Financial Director Career Path
How To Become a Finance Manager
A finance manager oversees their company's financial health, ensuring that it operates as efficiently as possible. If you are math-minded and solutions-oriented, a career as a finance manager may be right for you. In this article, we discuss the steps required to become a finance manager.1
Earn a Bachelor's Degree
A career as a finance manager begins with a four-year degree. Pursue a bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, finance, economics, or another related field. Typical undergraduate courses include microeconomics, macroeconomics, business law, and accounting.
What skills do you need to be a Finance Manager?
- Excellent Communication
- Degree IN Finance
- Leadership
- GAAP
- Audit
- Enterprise APPLICATION Integration
- Strategic Thinking
- Microsoft EXCEL
2
Participate In an Internship
Consider participating in a finance or accounting internship during your undergraduate years as well. Getting an internship can provide valuable work experience and help you make professional connections that can lead to full-time employment. Academic advisors, university job boards, and career fairs are great places to find internship opportunities.
3
Become Certified
Although not always required, earning a certificate in a specialty area of finance can give you an advantage over other job candidates. Certifications demonstrate your preparedness for a career in finance and help deepen your expertise in a niche subject. Most professional certifications require a year of preparation, culminating with an exam. Valuable certifications include the following:
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA): The CFA certification focuses on investments and stock analysis. To earn this certification, you must have a bachelor's degree, have a minimum of 4 years of relevant work experience, and complete three CFA exams. CFA exams include multiple-choice and essay questions. You must become a member of the CFA Institute to maintain your certification.
- Certified Treasury Professional (CTP): CTP certification is through the Association for Financial Professionals. CTP certification focuses on cash management. To take the CTP exam, you must have a minimum of two years of finance work experience or a combination of a master's degree and years of experience as a finance professor. You must become recertified every three years by paying a fee and completing 36 continuing education credits.
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA): The prerequisites for a CPA certification vary depending on the state in which you work, although most states require a bachelor's degree. To take a CPA exam, you must have 150 semester hours in accounting, finance, or related field and a state-determined number of work hours in finance. After earning your CPA, continuing education credits may be required to maintain your certification.
4
Earn a Master's Degree or MBA
Although not generally required, some employers prefer finance managers that have a master's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or business. A master's degree in finance is highly specialized and ideal for candidates with little work experience.
A master's degree in finance is not the same as an MBA. A Master's in Business Administration (MBA) program is broader in scope than a master's degree in finance, emphasizing financial expertise and management. Many MBA candidates earn their MBA while continuing to work in finance.
5
Gain Work Experience
Many companies hire financial managers from within their employee pool. This is why many finance managers begin their careers in entry-level roles such as accountants, financial analysts, or securities agents before applying for a finance manager job. Most financial managers have five or more years of on-the-job experience.
Seniority Levels
Total Pay Trajectory
Financial Director Career Path
Related Careers in the Finance & Accounting Industry
Interested in other Finance & Accounting careers? Below are occupations that have high affinity with Financial Director skills. Discover some of the most common Financial Director career transitions, along with skills overlap.