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Banking & Commercial Lending
JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo
Financial Managers
Financial managers decide where money should go, whether that means setting budgets, guiding investments, or weighing new business opportunities. The work is distinct because it mixes analysis with authority: you are expected to maximize returns or control costs without crossing risk limits, compliance rules, or investor expectations.
Also known as Finance ManagerManager of FinanceCorporate Finance ManagerFP&A ManagerFinance Operations Manager
Median Salary
$161,700
Mean $180,470
U.S. Workforce
~819K
74.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+14.8%
868.6K to 997.4K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ 5 years or more experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Financial Managers sits in the Finance category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~819K workers, with a median annual pay of $161,700 and roughly 74.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 868.6 K in 2024 to 997.4K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or business, and employers typically expect 5 years or more of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Financial Analyst and can progress toward VP of Finance / CFO. High-value skills usually include Microsoft Excel, Financial Modeling & Valuation, Bloomberg Terminal, FactSet & Capital IQ, and Anaplan, Adaptive Planning & FP&A Systems, paired with soft skills such as Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, and Active Listening.
Core Responsibilities
- Put together investor packets, fund documents, and other materials used to explain a financing or investment plan.
- Set the rules for where money will be invested and adjust those rules when the business outlook changes.
- Review whether a new product, service, or market is worth pursuing before leadership commits money to it.
- Hire team members, review staff performance, and make decisions about who should stay on key projects.
Keep exploring: more Finance careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Put together investor packets, fund documents, and other materials used to explain a financing or investment plan.
02 Set the rules for where money will be invested and adjust those rules when the business outlook changes.
03 Review whether a new product, service, or market is worth pursuing before leadership commits money to it.
04 Hire team members, review staff performance, and make decisions about who should stay on key projects.
05 Meet with clients, investors, or executives to talk through goals, returns, and risk tolerance.
06 Track how investments and financial operations are performing, and keep up with tax and regulatory changes that could affect them.
Industries That Hire
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Asset Management & Investment Funds
BlackRock, Vanguard, Fidelity
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Insurance
MetLife, Progressive, Prudential Financial
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Technology & Software
Microsoft, Salesforce, Adobe
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Healthcare & Managed Care
UnitedHealth Group, HCA Healthcare, CVS Health
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is strong: the median wage is $161,700 and the mean is $180,470, so experienced managers can earn well above many other office-based roles.
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Growth is solid: employment is projected to rise 14.8% from 2024 to 2034, with 128.8K added jobs and about 74.6K annual openings.
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The skills transfer across industries, so someone with finance experience can move between banks, insurers, tech companies, healthcare systems, and investment firms.
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You get real decision-making authority over budgets, investments, staffing, and compliance instead of only producing reports for someone else.
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The career ladder is clear, and many workers build into the role with a bachelor's degree, then strengthen their path with experience or a master's degree.
Challenges
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This is not a true entry-level career: BLS says the typical worker needs 5 years or more of experience before stepping into the role.
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The job carries high pressure because bad calls can affect returns, cash flow, or compliance, and those mistakes can be expensive.
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The work is tied to market swings and rule changes, so priorities can shift quickly when interest rates, regulations, or investor sentiment move.
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Some of the routine tracking and reporting can be automated by finance software and AI, which pushes managers toward higher-level judgment and leaves less room for simple number-crunching.
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Senior finance jobs are limited compared with analyst jobs, so the path upward can get crowded once you reach the management level.
Career Progression
Financial Analyst
0-3 years
$65K-$89K
Builds reports, models, and budgets for a manager or director and learns how different parts of the business affect cash, risk, and performance.
Senior Financial Analyst
3-6 years
$90K-$124K
Owns larger forecasts and more complex analysis, often advising leaders on spending, pricing, and investment choices.
Financial Manager THIS ROLE
7-12 years
$135K-$179K
Leads a finance function, sets priorities for the team, and makes decisions that balance growth, compliance, and risk.
Director of Finance
12-18 years
$180K-$239K
Oversees multiple finance teams or business units and works closely with executives on strategy, capital planning, and performance targets.
VP of Finance / CFO
15+ years
$240K-$400K
Sets the financial direction for the organization, represents finance in the C-suite, and answers for major investments, funding, and risk decisions.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or business
The most common entry point, held by 48.32% of workers in this role.
Master's degree, often an MBA or finance master's
A major route, held by 31.78% of workers, often after a few years in analyst or planning roles.
Post-baccalaureate certificate in finance, risk management, or accounting
A smaller path, used by 8.33% of workers, usually to sharpen a specific finance specialty after a bachelor's degree.
Bachelor's degree plus CFA, CPA, or another finance credential
This is a practical alternative for experienced candidates who want extra credibility; it often builds on the bachelor's route that accounts for 48.32% of workers.
Key Skills
Technical
Microsoft Excel, Financial Modeling & Valuation 88%
Bloomberg Terminal, FactSet & Capital IQ 85%
Anaplan, Adaptive Planning & FP&A Systems 83%
SEC, FINRA & Regulatory Reporting 82%
Power BI, Tableau & Financial Dashboards 79%
SAP, Oracle NetSuite & ERP Systems 76%
Soft Skills
Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem Solving Job Outlook and Trends
+14.8%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
74.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 868.6K to 997.4 K over the next decade, representing 14.8% growth. Around 74.6 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.