How to become a Financial Manager
Official title: Financial Managers
Also called: Accounting Supervisor, Banking Center Manager (BCM), Branch Manager, Business Banking Manager, Credit Administration Manager, Credit Manager, Financial Center Manager, Financial Planning Manager, Financial Reporting Manager, Financial Systems Manager
Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.
Main tasks
- Establish and maintain relationships with individual or business customers or provide assistance with problems these customers may encounter.
- Oversee the flow of cash or financial instruments.
- 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.
- Recruit staff members.
- Evaluate data pertaining to costs to plan budgets.
- Oversee training programs.
How to become one
Financial managers typically need a bachelor's degree and 5 years or more of experience in another business or financial occupation, such as accountant , securities sales agent , or financial analyst .
Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Bank Branch Manager.
- College: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US
- Licence: A licence is required in 13 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $166,570 a year The middle half earn $125,490 to $219,980.
- About 879,700 people work in this job now, and about 964,600 are projected by 2035. (+9.7%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Related jobs
- Treasurers and Controllers
- Investment Fund Managers
- Administrative Services Managers
- Facilities Managers
- Security Managers
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Financial Manager?
Financial managers typically need a bachelor's degree and 5 years or more of experience in another business or financial occupation, such as accountant , securities sales agent , or financial analyst .
How much does a Financial Manager earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $166,570 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $125,490 to $219,980.
Is a Financial Manager a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 879,700 to about 964,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Financial Manager?
Usually. 65% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Financial Manager?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.