Are Finance Professionals missing a trick?

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” - a popular attitude that’s often valid. Often, but not always because the approach says “wait until there’s a problem”, rather than “be prepared for when, or in case, in case a problem arises”.

In the context of your career, and your next step, the “it ain’t broke” mindset can become “I’ll wait until I’m unhappy”.

But who wants to recruit an unhappy candidate? And who makes the right career decision when they’re not only unhappy, but facing a limited choice of next steps?

Here's a more deliberate approach. While you're settled, before anything is "broke", ask yourself three questions:

1. Where do I want to be in two years? Controller? FD? Delivering broader and deeper commercial input?

2. What's missing from my CV to get me there? Systems experience, team leadership, a board-level audience?

3. Can I get what I want where I am now?

If the answer to the last one is yes, brilliant. Go and get it, and tell your boss you want it.

If it's no, you've just bought yourself two years to plan properly. That means building your network, keeping your CV current, and having a few quiet conversations before you need them.

The people who make the best moves rarely look desperate. They look prepared, because they are.

I talk to plenty of finance professionals who aren't looking for a job. Those are often my favourite conversations.

Where do you want to be in two years, and does your current role get you there?