Financial management refers to the acquisition, financing and
management of assets. This decision-making process is very
sensitive and must be under the control of a Financial Manager to
analyze external and internal variables that can affect the normal
development of company activities.
Role of the Financial
Managers in the decision-making process can be
divided into four main areas:
- Investments: in the investments area, the
Financial Manager is responsible for defining the optimal size of
the company. In this regard, it is important to have a market study
in place and be clear on the objectives that the company needs to
meet. It is important to have properly studied the demand,
technology and equipment, financing methods and human resources
available.In second place, the director must analyze whether the
resources adapt to the optimal size desired for the company. If
they don’t, it is necessary to define the types of assets that the
company must acquire, or otherwise sell or get rid of, in order to
achieve efficient management.
- Financing: defining a financing strategy is
essential to the continuity of the business over the long term.
Access to financing is closely related with maintaining a constant
inflow of capital since the savings margin will not allow
operations to continue for much longer without the support of
additional liquidity. The Financial Manager must define several
aspects of the financing strategy. For example, study the sources
willing to offer credit to the organization, and define the best
financing options for operations. The Financial Manager can also
design a mixed financing strategy for efficient financial
management: this is called the company’s “financing mix”. Sometimes
the company can benefit from a combination of short and long term
financing to meet investment and financial strategy objectives.
- Asset management: asset management is one of
the main aspects for a company to adequately meet its obligations
and in turn to position itself to meet the objectives or growth
targets that have been laid out. In other words, the Financial
Manager must stipulate and assure that the existing assets are
managed in the most efficient way possible. Generally, this manager
must prioritize current asset management before fixed asset
management. Current assets are those that will become effective in
the near future, such as accounts receivable or inventories. By
contrast, fixed assets lack liquidity since they are needed for
permanent operations. This includes offices, warehouses, machinery,
vehicles, etc.
- Dividend Policy: one of the most important
financial decisions that a Financial Manager must make is related
to the company’s dividend policy. It concerns how much of the
company’s earnings will be paid out to shareholders. Specifically,
it is necessary to determine if generated earnings will be
reinvested in the company to improve operations or if they will be
distributed among shareholders. It is also possible to choose a
mixed policy in this regard, distributing a part among shareholders
and investing the rest in the company. However, if the dividends
distributed are too high, the company may encounter limitations to
expand or improve the management of its operations. It is important
to consider that in order to have growth perspectives over the long
term, short term reinvestments are necessary.
Hence,it can be said that these will be considered as Investment
decisions and influences reporting results.