If your leadership skills are as good as your mathematics, analytical and decision-making skills, you might like a career in financial management. Positions as financial managers come with prestige and a high salary. They also require a lot of preparation. Before being promoted to management roles, aspiring financial managers should expect to:
- earn college degrees at multiple levels of study
- obtain licenses and certifications
- spend years gaining experience
Bachelor’s Degrees and Beyond
A college education is essential for moving up into a high-level position such as financial manager. At the bachelor’s degree level, you can choose from a variety of possible degree programs in which to major, including:
- finance
- economics
- business administration
- accounting
These are all popular programs that prepare you for the challenges of working in the field of finance and advancing in it. To earn a promotion into the role of financial manager, though, finance professionals must often hold an advanced degree, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consider degree programs like:
- master’s in finance
- master’s in economics
- master’s in business administration (MBA)
These programs further improve your skills in analyzing financial information and using different methods and software for financial analysis.
Experience and Qualifications
At a management-level position, work as a financial manager of any type is not open to entry-level candidates. Most financial managers begin their careers in the field in positions such as:
- accountants
- auditors
- financial analysts
- loan officers
- securities sales agents
They remain in these roles for at least five years, learning the field of finance and proving their abilities. Licenses and professional certifications are required or recommended for some of these positions. They can help aspiring financial managers show their commitment to the field of finance and achieve their ascent up the corporate ladder.
Types of Financial Managers
There are several types of financial managers who specialize in different aspects of financial management, such as:
- credit managers
- cash managers
- risk managers
- insurance managers
- treasurers
- finance officers
Each manager oversees specific processes that range from credit-rating practices to hedging to protect against potential risks.
If you’re specifically seeking a career with high earning potential, a position as a financial controller might be of interest. Financial controller is the number-one top paying job for students who decide to major in business. Experienced professionals earn a median annual salary of $82,000. Controllers work for organizations. They prepare financial reports such as:
- balance sheets
- income statements
- predictions of future revenue and expenses based on analyses of the organization’s current finances and on industry trends.
Though the path to becoming a financial manager is not quick or easy, the position can be rewarding financially and otherwise. If you’re willing to earn an advanced college degree and prove your skills over years of work in the field of finance, you may have what it takes to become a financial manager.
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