Source: Adobe Stock.
Have you ever considered that your automation tools could help you with career advancement? 54% of CFOs say that championing an automation project has helped with their career progression. This is a good nudge for business leaders to consider how finance automation, and automation in general, can help with both their progression and that of their employees.
So, how can an automation project help with career progression?
Regardless of the department the project is being implemented in, or the chosen tool, leading an automation project builds important negotiation and management skills.
There are various stages involved in bringing in a new system, from initial research and fact-finding calls with vendors, to ensuring it’s a success in the long term; and all these stages require unique skill sets.
Choosing the right tool
DiviPay recently surveyed 500+ CFOs, and asked what the biggest challenge is when they want to automate an area of finance. The number one response was being able to find the right technology to meet their needs.
This highlights the challenges associated with sourcing tech, and it gives professionals who have run previous automation projects an edge. Having contacts in the technology industry, and knowing who to talk to when a need for automation arises can give an employee an advantage over other candidates when looking for opportunities to progress.
Negotiating a good deal and business buy-in
Being able to present cost efficient solutions for automation challenges shouldn’t just be finance’s concern, it should be a consideration for anyone in a business wanting to implement a new tool. But some people are more comfortable with negotiations than others. Working with vendors to attain the best package possible builds important skills that employees can carry into other areas of their work.
Negotiation skills may also be needed for internal discussions. 20% of CFOs surveyed by DiviPay said that their C-suite peers don’t agree with them about finance automation. This highlights that anyone wanting to champion an automation project should hone their skills of persuasion, and be ready to present an airtight business case for new tech.
Project managing the implementation
Most employees at small to medium sized businesses don’t have the luxury of a project management team ready to lead on implementing a new tech tool. This will fall to the manager who championed the software and their team. Viewed with the right attitude, this situation is actually a great opportunity.
Building project management skills, and perhaps even pursuing formal qualifications in this area, increases an employee’s intrinsic value to an organisation. Their project is more likely to be a success if it’s well planned and executed, and they’ll be able to advise on other projects too. Project management skills are never wasted.
The tech market and software implementation projects are advancing exponentially. For business leaders who struggle to find time and resources to manage automation projects, the opportunity to build skills and pave the way for career progression shouldn’t be downplayed. To find out more about overcoming automation challenges, read: ‘Automating Finance: Wins, challenges, and what’s next’
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Weel (Previously DiviPay) is the leading corporate card and spend management platform in Australia, enabling finance teams to better manage, control and streamline spending across their organisation. Weel’s easy-to-use web and mobile apps come with instant virtual cards, bill pay, spend controls and budgeting, a real-time transaction feed, powerful accounting integrations and subscription spending. Businesses have used its platform to process over $250 million in transactions.
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