Should Finance Teams Hire for Creativity Over Technical Skills?

Finance departments have traditionally prioritized technical skills and analytical rigor when hiring. But with the rise of AI and automation handling rote number-crunching, should they now hire for creativity over technical proficiency? This paradigm shift is controversially debated.

Proponents argue creative thinkers bring fresh perspectives that identify unseen risks and opportunities - something algorithms miss. They believe the ability to think imaginatively and “connect the dots” in nonlinear ways is now more valuable than technical modeling skills, which software can replicate. Hiring creative finance professionals future-proofs teams.

However, critics counter that technical expertise is still crucial. Finance cannot be guided by “flights of fancy” and requires concrete analytical skills. Technical knowledge of accounting, financial modeling, regulation, and data analysis should remain priorities when evaluating candidates, along with demonstrated critical thinking skills.

As usual, the truth likely lies somewhere in between. Here are three ways finance leaders can balance both perspectives:

• Seek a diversity of strengths when hiring, including both technical and creative capabilities. Well-rounded teams fuse perspectives.
• Prioritize creative thinking and problem solving during interviews by asking candidates thought-provoking questions that gauge imagination.
• Provide training on integrating creativity into analysis. Teach techniques like reframing problems, brainstorming scenarios, and synthesizing innovative but data-driven solutions.

The future of finance will require both disciplined analysis and visionary creativity. As technology handles routine technical work, human finance professionals should focus on asking thoughtful questions, connecting dots, and envisioning possibilities. Finance leaders who value creative and critical thinkers will build teams that thrive in the face of disruption.

Technical skills provide the foundation, but creative skills illuminate the path forward. Rather than an either/or approach, hiring for both is key. Finance teams that cultivate creationalytics - the combination of creativity and analytics - will flourish.

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