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To boost your career in a fast-paced environment you must take control and strategically map your career path. It is your responsibility to plan for your future.

Planning your career should be approached in much the same way as you would prepare a business plan for an organisation. You map the direction you want to go and detail how you propose to get there. Success means different things to each of us.

You must decide on your own personal goals and be clear about what you wish to achieve. Set out your priorities in a formal way remembering to include those aspects of your personal life that will be impacted by the career decisions you make.

Career Mapping

You can then track and chart your development and analyse any gaps in your skills and experience that might impede your progress. Self awareness is key. Know your strengths and weaknesses and use this knowledge when planning your training and upskilling. For ICAI members, the new online tool, My CPD Manager, will assist you with this process. Focus initially on the development of your core skills as this will help you to play to your strengths. Then you can move on to develop skills and knowledge in other new areas. Be aware of trends and demands in the market and link your learning and training with these developments. This will help to boost your chances of success and will make you more marketable.

Communication Skills

To get the best results from your efforts it is important to develop your communication skills, both written and verbal. This can be key to successfully navigating the hierarchy in your organisation.

Focus on building relationships and breaking down the communication barriers that can often exist between finance and non finance functions.

To be an effective communicator you must learn to listen. Understanding what is going on around you will keep you on top of the key projects and developments planned by the organisation. Also, remember that it is a very small world. Do not burn any bridges or create enemies that can come back to haunt you! Let it be known that you want to progress. If you don’t ask you won’t get! Be tactical in your approach:

Document your achievements and where you have added value in recent months. Be aware of your performance and how it compares with that of your colleagues. To get promoted you often need to show that you have already been performing the duties of the role.

Management Style

If you are seeking a career at management level then you must develop your individual management style. To understand your style, ask others to describe it to you. This will help you be accurate in your own assessment. Be consistent in the application of your style. Make it one of your defining characteristics and trademarks. Try to command authority and respect. The days where control is the main aspect of a manager’s role are gone. Inspire others and lead by example. Seek the help of other professionals. Do not be afraid to admit that you need further training and development in people or leadership skills. The art of good management is continuous development over time.

In a management role your success is inextricably linked to the success of your team. One of your objectives should be to get team buy-in and make sure they understand their individual goals and targets. You will be more successful with a strong team behind you. You can not do it all on your own. Time invested in the development of your team will reap rewards for you. If you make a mistake, take responsibility and admit it. If your team makes a mistake, this is also your responsibility. Offer support and mentoring and, where possible, show leadership. Be sure to pass on credit and praise to your team as this will help to motivate them. Recognition of a job well done is often appreciated more than financial rewards.

Time Management

Being an effective time manager is a prerequisite for all roles. Learn to prioritise and to analyse what you are doing on a day to day basis. Think strategically and ask yourself ‘is this the best use of my time?’ Very often you can seem very busy but when you analyse what it is you are doing, what you have achieved, and what the benefit will be, the results are not reflective of your efforts. Learning to delegate effectively will help you manage your time more effectively.

When prioritizing, don’t be afraid to say ‘no’ or suggest an alternative timeframe. When you do agree a deadline, make sure you meet it. Increasing your profile To position yourself for future promotion you should build and increase your personal profile and network. Make yourself known within your industry and discipline. Write articles for relevant publications and trade magazines and attend seminars and conferences. These activities will help to bring you to the attention of the decision makers, prospective future employers and headhunters.

It is equally important to increase your visibility internally within an organisation. Volunteer for highprofile projects, take the initiative in relation to improvements and make suggestions. This will help to ensure that when a job comes up you are the first person they think of.

Innovation

When you reach the level of finance manager/controller it is usually taken for granted that you can manage the day to day aspects of the finance function effectively. As a finance professional, an organisation will look to you to be commercial and deliver a strategic input. You must have the ability to see the ‘big picture’.

Learn all you can about the company and the sector. Learn to be creative and innovative and to generate ideas. You will have to foster an entrepreneurial spirit and flair. The best route to the next level is by adding value and contributing to the overall business and bottom line. Many companies are now including a significant bonus element in the remuneration packages for executives that reflects their contribution to the overall growth of the business. This can be as much as 50% of basic salary.

Overview

The career mapping and planning process is something you should engage in throughout your career. It is a work in progress. Keeping your career on track takes hard work, persistence, focus and determination. There will be setbacks along the way which you will have to accept. It is important that you learn from them.

We are all human so be sure to take time out for relaxation and holidays as you will find that you are more effective when you take regular breaks. You know how the saying goes ‘All work and no play …’

Karin Lanigan is Careers Advisory & Placement Executive at The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.