How Important Is Your Systems Experience In Finance
One of the most common questions we get asked is whether system experience is essential to landing a role in finance. The honest answer? It depends.
It is not always about knowing a specific platform, but rather how confident, competent, and adaptable you are when working with systems. However, below is a rough guide which I hope might help you.
Excel Still Reigns Supreme
Regardless of what systems a business has in place, Excel continues to be a core tool in finance. It underpins so much of the analysis, modelling, reporting and reconciliation work we see in both commercial and technical roles.
What matters is not just saying you know Excel. Employers want to see that you are confident using it for real-world tasks. That might include building financial models, writing formulas, handling large data sets or presenting insights clearly. We regularly hear hiring managers say they need someone who can “just get on with it in Excel,” and that is not going to change any time soon.
ERP Experience Can Be a Big Advantage
In larger businesses, candidates with experience using ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Dynamics, Workday or NetSuite often stand out. These systems typically come with structure, process and a clear audit trail, which means employers know you have worked in a controlled and scalable environment.
However, it is not always about which ERP system you have used. Many of the skills are transferable. If you understand how to navigate a large finance system, extract data, run reports and support process improvements, that experience will carry across to other platforms.
Breadth Matters in Smaller Businesses
In SMEs, employers are often looking for someone who can wear a few hats. You might be using Sage or Xero for day-to-day processing, helping set up workflows or even getting involved in choosing or implementing new software.
In these cases, it is more about your ability to take ownership of systems, adapt quickly and keep things running smoothly. Being known as the person who can fix things, find answers or spot gaps is a real asset.
The Rise of Data and BI Tools
Commercial finance roles are increasingly demanding more from data. Power BI, Tableau and similar tools are being adopted more widely, and candidates who are comfortable working with data beyond Excel often have an edge.
You do not need to be a technical specialist, but being able to interpret data, build dashboards or ask the right questions is becoming more valuable. The focus is shifting from simply reporting numbers to using them to drive decisions, shape strategy and tell a clearer story.
AI Tools
It is also absolutely fine to use tools like ChatGPT or similar AI platforms to support your learning and improve the way you work. Whether you are trying to automate a repetitive Excel task, better understand a reporting process, or figure out how to clean up data more efficiently, these tools can be a helpful starting point. The important thing is to use them with intention. They should not replace your understanding, but enhance it. We are seeing more candidates use AI to explore smarter ways of working, and in many cases, it has helped them bring fresh thinking and new efficiencies into their teams.
So, How Important is System Experience?
In short, it is very important, but not necessarily in the way people think. It is less about ticking off brand names and more about demonstrating how you use systems to add value.
If you can show that you are confident with data, able to learn new platforms quickly and comfortable working across different tools, that goes a long way. It also tells a hiring manager that you will not need hand-holding on day one.
If you are unsure how to position your experience, or whether it lines up with what employers are looking for, feel free to get in touch. We are always happy to help you frame your skills in the right way.