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Financial Managers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $166,570 Median per year · $80.08/hr Most earn $94,310–$323,270

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Communicate with stockholders or other investors to provide information or to raise capital.
  • Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of workers in branches, offices, or departments of establishments, such as branch banks, brokerage firms, risk and insurance departments, or credit departments.
  • Oversee training programs.
  • Evaluate financial reporting systems, accounting or collection procedures, or investment activities and make recommendations for changes to procedures, operating systems, budgets, or other financial control functions.
  • Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of workers in branches, offices, or departments of establishments, such as branch banks, brokerage firms, risk and insurance departments, or credit departments.
  • Develop or analyze information to assess the current or future financial status of firms.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
10% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 65,600 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Credit intermediation and related activities13.3%
  • Management of companies and enterprises9.9%
  • Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities8.1%
  • Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services7.0%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals2.9%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Financial Manager is not an entry-level job. Most people earn a bachelor's degree, then spend about 4 to 6 years in other finance roles before moving into this one, so the full path often takes around 8 to 10 years from starting college.

  1. Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or economics

    4 years

    You build the core knowledge in money, banking, and business that every later step relies on.

  2. Credit Analyst

    1-2 years

    You learn to judge whether people and businesses can repay loans, which teaches you how to read financial statements closely.

  3. Loan Officer

    2-4 years

    You work directly with clients and decisions, gaining experience in managing risk, budgets, and money decisions for others.

  4. Financial Manager

    Ongoing

    You plan, direct, and coordinate the financial activities of a branch, office, or department, using the experience you built in earlier roles.

Where it can lead

  1. Treasurer or Controller

    8-10 years of experience first

    You take charge of an organization's overall financial reporting, cash, and risk planning, which requires a broad record of leading finance work.

  2. Investment Fund Manager

    8-10 years of experience first

    You make investment decisions for a fund, which usually calls for a master's degree and a strong track record in investing.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math classes, especially algebra, statistics, and precalculusStrong math skills make college finance and accounting courses much easier.
  • Join a business, finance, or investing clubClub projects like running a mock stock portfolio build real money-management habits.
  • Enter a business or math competitionCompetitions show you how to solve problems under pressure and look good on college applications.
  • Get a starter job that handles moneyWorking as a cashier or in a shop teaches you to count, track, and be responsible with money.
  • Learn to use spreadsheetsExcel or Google Sheets skills are used in almost every finance job, and many free school resources teach them.

In college

  • Major in finance, accounting, or economicsThese majors give you the knowledge that the Bachelor's degree requirement for this career asks for.
  • Pursue a finance or accounting internshipHands-on experience at a bank, firm, or company is one of the best ways to get your first finance job.
  • Join a finance or investment clubClubs let you practice analysis and teamwork, and they often connect you with professionals and recruiters.
  • Work a campus job in an office or financial aid officeCampus jobs build professional habits and show you how budgets and money flow through an organization.
  • Earn a spreadsheet or financial software certificationA certification shows employers you can handle the data tools used in day-to-day finance work.

Tips for getting started

  • Take statistics, accounting, and economics classes early, since they show up in almost every finance job.
  • Look for internships or part-time work in banks, credit unions, or accounting offices so you can see how financial decisions are made.
  • Practice explaining money topics clearly, since financial managers must present plans and numbers to people who are not finance experts.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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