What kind of brain/thinking is necessary in Finance?

[Pyramidsurf]

Quants need high math skills. You're average Ibanker or corporate finance analyst doesn't require high mathematical ability just some quantitative skills in algebra mostly. You need to be able to think and see the big picture when managing money. Kind of an "if then" type of brain. The most successful people I know in the field are outgoing and personable. Some of the worst are the math geniuses who sit there and talk about how smart they are because they can do some obscure math problems.

[mkpunk]

Finance requires math skills (beyond adding, subtracting, multiplication and division), some accounting knowledge (for getting the right causes for income statements), forecasting (some math, some stats, some trend analysis), as well as some personal skills to talk to customers and/or other employees.

[joeymags]

There are so many different components in finance / banking that both would be able to find a position that suites their strengths. I guess the most basic requirement is just being comfortable with numbers.

I work at an investment bank. My function uses very little complicated math. The guys right next to me are all the quants with phd's and have a very difficult time communicating. But numbers are there thing.