Career Details
11-1011.00 - Chief Executives
Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.
Key Facts

Tasks

Core
- Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
- Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.
- Analyze operations to evaluate performance of a company or its staff in meeting objectives or to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement, or policy change.
- Direct, plan, or implement policies, objectives, or activities of organizations or businesses to ensure continuing operations, to maximize returns on investments, or to increase productivity.
- Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs.
- Negotiate or approve contracts or agreements with suppliers, distributors, federal or state agencies, or other organizational entities.
- Review reports submitted by staff members to recommend approval or to suggest changes.
- Appoint department heads or managers and assign or delegate responsibilities to them.
- Direct human resources activities, including the approval of human resource plans or activities, the selection of directors or other high-level staff, or establishment or organization of major departments.
- Preside over, or serve on, boards of directors, management committees, or other governing boards.
- Prepare or present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting businesses or program services.
- Establish departmental responsibilities and coordinate functions among departments and sites.
- Implement corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems.
- Coordinate the development or implementation of budgetary control systems, recordkeeping systems, or other administrative control processes.
- Deliver speeches, write articles, or present information at meetings or conventions to promote services, exchange ideas, or accomplish objectives.
- Interpret and explain policies, rules, regulations, or laws to organizations, government or corporate officials, or individuals.
- Administer programs for selection of sites, construction of buildings, or provision of equipment or supplies.
- Direct or conduct studies or research on issues affecting areas of responsibility.
- Review and analyze legislation, laws, or public policy and recommend changes to promote or support interests of the general population or special groups.
Supplemental
- Direct or coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.
- Direct non-merchandising departments, such as advertising, purchasing, credit, or accounting.
- Serve as liaisons between organizations, shareholders, and outside organizations.
- Nominate citizens to boards or commissions.
- Make presentations to legislative or other government committees regarding policies, programs, or budgets.
- Refer major policy matters to elected representatives for final decisions.
- Direct or coordinate activities of businesses involved with buying or selling investment products or financial services.
- Attend and participate in meetings of municipal councils or council committees.
- Organize or approve promotional campaigns.
- Conduct or direct investigations or hearings to resolve complaints or violations of laws, or testify at such hearings.
- Represent organizations or promote their objectives at official functions, or delegate representatives to do so.
- Prepare bylaws approved by elected officials, and ensure that bylaws are enforced.
Knowledge

- 95%Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- 82%Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
- 82%Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- 81%Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- 78%Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
- 74%Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
- 68%Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- 66%Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- 65%Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- 65%Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
- 62%Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
- 54%Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
- 53%Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
- 53%Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
- 52%Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
Tools

- 10-key calculators
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistants PDA
- Smartphones
- Universal serial bus USB flash drives
Technology

- Adobe Systems Adobe AcrobatHOT
- Atlassian JIRAHOT
- AdSense Tracker
- Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
- Database reporting software
- Databox
- Microsoft AccessHOT
- Oracle Siebel Server Sync
- Relational database management softwareHOT
- Structured query language SQLHOT
- ComputerEase Construction Accounting
- Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareHOT
- Exact Software Macola ES Labor Performance
- Fund accounting software
- Intuit QuickBooksHOT
- Microsoft DynamicsHOT
- Microsoft Dynamics AXHOT
- Microsoft Dynamics GPHOT
- Microsoft FRx
- Norchard Solutions Succession Wizard
- Oracle E-Business SuiteHOT
- Oracle PeopleSoftHOT
- Sage 50 Accounting
- SAPHOT
- Email software
- Listserv software
- Microsoft OutlookHOT
- Extensible markup language XMLHOT
- PHP: Hypertext PreprocessorHOT
- Graphic presentation software
- Mentimeter
- Microsoft ExcelHOT
- Microsoft PowerPointHOT
- Microsoft Publisher
- Microsoft WordHOT
- SmugMug FlickrHOT
- Halogen e360
- Halogen ePraisal
- HCSS HeavyBid
- HCSS HeavyJob
- Human resource information system HRIS
- Infor SSA Human Capital Management
- Microsoft OfficeHOT
- Microsoft ProjectHOT
- Microsoft SharePointHOT
- Lyris HQ Web-Analytics Solution
- Nedstat Sitestat
- Online advertising reporting software
- Web browser software
Certifications

