What You'll Do

  • Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
  • Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.
  • Analyze operations to evaluate performance of a company or its staff in meeting objectives or to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement, or policy change.
  • Direct, plan, or implement policies, objectives, or activities of organizations or businesses to ensure continuing operations, to maximize returns on investments, or to increase productivity.
  • Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs.
  • Direct or coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.
  • Negotiate or approve contracts or agreements with suppliers, distributors, federal or state agencies, or other organizational entities.
  • Review reports submitted by staff members to recommend approval or to suggest changes.
  • Appoint department heads or managers and assign or delegate responsibilities to them.
  • Direct human resources activities, including the approval of human resource plans or activities, the selection of directors or other high-level staff, or establishment or organization of major departments.

Essential Skills

Judgment and Decision Making 4.75/5
Critical Thinking 4.38/5
Complex Problem Solving 4.38/5
Speaking 4.25/5
Coordination 4.25/5
Systems Evaluation 4.25/5
Management of Financial Resources 4.25/5
Management of Personnel Resources 4.25/5
Reading Comprehension 4.12/5
Writing 4.12/5
Social Perceptiveness 4.12/5
Negotiation 4.12/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.

Common styles

Leadership, Initiative, Persistence, Analytical Thinking, Achievement/Effort

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 4.62/5
Oral Expression 4.5/5
Written Comprehension 4.25/5
Speech Clarity 4.25/5
Written Expression 4.12/5
Deductive Reasoning 4.12/5
Problem Sensitivity 4.0/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.0/5

Technologies & Tools

Adobe Acrobat AdSense Tracker Atlassian JIRA Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge ComputerEase construction accounting software Database reporting software Databox Email software Enterprise resource planning ERP software Exact Software Macola ES Labor Performance Extensible markup language XML Fund accounting software Graphic presentation software Halogen e360 Halogen ePraisal HCSS HeavyBid HCSS HeavyJob Human resource information system (HRIS) Infor SSA Human Capital Management Intuit QuickBooks

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Leadership (High importance: 4.97/5)
  • Initiative (High importance: 4.85/5)
  • Persistence (High importance: 4.76/5)
  • Analytical Thinking (High importance: 4.7/5)
  • Achievement/Effort (High importance: 4.69/5)

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How to Become One

This career requires extensive preparation, typically including a graduate degree (Master's or Doctoral) and several years of experience. Most professionals in this field have invested significant time in education and training.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Aeronautics Commission Director Agency Owner Agricultural Services Director Arts and Humanities Council Director Bank President Bureau Chief Business Development Executive (BD Executive) Business Development Officer (BD Officer) Business Enterprise Officer Business Executive CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Chief Information Officer (CIO) Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Chief Innovation Officer (CINO) Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Chief Technical Officer (CTO) Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Chief Warden Commissioner Consumer Affairs Director Corporate Executive Correctional Agency Director County Commissioner County Executive Director Deputy District Customs Director Deputy Insurance Commissioner District Customs Director Employment Research and Planning Director Employment Services Director Executive Director Executive Officer Executive Vice President (EVP) Finance Vice President (Finance VP) Financial Institution President Financial Responsibility Division Director Foundation Director Government Service Executive Health Commissioner Highway Commissioner Hospital CFO (Hospital Chief Financial Officer) Institution Director Insurance Commissioner Internal Revenue Commissioner Labor Commissioner Labor Standards Director Law Enforcement Director Licensing and Registration Director Liquor Commissioner Liquor Stores and Agencies Supervisor Media Executive Medical Facilities Section Director Music Executive Nonprofit Director Operations Vice President (Operations VP) Police Commissioner President Private Sector Executive Public Health Director Public Works Commissioner Public Works Director Railroad Commissioner Regulatory Agency Director Relocation Commissioner Road Commissioner Safety Council Director State Assessed Properties Director Tax Commissioner Unemployment Insurance Director Water Commissioner Welfare Director