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Finance Shared Services Careers: Opportunity or End Game?

Core Content

This document explores the evolving perception and career opportunities within finance shared services (FSS) and global business services (GBS) models. It presents findings from a survey of over 260 shared services leaders and insights from interviews with industry professionals, highlighting how these roles are becoming a viable, long-term career path rather than a temporary or limiting step.

Key Findings

• Shared Services as a Career Choice: Shared services roles are increasingly viewed as an attractive career option, not just a rotation or a stepping stone to retained finance roles. Over 71% of respondents plan to continue in shared services or GBS roles later in their careers.

• Career Opportunities:

  • Over 45% of respondents see a long-term career in shared services as a development opportunity.
  • 36% believe shared services help broaden management skills beyond finance.
  • 44% feel it allows them to work more broadly across the business.
  • Almost 50% expect to continue in shared services in their next roles.

• Satisfaction Levels:

  • Over 60% of respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with their shared services roles.
  • Managers and those in GBS roles report higher satisfaction than non-managers, likely due to broader opportunities and visibility.

• Skills Development:

  • Shared services roles require more than just finance and accounting expertise; they demand a range of business and soft skills such as influencing, communication, change management, and customer-centric thinking.
  • Technical skills like process improvement are important at all levels, but management and strategic skills become more critical as one progresses.

• Qualifications and Training:

  • Professional qualifications (e.g., ACCA) are seen as essential at mid-management and above.
  • University degrees are often a prerequisite for entry-level shared services roles.

• Career Challenges:

  • Despite the growing maturity of shared services, many organisations still do not have formal career paths that include shared services.
  • Only 11% of respondents were assigned to shared services leadership roles without choice, indicating that it is increasingly a voluntary career move.
  • There is a perception that shared services is a "transaction factory" and not a strategic function, which can limit its appeal to some professionals.
  • Mobility between shared services and retained finance is not always seamless, and the shared services brand can be a barrier to attracting top talent.

Main Points

• Shared Services as a Strategic Function: The role of shared services is shifting from a back-office function to a strategic, innovation-driven center, especially with the integration of technology such as automation and AI.

• Career Path Evolution: The traditional career path from finance roles to CFO is becoming less linear. Shared services now offers a viable and attractive alternative, particularly for those interested in broader business exposure and innovation.

• Leadership and Development: Shared services leaders are gaining recognition for their strategic impact and are seen as valuable contributors to business value creation. They are developing skills in influencing, communication, and change management, which are crucial for career progression.

• Employer Strategies: Some organisations are beginning to institutionalise shared services career paths, enabling movement between shared services and retained finance. This is helping to break down the perception that shared services is a dead-end.

Conclusion

The finance shared services model is evolving, offering more than just transactional support. It is becoming a dynamic and strategic function that supports innovation, efficiency, and broader business engagement. As a result, shared services careers are no longer seen as a short-term or limiting move, but rather as a long-term, valuable career path that can lead to senior leadership roles and provide significant personal and professional development opportunities.