In modern organisations, the finance function is no longer limited to bookkeeping and reporting. It has evolved into a strategic, technology-led, risk-aware operation that sits at the centre of business performance. At the heart of that evolution is Financial Operations, often referred to as FinOps, a discipline focused not just on transactional accuracy but on operational excellence, compliance, automation, cash performance, and strategic enablement.
As expectations continue to rise, the role of the Finance Operations Manager has become one of the most critical leadership positions within the finance organisation. And with that shift comes a need for stronger, more standardised professional development—something the Certified Finance Operations Manager (CFOM) credential is designed to address directly.
What Is Financial Operations?
Financial operations is the end-to-end management of the processes, controls, and systems that support the financial health of an organisation. It sits between traditional accounting, shared services, and strategic finance, ensuring that every financial transaction flows accurately, efficiently, and compliantly through the business.
Financial operations typically covers seven core domains:
- Governance & Compliance
Ensuring strong internal controls, SOX compliance, policy adherence, and audit readiness across the finance function. - Accounts Receivable (AR)
Optimising cash flow through effective billing, collections, credit management, and customer account governance. - Accounts Payable (AP)
Managing supplier payments, preventing fraud, supporting cash-flow planning, and ensuring accurate expenditure control. - General Ledger (GL) & Financial Close
Overseeing journal entries, reconciliations, period end activities, and accurate financial reporting. - Finance Technology & ERP Systems
Ensuring the finance tech stack—ERP, workflow tools, automation—is accurate, integrated, and well-controlled. - Strategic Leadership
Driving process optimisation, cross-functional alignment, team development, and operational strategy. - Advanced Treasury & Audit Governance
Supporting liquidity management, risk mitigation, treasury controls, and external audit coordination.
In practical terms, financial operations is the execution layer of the finance organisation, ensuring that every transaction, every control, and every process runs as designed—accurately, efficiently, and compliantly.
What Are the Key Objectives of Finance Operations Managers?
Finance Operations Managers sit at the intersection of compliance, process, technology, and people leadership. Their objectives are both operational and strategic, and no two days look the same.
Here are the most important goals of a high-performing Finance Operations Manager:
1. Maintain Strong Financial Governance
A core responsibility is ensuring that internal controls are designed effectively, executed consistently, and monitored properly. This includes:
- SOX compliance
- Segregation of duties
- Risk assessments
- Policy standardisation
- Audit preparation
Governance excellence forms the foundation for trust in the financial statements.
2. Deliver an Accurate and Efficient Month-End Close
Finance Operations Managers oversee the processes that feed into the general ledger:
- Reconciling accounts
- Posting journals
- Validating transactions
- Ensuring cut-off accuracy
- Managing close timelines
Their objective is to deliver a close that is timely, accurate, and well-controlled.
3. Protect and Optimise Cash Flow
Cash is one of the most important assets in any organisation. By managing AR and AP operations effectively, Finance Operations Managers:
- Accelerate collections
- Reduce disputes
- Strengthen credit management
- Improve supplier relationships
- Optimise payment cycles
This makes Financial Operations a major contributor to working capital performance.
4. Make Finance Processes Scalable and Efficient
Finance Operations Managers constantly seek to:
- Reduce manual work
- Automate repetitive tasks
- Improve workflow design
- Remove bottlenecks
- Standardise procedures across teams and regions
Their objective is to create a high-performing, low-risk, scalable operation.
5. Ensure Data Integrity and System Accuracy
With finance heavily dependent on ERPs and integrated systems, ensuring data accuracy is essential. Finance Operations Managers:
- Manage user access
- Oversee configuration
- Support system audits
- Lead automation or ERP enhancement initiatives
They act as the operational owners of the financial systems landscape.
6. Provide Cross-Functional Leadership
Finance touches every corner of the organisation. Operations Managers collaborate with:
- Procurement
- Sales
- Customer service
- Treasury
- IT
- Senior finance leadership
Their objective is to remove friction between teams and enable smooth financial processes.
How Does Earning the CFOM Certification Help Achieve These Objectives?
The Certified Finance Operations Manager (CFOM) designation was developed to professionalise the role, align competency expectations across organisations, and equip leaders with the knowledge they need to excel.
Here’s how CFOM directly supports the success of Finance Operations Managers:
1. It Establishes a Recognised Standard of Excellence
Finance operations is a complex, multidisciplinary field. CFOM provides a structured framework that validates mastery across:
- Governance
- Compliance
- AR/AP operations
- General ledger
- Technology management
- Strategic leadership
- Treasury and audit
This gives employers confidence that certified professionals meet a consistent, high benchmark.
2. It Strengthens Decision-Making and Applied Judgement
The certification goes beyond theory. It includes:
- Scenario-based questions
- Process simulations
- Workflow ordering questions
- Practical governance assessments
These build real-world decision-making capability—critical in a role that deals with exceptions, escalations, and risk exposure daily.
3. It Deepens Mastery of Governance & Compliance
Because governance is weighted most heavily in the exam, CFOM ensures managers can:
- Design effective controls
- Manage risk proactively
- Build audit-ready processes
- Implement segregation of duties
- Document and monitor compliance
This strengthens organisational financial integrity.
4. It Builds Operational Leadership Capability
CFOM covers not only the “what” of finance operations, but the “how”:
- Team leadership
- Change management
- Stakeholder communication
- Process redesign
- Strategic alignment
This prepares Finance Operations Managers to operate confidently at a leadership level.
5. It Equips Managers to Lead Technology Transformation
CFOM includes training on:
- ERP governance
- Workflow design
- Automation strategy
- Data integrity
- Reporting and dashboards
In an era where finance operations are increasingly digital, this capability is essential.
6. It Accelerates Career Growth and Recognition
Earning CFOM signals:
- Professional commitment
- Advanced technical capability
- Leadership readiness
- Operational expertise
This can support progression into roles such as:
- Finance Operations Director
- Controller
- Shared Services Lead
- Global Process Owner
- Head of Financial Reporting
It also enhances credibility with audit teams, stakeholders, and senior leadership.
Final Thoughts
Financial operations is the backbone of the finance organisation—responsible for ensuring accuracy, compliance, efficiency, and cash performance. As the function grows in complexity, the Finance Operations Manager plays an increasingly strategic role.
The CFOM certification enables professionals to meet these challenges with confidence, equipping them with the frameworks, skills, and recognition needed to lead modern finance operations teams effectively.
