Financial Manager
Financial managers create financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.
What the job is
- The work
- Financial managers create financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.
BLS
Financial Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Financial managers work in many industries, including banks, investment firms, and insurance companies. Most financial managers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
BLS
Financial Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- People who are strong with numbers and detail and want to lead an organization's money decisions.
- Career cluster
- Management & Entrepreneurship
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (financial managers).
- Median pay
- $166,570 a year ($80.08 an hour)
BLS
Financial Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 879,700
- Typical entry
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- Training after hire
- None
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +10%, which BLS calls "much faster than average"
BLS
Financial Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +84,900 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- 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.
BLS
Financial Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- In short
- Financial managers typically need a bachelor's degree in business, economics or a related field and 5 years or more of experience in another business or financial occupation. CPAs are licensed by their state board; other certification is optional.
- License
- CPA only if the job needs it
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
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StateChoose a state
- AlabamaState guide
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- West VirginiaState guide
- WisconsinState guide
- WyomingState guide
Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Financial manager: bachelor's degree and 5+ years in accounting, analysis or another finance job
See the roadmap
Route 1: Degree → 5+ years in a finance job → manager · Route 2: Accountant → CPA license → financial manager
More careers in Management & Entrepreneurship
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 20 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.