- WSO - Certified Hazardous Materials Executive106 W. Young Ave., Suite G, Warrensburg, MO 64093
- Fellow of the American College of Healthcare ExecutivesOne North Franklin, Suite 1700 Chicago, IL 60606-3529
- Court Security Executive1450 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314-3490
- Certified Economic Developer734 15th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005
- EC Council Certified Chief Information Security Officer6330 Riverside Plaza Ln NW, Suite 210, Albuquerque, NM 871201.585.240.7397
- Certified Retail Property Executives1221 Avenue of the Americas, 41st fl. New York, NY 10020-1099
- CHIME Certified Healthcare CIO3300 Washtenaw Avenue, Suite 225 Ann Arbor, MI 48104-4250
- Certified Recycling Systems - Technical AssociatePO Box 7219, Silver Spring, MD 20907-7219
- Certified Healthcare Billing and Management Executive1540 South Coast Highway, Suite 203 Laguna Beach, CA 92651
- Public Power Governance Certificate Program1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 1200 Washington, DC 20009-5715202-467-2900
Licensing

Related Programs

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
The B.B.A. degree with a major in finance requires a minimum of 120 credit hours of undergraduate course work. Fifty percent of this work, or 60 credit hours, must be taken outside of the College of Business. In counting the 60 credit hours of non-business courses, students may include all hours taken in General Education, up to a total of nine hours in economics (ECON courses must be counted as economics), and three hours of COB 191. Business Analytics I. The remaining hours, to bring the total to 60, must be taken from any department outside the College of Business. Students should carefully select these non-business electives to help them gain additional knowledge and expertise for their careers and personal lives.
Students enrolled at James Madison University who wish to change their major to finance should go to the Student Center in MyMadison to submit a request. Students must be in good academic standing to change their major to finance and, if they have taken any FIN prefix courses at the time of the change request, must meet the prerequisites for the required courses in the finance major.
Students who plan to major in finance and earn a score on the Math Placement Exam sufficient for placement into MATH 235 are strongly encouraged to enroll in MATH 235.
Required major courses provide finance majors with a foundation in financial management, investments and institutions. Electives within the major permit students to obtain an additional emphasis and explore other areas within the field of finance.
The international business major is part of the nationally recognized JMU College of Business. Most business, government, and not-for-profit enterprises operate today in a global environment. Success is more certain for those who are aware of events and cultures outside of their own. The program's goal is to equip students with the ability to work comfortably in multiple areas of the global marketplace through interdisciplinary study. International business majors take specialized courses in all the business disciplines (e.g. international accounting, international marketing) as well as courses in a foreign language.
To ensure success, competency in a second language and thorough exposure to a chosen second culture are graduation requirements. In addition, study abroad or a one semester international internship is required and must be integrated into the student's schedule. The requirements of the major are designed to allow students to choose an optional concentration in finance or marketing, and some international business majors also declare a second major such as foreign language or another business area.
Management skills are broadly applicable and our graduates go on to a wide range of professions in both the public and private sector. The major is also designed to help those thinking of starting their own business or aiding a family business. Finally, many students find the broad business training of the management major a helpful foundation for future graduate study.
The major in public administration provides students with a general foundation in the nature of public policy, the public workplace and its political, legal and managerial environments. This major prepares students for professional employment and leadership in government and nonprofit organizations. The program consists of a core of courses offering general knowledge essential for understanding and working in the public arena. This core provides students with an appreciation of the political culture and economic environment of public work, measurement techniques and a basic understanding of the policy process.
Students are offered a choice between two concentration options: public policy or public management.
In the public policy concentration students acquire knowledge of the nature, dynamics, implementation and substance of public policy and its analysis. Courses address:
- Policy processes.
- Techniques for analyzing policy options.
- The dynamics and substance of particular policy issues.
The public management concentration emphasizes management and management-related skills. Courses address:
- The legal environment of public work.
- Organization theories.
- Management theories and applications.
- Management best practices.
In addition, courses in both concentrations heighten students' critical, analytical and communication skills through case studies, exercises and the intensive writing requirement. The public policy concentration requires a senior seminar experience that seeks to bring policy theory and analytical skills to bear on a practical issue of public policy. Public management students must complete the dual capstone requirements of a public management seminar and an internship, requiring an integration of knowledge from both general studies and major studies by focusing students on specific cases and workplace applications.
Because the public administration major develops techniques and skills applicable to varied career paths in public service, students are encouraged to choose a complementary minor with a narrower, substantive focus. The minors recommended for students' consideration include criminal justice, environmental information systems, environmental management, environmental studies, family studies, gerontology, health information systems, nonprofit studies, political communication, substance abuse intervention, telecommunications, urban and regional studies, communication studies, conflict analysis and intervention, sociology, technical and scientific communication, economics, human resource development, computer science, public health and integrated science and technology.
Interested students may apply to participate in the Fifth Year Master of Public Administration degree program, which allows qualified students to earn an M.P.A. degree with one additional year of study. Students should apply for this program in their sophomore year. See the Graduate Catalog for more information.
The curriculum is designed for persons who seek employment in the accounting field or for those presently in accounting who wish to increase their knowledge and update their skills. Job opportunities include accounting trainee, accounting technician, junior accountant, and accountant.
