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You used to work for a smaller organization. Now you’ve landed a finance job with a large company. You obviously want to make a good first impression and ramp up quickly. Here are a few insights that will help you succeed in your new role.
Stakeholders
Smaller companies often have 2 or 3 stakeholders with whom you have to connect. In larger organizations there will likely be multiple people (potentially internally and externally) who will rely on you for information. It’s critical, therefore, to identify the key stakeholders, how they like to receive information and begin to build relationships as quickly as possible.
Systems
Larger companies are by nature more complex than smaller organizations. As tech demands increase for accounting and finance professionals, that complexity is likely to manifest itself in multiple systems. Determine how you’ll source the information you need to do your job well. In addition, get insight from your manager about how your role fits into the company’s big picture.
Read this blog to gain insight into the increasing tech demands for accountants.
Communicate Value
Helping others understand what you do and its value (especially cross-functional connections) enables you to identify quick wins and areas where you can be of service. This helps you position yourself as a business partner and resource. It also improves the overall relationship of the finance department to other business units.
Demonstrate Initiative
Take the initiative to identify a process in need of improvement. Develop a plan to re-engineer it. Present the plan to your manager. Taking the initiative like this has the potential to make your team’s life easier. It also shows that you are invested in the role and committed to continuous improvement.
For more tips on how to show initiative without seeming overeager read this article.
Identify a Mentor
Whether you’re a junior accountant, or CFO everyone can benefit from having a mentor. Ideally your mentor would be someone in a higher-level role within your organization. They would have a positive reputation for facilitating change and model the behaviors you’d like to develop in yourself. Mentors can be a sounding board, an advocate and a source of valuable information.
Read: “Mistakes Millennials Make When Approaching a Mentor” for tips on how to avoid sabotaging a relationship with a potential mentor.
Key Takeaways
To succeed in a large company try to understand who the relevant stakeholders are. Determine how they prefer to receive information and how you’ll source it. Ask your manager to explain how your role connects to the big picture to help you do your job well. Identify a process in need of improvement and develop a plan to create positive change. Most importantly, perhaps, identify a mentor who can be a sounding board and a guide through the challenging waters of office politics.
Your Next Step
No one should walk the job search or hiring road alone. At Clarity Recruitment we help others realize their success through a process that marries proprietary technology with unwavering commitment. Contact us today to take control of your career, or to partner with us to hire well.
Clarity Recruitment, connecting exceptional people with remarkable companies.