A finite directed category is a k-linear category with finitely many objects and an underlying poset structure, where k is an algebraically closed field. This concept unifies structures such as k-linerizations of posets and finite EI categories, quotient algebras of finite-dimensional hereditary algebras, triangular matrix algebras, etc. In this paper we study representations of finite directed categories, discuss their stratification properties, and show the existence of generalized APR tilting modules for triangular matrix algebras under some assumptions.