How to Build a High-Performing Finance Team

What are the essential steps to create a high-performing finance team that drives value across the business?

To build a high-performing finance team, finance leaders must go beyond hiring for technical skills. The best teams combine financial expertise with emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and cross-functional collaboration. By fostering a growth mindset, encouraging development, and aligning with broader business goals, finance leaders can transform their team into a proactive, trusted partner that fuels company-wide performance.

Why Is a High-Performing Finance Team Essential to Business Success?

The finance function no longer sits quietly in the background—it’s at the core of decision-making, risk management, and strategy. A high-performing team is one that contributes far beyond compliance and reporting. It partners with HR, IT, and operations, influences investment decisions, and steers the organization through volatility.

According to FLG Partners and Trullion, the most successful finance teams are dynamic, tech-savvy, emotionally intelligent, and aligned with the company’s strategic goals. They move fast, adapt to change, and create measurable impact across departments.

What Are the Foundations of a High-Performing Finance Team?

To elevate your finance team from functional to transformational, focus on these foundational pillars:

1. Recruit for More Than Just Technical Skill

While accounting expertise and analytical ability remain essential, great finance professionals today also bring:

• Business acumen
  
• Communication skills
  
• Cross-functional collaboration
  
• High emotional intelligence (EQ)
  

This blend of traits enables the team to work effectively across the organization and influence outcomes.

2. Foster a Growth Mindset and Learning Culture

Encouraging ongoing learning and development is non-negotiable. High-performing teams invest in:

• Training and certifications
  
• Exposure to cross-functional projects
  
• Room to take initiative, learn from mistakes, and try again
  

✅ Tip: Lead by example. When senior finance leaders demonstrate continuous learning, they inspire their teams to do the same.

3. Create a Feedback-Rich Environment

Feedback drives clarity, improvement, and trust. Make it a habit to:

• Celebrate wins publicly
  
• Offer specific feedback for growth
  
• Set clear expectations and development paths
  

This approach promotes accountability and motivates excellence.

What Soft Skills Should Finance Leaders Prioritize?

A high-performing finance team is as strong in people skills as it is in numbers. Here’s what sets top teams apart:

Skill	Why It Matters
Emotional Intelligence (EQ)	Enables team collaboration, adaptability, and conflict resolution
Strategic Communication	Helps finance translate insights for non-finance audiences
Cross-Departmental Influence	Builds trust with stakeholders across HR, operations, and product
Problem-Solving Mindset	Encourages initiative and agility in a fast-changing environment

According to Indeed, finance departments with high EQ perform better, communicate more clearly, and contribute more meaningfully to the broader business.

How Can Technology Boost Finance Team Performance?

Leveraging the right technology is a game-changer for team efficiency. The best tools help automate repetitive tasks and free up time for strategic work. Consider:

• Cloud-based reporting platforms
  
• Workflow automation for approvals and expenses
  
• AI-driven spend analysis
  
• Integrated dashboards for real-time forecasting
  

✅ Tip: Don’t just adopt tech—train the team to use it effectively. Empower them to build insights, not just reports.

What Makes a Finance Team Truly Collaborative?

Collaboration doesn’t happen by accident—it must be designed. Encourage your finance team to:

• Align closely with other departments
  
• Understand business-wide goals
  
• Participate in company-wide initiatives
  
• Develop shared KPIs with key stakeholders
  

As Paystand and Eide Bailly note, successful finance teams don’t operate in silos. They’re embedded into the strategic heartbeat of the business.

Final Thought
A truly high-performing team blends technical excellence with emotional intelligence, collaboration, and innovation. By investing in people, systems, and culture, finance leaders can create a team that’s not just effective—but indispensable to the business.

Ready to Build a High-Performing Finance Team?

GrowCFO offers advanced tools, on-demand training, and strategic frameworks to help you lead and develop a top-tier finance team.  

Gain access to expert-led training, strategic tools, and practical templates designed for modern finance teams. Explore GrowCFO Premium Membership and start transforming your team today.

Or take it a step further and put your team through a culture development experience with our Thyrvv program.