This degree is excellent for those interested in the organization and reporting of financial data. Upon completion of the program, students can take an additional three courses for the Accounting Career Studies Certificate, and then are eligible to proceed to the CPA exam, if other education requirements are satisfied. Contact the Virginia Board of Accountancy for all education requirements.
This curriculum is designed for individuals who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree program in business administration with a major in accounting, business management, decision science and management, information systems, finance, marketing, etc.
The curriculum is designed for individuals who seek employment in business management or for those presently in management who are seeking promotion. Job opportunities include administrative assistant, management trainee, department head, branch manager, office manager, manager of small business, and supervisor.
This program is designed to prepare students to start and grow a successful small business by providing instruction in entrepreneurial culture, strategy, operations, financial management, marketing, and leadership.
This curriculum is designed for individuals who plan to seek employment in contract management positions and for those presently in contract management positions who seek career advancement. The program is designed to create opportunities for positions in contract management for both government agencies and private industry. Instruction includes both the theoretical concepts and the practical applications needed for future success in the contract management field. This will provide a greater understanding of acquisition, life cycle management, and contracting processes. Job opportunities include project manager, procurement analyst, contract administrator, contract specialist, contract negotiator, contract price analyst, and contract termination specialist.
This program is a flexible associate degree. For students who plan to transfer, the degree can parallel the first two years of a four-year bachelor of science program if they choose courses that match the transfer institution's requirements. For those students who do not plan to transfer, the degree allows them to structure a program to suit their needs using accumulated credits from a variety of formal and experiential sources.
This program is designed for individuals who plan to transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor of arts (B.A.).
A major in business offers students the opportunity to explore theories and concepts from accounting, business, and economics. Students study in an active learning environment and begin to understand and appreciate the complex nature of business organizations through applied economic theory. A major in business prepares students for a career in all business environments and provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies in such fields as business and law. The major in business requires a common core of courses plus one of three concentrations: Finance, Management, or Marketing. All courses in the core and in each concentration must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
A major in business offers students the opportunity to explore theories and concepts from accounting, business, and economics. Students study in an active learning environment and begin to understand and appreciate the complex nature of business organizations through applied economic theory. A major in business prepares students for a career in all business environments and provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies in such fields as business and law. The major in business requires a common core of courses plus one of three concentrations: Finance, Management, or Marketing. All courses in the core and in each concentration must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
The study of accounting at Randolph-Macon College provides students with the opportunity to become fluent in the language of business within the unique setting of a liberal arts education. Students study accounting in an active learning environment incorporating theories and concepts from the fields of accounting, business, and economics. They learn to understand and appreciate the complex nature of business organizations. A major in accounting prepares students for a career in all business environments and provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies in such fields as accounting, business, taxation, and law. All courses in the major and minor must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
A major in business offers students the opportunity to explore theories and concepts from accounting, business, and economics. Students study in an active learning environment and begin to understand and appreciate the complex nature of business organizations through applied economic theory. A major in business prepares students for a career in all business environments and provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies in such fields as business and law. The major in business requires a common core of courses plus one of three concentrations: Finance, Management, or Marketing. All courses in the core and in each concentration must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
Students with a baccalaureate degree who wish to pursue the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination may use specific course work toward fulfillment of accounting educational requirements. Some course work also meets federal government guidelines for those interested in qualifying for positions or promotions in the federal government. Students should consult an accounting instructor to determine the courses that meet the educational requirements.
The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree provides students with a strong foundation in accounting and business, along with general education requirements, enabling students to seek entry-level employment in accounting. In addition, the course work prepares students for certification exams.
The certificate programs provide course work that gives students the skills to sit for one or more certification exams administered by the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation (ACAT).
Students completing the A.A.S. in Management have opportunities to transfer to four-year universities to pursue B.S. degrees in Business Administration, Management, and related areas. See https://www.tcc.edu/programs/transfer/transfer-agreements/ for agreements.
Courses required for the Business Administration degree are available on all four campuses.
Courses required for the Liberal Arts degree are available on all four campuses.
Courses required for the General Studies degree are available on all four campuses.
Graduates of the maritime logistics program may enter or continue employment in the field of logistics management in maritime or traditional business environments.
Students planning to pursue a B.S. in Business Administration from a four-year college/university are advised to pursue TCC's general A.S. degree in Business Administration (plan code 213).