of accounting and finance during an internship. They will also pick up computer and accounting software usage skills. Students can conduct internships in a range of areas, including banking, real estate, finance, and accounting.
Step 3. Acquire certifications
Professionals can use certifications to demonstrate their qualifications to potential employers. You must pass the Certified Public Accountant exam to practice as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Your understanding of accounting concepts and procedures will be evaluated in the first computer-based test of the exam. The essay portion of the examination, which makes up the second part of the exam, gauges how well you can put those ideas into practice in practical circumstances. Each state has its prerequisites for passing the test. Before they can take the test, candidates must have finished specific educational requirements according to some states. Others might mandate that before taking the test, applicants must have held a particular job for a specific amount of time. Although not all employers demand certifications, they can still be a useful addition to a professional’s résumé.
Where to Work as a Fiscal Manager
Fiscal managers are mostly employed in Finance and Insurance, Accounting, Tax preparation and bookkeeping, Credit Intermediation, Management of Companies and Enterprises, Security and Commodity contracts, and Computer and Peripheral equipment manufacturing. They can work for a private business or government agency, wherever there is money to be managed. Fiscal managers typically work in an office environment, and they may need to travel to meet with clients or attend conferences. They usually work full-time and may occasionally work extra time to meet deadlines or to deal with unforeseen financial issues.
Fiscal Manager Salary Scale
The salary scale of a fiscal manager can vary depending on some important factors such as their level of education, years of experience, the employer, and the company. They may also earn extra compensation in the form of bonuses. The average salary of a Fiscal Manager in the United States is $65,120, but the salary range typically falls between $57,859 and $74,421 per year. Working as a Fiscal Manager in the United Kingdom, you can earn between £27,000 and £109,000, and about £59,257 on average. The salaries of Fiscal Managers in Canada range from $38,613 to $187,200, with a median salary of $117,990 per year. A Fiscal Manager in Nigeria typically earns around 7,570,000 NGN per year. The salary ranges from 3,860,000 NGN to 11,700,000 NGN per year.