How to Climb the Corporate Ladder in a Finance Department

Climbing the corporate ladder in a finance department isn’t just about crunching numbers or being the smartest person in the room. It’s about strategy, relationships, timing—and yes, a bit of patience. If you’re someone who’s early in your finance career (or even midway through), you might be wondering how to stand out, grow, and ultimately reach leadership roles like Controller, CFO, or beyond.

I’ve worked with dozens of professionals who have made that journey, and while everyone’s story is a little different, the themes tend to be the same. Here’s a breakdown of what really matters—and what might surprise you.

1. Master the Fundamentals First

Before you even think about promotions or career moves, make sure you’re excellent at the basics. Whether you’re handling reconciliations, budgeting, forecasting, or financial reporting, your job needs to be rock solid.

Early in my career, I worked under a senior analyst who was a wizard with Excel but couldn’t explain what her numbers meant in a meeting. Meanwhile, a junior staffer—fresh out of school—wasn’t nearly as fast in spreadsheets, but he could talk about financials like a seasoned vet. Guess who got promoted first?

 Tip: Focus equally on technical skills and communication. You need both.

2. Become the Person Who Solves Problems

Let’s be real—every company has messes: broken processes, outdated systems, people who don’t communicate. If you want to move up, make it your job to quietly (or not-so-quietly) fix things.

I remember a colleague named Ryan who, during the year-end close chaos, stayed an extra hour every day to build a cleaner system for tracking journal entries. No one asked him to do it, but when the Controller noticed how smooth things ran the next cycle, Ryan was fast-tracked for promotion.

 Tip: Be observant. Look for pain points. Solve something that helps the team, not just you.

3. Speak Up in Meetings (Even When It’s Scary)

This one’s tough for introverts, but it’s crucial. If leadership doesn’t hear your voice, they won’t think of you as leadership material.

You don’t need to dominate meetings—just contribute meaningfully. Ask a clarifying question, summarize a financial insight, or suggest a way to approach an issue. The key is to show that you’re engaged and thinking strategically.

 Real Talk: The loudest person doesn’t always get promoted—but the invisible one rarely does.

4. Build Relationships Across Departments

Finance doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Whether it’s sales, operations, marketing, or HR—your job touches all of them. The more cross-functional understanding you have, the more valuable you become.

A turning point in my career was when I shadowed a few folks from the operations team. I started understanding how our financial reporting impacted their decisions—and vice versa. When a management position opened up, I already had a reputation as someone who could “bridge the gap.”

 Pro Tip: Grab lunch or coffee with someone from another department once a month. You’ll learn and build allies.

5. Ask for Feedback—Then Actually Use It

This one stings sometimes. Nobody loves hearing what they could do better. But those who invite feedback (and take it seriously) improve faster than those who just “wait to get noticed.”

I once asked my manager what would hold me back from a promotion. Her answer? “You’re great at data—but I don’t see you mentoring anyone.” That hit hard—but she was right. I shifted my focus that quarter, started helping junior analysts, and guess what? That next performance review looked a lot better.

 Warning: Don’t ask for feedback if you’re not ready to act on it. Growth can be uncomfortable.

6. Develop a Personal Brand Within the Company

You don’t need to be an influencer, but you do need a reputation. Are you known as the Excel guru? The calm one during budget season? The person who explains complex things clearly?

Whatever it is, lean into it. Your brand will often precede you in leadership discussions—and if no one can describe what you’re “great at,” it’s harder to advocate for you.

 Reflection Exercise: Ask three coworkers how they’d describe your work style or strengths. If their answers don’t align with what you want to be known for, it’s time to shift how you show up.

7. Stay Curious—and Keep Learning

Finance isn’t standing still. Whether it’s automation tools, evolving compliance rules, or new business models—things are always changing. You don’t need to chase every trend, but staying curious shows that you’re future-focused.

A friend of mine recently took a course in data visualization—just for fun. A few months later, her company needed someone to help make reports more “exec-friendly.” Guess who they tapped?

 Try This: Pick one new skill each year to learn. Doesn’t have to be huge. Small edges add up.

8. Know When It’s Time to Make a Move

Sometimes, you’ve done everything right—but the ladder is blocked. Maybe your boss isn’t leaving anytime soon. Maybe promotions are political. It happens.

When that’s the case, it’s okay to look elsewhere. Lateral moves can become upward moves in the right context. Don’t stay stuck out of loyalty to a job that isn’t growing with you.

 Mantra: Be loyal to your growth, not just your employer.

9. Have Patience—With Strategy

Not every year will be a promotion year. That’s normal. The key is to play the long game: keep building skills, relationships, and wins that make you undeniable.

It’s a bit like investing—consistency beats flashes of brilliance. Be known as someone who delivers, year after year, and the ladder will get shorter.

Final Thoughts

Climbing the corporate ladder in finance doesn’t require a magic formula—but it does take intentional effort. Be reliable. Be strategic. Be human. And above all, remember that leadership isn’t just a title—it’s how you show up for your team and your company every day.