The service of providing funds or capital for commercial or private reasons comes under the umbrella term Finance. It is also a branch of economics that studies the management of money and other assets. It can be also defined as the management of funds and capital required by a business and private activities. Management of finance has also developed into a specialized branch within the financial sector and is carried out by finance managers.



Simply put these managers arrange money to be lent to businesses or private individuals using either money already available from company accounts or from external lenders. The simple process of optimization is used to receive the most from these funds by reducing the cost of arranging the finance whilst at the same time ensuring returns are high.

The fact is that it governs most of the worlds activities and poor finance management will immediately show up as conditions deteriorate in procurement, production and sales as it affects every sphere of business activities. The finance manager's job is to maximize profits whilst keeping the risk to a minimum so you can understand why there is a high level of stress associated with this work.

One of the most famous management gurus Lee Iacocca referred to finance managers as Bean-Counters who almost look at the expense part with a rather pessimistic view. Finance managers are people who always like to see where they have been and do not look towards the future in the same way that a sales manager does. For most small business owners there is not a clear distinction between personal and business which often leads to the funds being used in areas that are not part of the arrangement. When money is lent under these circumstances, lenders feel quite aggrieved as they have lost control of where the money is being invested.

Although resisting the tendency to use funds this way may dampen someone's enthusiasm in the short term, it will focus the attention of the borrower and perhaps instill more discipline in the future. Fortunately, small businesses can always use the more approved methods of friends or relations to help provide finance. However, finance managers are in the position of making money for their company so out sourcing their lending can help increase their profits. The famous comedian Bob Hope best summed up the subject when he once said; a bank is a place that will lend you money but only if you can prove that you don't need it.