The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
From Senior Manager, Strategic Finance (internal)
3-5 years as a Senior ManagerSkills to master
- Mastering end-to-end ownership of a major finance process (e.g., LRP, capital planning), consistently delivering high-quality outputs, and demonstrating strong informal leadership and mentorship.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led a complex, cross-functional strategic finance project from inception to completion.
- Consistently exceeded performance expectations in your current role, with strong peer and leadership feedback.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop junior team members, with clear examples of their growth.
- Proactively identified and solved significant financial problems, showing initiative beyond your core responsibilities.
- 2
From Finance Director (smaller organisation)
3-6 years as a Finance Director in a smaller, high-growth company.Skills to master
- Adapting to a larger, more complex organisational structure, learning to influence in a matrix environment, and scaling your strategic finance capabilities to a global context.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully built and scaled a finance function in a high-growth environment.
- Managed a full P&L and presented to a board of directors.
- Demonstrated experience in strategic decision-making (e.g., fundraising, M&A, market expansion).
- Ability to articulate how your experience translates to a larger, more structured corporate environment.
- 3
From Investment Banking / Corporate Development VP
10-15 years in Investment Banking or Corporate Development, reaching VP level.Skills to master
- Transitioning from advisory to operational finance, building and leading an internal team, and adapting to the longer-term strategic horizons of corporate finance vs. deal-by-deal focus.
You're ready to move on when
- Extensive experience in M&A, valuation, and complex financial modelling.
- Strong client management and presentation skills, adaptable to internal stakeholders.
- Demonstrated interest in building and growing a long-term career within a corporate finance function.
- Ability to lead and develop a team, shifting from individual contributor excellence to managerial impact.