The job description for a financial due diligence professional might seem straightforward enough: analyze financial statements, identify risks and opportunities, and provide insights to clients. But in reality, the job can be much more complex and challenging than that. For one thing, financial due diligence professionals need to have a deep understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting standards, and regulatory compliance requirements. They also need to be able to analyze complex financial data quickly and accurately, and provide actionable recommendations to clients based on that analysis. Financial due diligence professionals should be able to clearly articulate complex financial and accounting concepts to clients in a simple manner. 

When working on an M&A deal, timelines can be short and financial due diligence professionals and having to manage several work streams at once. In addition, you may be working on multiple deals at the same time. As a result, these professionals must be very organized and have the ability to prioritize their tasks as well as communicate progress with the team. 

Another challenge of financial due diligence is that the scope of the job can vary widely depending on the industry, the size and complexity of the company being analyzed, and the specific goals of the investor or client. This means that financial due diligence professionals need to be flexible and adaptable, able to quickly shift gears and adjust their approach depending on the specific circumstances of the project.