You have your sights set on a prosperous career in the finance world. Maybe you’re already working in a business role and are ready to advance. Or perhaps you’re just looking for a lay of the land so you can start planning your first steps. Either way, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with the different finance job titles you could land one day.
Not everyone will reach the rank of chief financial officer, but there are plenty of other upper-level finance job titles seasoned professionals can set their sights on. With the proper education and experience under your belt, you can start climbing the corporate ladder to one of these impressive finance careers.
5 Finance job titles for experienced professionals to consider
We used real-time job analysis software to examine more than 275,000 finance job postings from the past year.1 The data helped us determine the most common finance job titles available to professionals with at least three years of experience in the field.
Keep reading to learn more about the opportunities. You may find your future finance job title in this list.
1. Financial analyst
As a financial analyst, you’ll dive deep into business trends, company resources and investment opportunities in order to guide the business toward smart financial decisions. You’ll also interact with company officials to better understand your organization’s prospects and recommend investments.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that more and more companies are looking for financial analysts who have a global perspective and can understand the culture, language and business environment of the country or region they cover.2 This worldly focus makes sense—globalization has led to businesses with operations on multiple continents and businesses need analysts who understand the challenges and opportunities this presents.
Projected employment growth (2016 – 2026): 11 percent (faster than average)2
How to become one: Companies typically require a bachelor’s degree in Finance or a related field. The more advanced ranks may also call for a master’s degree.2
2. Financial branch manager
These financial managers oversee the financial activities of employees in a branch or department of an establishment, such as a brokerage firm, a bank, insurance division or a credit department. You’ll need to maintain relationships with individual or business customers and provide assistance with problems they may encounter.
As a financial manager, you’ll also be responsible for recruiting staff members, evaluating data and planning budgets, and preparing operational or risk management reports for management analysis.
Projected employment growth (2016 – 2026): 15 percent (much faster than average)2
How to become one: Most financial branch managers have a bachelor’s degree in a finance-related field. Due to the leadership aspect of the role, you’ll likely be expected to have at least five years of experience in the field and some employers will be seeking master’s-qualified candidates to fill these roles.2
3. Accountant
Accountants are responsible for preparing and examining financial records for accuracy and ensuring that taxes are paid properly and on time. This level of insight into an organization’s finances will also allow for you to assess financial operations and find inefficiencies to cut, helping improve the organization’s bottom line.
Accounting positions can range from entry-level to advanced. Roles and responsibilities can increase as you increase your level of experience or acquire additional credentials. Esteemed job titles within the accounting realm include: Certified Public Accountant, Accounting Supervisor and Certified Management Accountant.
Projected employment growth (2016 – 2026): 10 percent (faster than average)2
How to become one: Most accountants will need a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Earning credentials, such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) will show specialized expertise to help you stand out and land more advanced positions.2
4. Controller
As a controller, you’ll manage the accounting operations of an organization to oversee financial reports, forecast the company’s financial position and maintain a set of controls and budgets designed to mitigate risk and ensure the accuracy of the company’s reported finances.
You’ll help develop internal policies and procedures and may supervise employees performing financial duties. Controllers also play an important part in keeping an organization’s financial reporting in line with generally accepted accounting principles and other regulatory standards.
Projected employment growth (2016 – 2026): 15 percent (much faster than average)2
How to become one: You’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics or business management. Depending on the position you’re pursuing, it may also be beneficial to pursue professional certifications like Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or the Certified Treasury Professional credential after completion of a bachelor’s degree program.2
5. Financial examiner
Financial examiners enforce and ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial institutions. You’ll be responsible for inspecting important information to help organizations avoid financial crisis. A keen eye for detail and deep knowledge of laws and regulations are needed to ensure companies are adhering to the necessary guidelines.
In this role, you’ll prepare and review reports relating to an organization’s financial conditions, ensure legality of transactions and operations, and recommend actions to protect solvency of institutions. You may also be required to attend routine meetings with bank directors, trustees, senior management, accountants or consultants to discuss findings.
Projected employment growth (2016 – 2026): 10 percent (faster than average)2
How to become one: Financial examiners typically need a bachelor’s degree in a finance-related field. In order to be qualified for senior-level positions, you may need to earn a master’s degree or become a CPA.2
Forecasting your future in finance
Now that you’ve examined a few of the finance job titles available to experienced professionals, you should have a better understanding of your potential career path in the finance industry. After acquiring some field experience, you should start to get a feel for which areas interest you.
If you can picture yourself landing one of these finance job titles, it’s time to start planning out your next steps. Learn more about the importance of the proper training in our article, “Is a Finance Degree Worth It? 4 Factors Impacting Your Finance Career Forecast.”
1 Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 277,932 finance job postings by experience, Jul. 01, 2018 – Jun. 30, 2019).
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [accessed July 2019] www.bls/gov/ooh/. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in 2016. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2019.
