Recently, we explained what you can do with a degree in finance, why it is a great industry to start a career in, and why finance is so important to modern businesses.

Here, we’ll outline how to get one of the most desired jobs in the industry, the role of financial manager. 

This post will help both beginners and industry veterans understand the best way to become financial managers, providing you with all the information you need to launch or advance your career in the field.

We’ll discuss what you’ll be doing in this exciting role, why you’d want to become a financial manager, what sort of education you will need to get hired, and why you should pursue your degree online instead of in person.

If you have a passion for analyzing financial statements, valuing assets, and leading teams to drive financial performance, then you should think about pursuing a career as a financial manager.

After you’ve learned everything you need to know about becoming a financial manager, fill out our information request form to get more information about our 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and our Master’s Degree in Finance, which are the perfect programs for anybody looking to get a job as a financial manager.

If you’re ready to get started, submit your application today.

What Do Financial Managers Actually Do?

Financial managers play an important role in overseeing financial departments, solving problems, and producing key financial reports.

As a professional financial manager, your typical daily tasks and responsibilities may include:

  • Preparing financial statements, business reports, and various forecasts to ensure business objectives are being met.
  • Analyzing market trends, reviewing assets and securities, and determining possible investment options that will produce targeted returns while mitigating risk.
  • Reviewing various financial reports and statements to find ways of reducing costs and improving margins.
  • Monitoring specific financial details and reporting regulations to ensure financial compliance is maintained at all times.
  • Leading employees within the financial department to accomplish overall strategic goals.

Clearly, the role of a financial manager demands a great deal of expertise in a variety of complex areas, which is why you aren’t likely to achieve this position without first putting in the time to develop the required knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to succeed in this complicated line of work.

The best way to prepare yourself for the challenges and problems you will face in this role is to gain comprehensive financial training, and the best way to receive that is by completing a finance degree program.

Is Becoming a Financial Manager a Good Career Option?

Yes, this is a great career choice for anyone who enjoys working with financial data and making important strategic decisions.

Why should you consider getting a job as a financial manager? Below are three convincing reasons to think about entering the industry:

  • Financial managers are highly respected and valued individuals at every organization, as they are responsible for ensuring the financial health of the company and direct investment capital.
  • Financial managers are extremely well-paid. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), their median annual wage was $131,710 as of 2021.
  • Demand for financial managers is growing incredibly fast, with the BLS forecasting employment of financial managers will grow 17% between 2020 and 2030.

If you do decide to pursue a career as a financial manager, then one of the best ways to succeed at that objective is to complete an accredited Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, or a Master’s Degree in Finance if you’re looking to land a role in management or at a more senior level.

Financial managers carry a large amount of responsibility, and getting a degree in finance will give you the confidence needed to make the sorts of complex, difficult decisions required of this challenging role.

Do I Need a Degree to Get a Job as a Financial Manager?

It may be possible to get a job as a financial manager without a formal education, but that seems an unlikely prospect.

According to the BLS, the typical entry-level education requirement for a job as a financial manager is a bachelor’s degree, and many of the best jobs in the industry may also want candidates with a master’s degree.

Getting your degree in a related field, such as a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, is the best way to prepare yourself for the complex tasks and challenges you will face working in the industry, and it’s also the best way to make yourself more marketable for competitive roles.

To further enhance your marketability and improve your job prospects, consider getting a Master’s Degree in Finance, which will help qualify you for more senior, leadership-oriented positions.

As a financial manager, you will be asked to help lead the organization’s business strategies, so getting your degree and the knowledge, skills, and abilities that come along with it should be considered as a necessary step in the process of qualifying yourself for a successful career in this field.

Which Degree Should I Get?

You should get the degree that suits your personal career goals and which aligns with your expectations about the type of job you’re looking to achieve.

To help decide whether a bachelor’s or master’s degree is right for you, start by reviewing your current academic qualifications, background and experience working in finance, and long-term career goals.

To make the decision easier, you’ll probably want to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance if you don’t already have a bachelor’s degree (in any topic), and you should probably choose a Master’s Degree in Finance if you’ve already got a bachelor’s (again, in any field).

If you’re having any trouble deciding whether a bachelor’s or master’s degree is right for you, feel free to reach out to one of our enrollment counselors who can help you make the right decision.

What Can I Do With a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance?

Getting your Bachelor’s Degree in Finance will give you the building blocks needed to begin a professional career in finance, and will open the door to multiple excellent jobs, including:

Of course, this is just a very small selection of the many jobs you can get after earning your Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, as the skills you’ll develop during your degree program will prepare you for all sorts of other positions in finance, business, and other related fields.

A bachelor’s degree will give you the knowledge, skills, abilities, and academic credentials needed for most entry-level, and some mid-level positions in finance, but if you’re looking to get a senior-level role or a job in management, then you’ll want to consider obtaining a master’s degree.

What Can I Do With a Master’s Degree in Finance?

Completing your Master’s Degree in Finance gives you the educational background needed to pursue higher-level positions in finance, including the role of financial manager, as well as other jobs that require sophisticated skills and abilities, like:

Upon finishing your Master’s Degree in Finance, you will have the qualifications, comprehensive skills, and abilities needed to lead financial teams and help businesses achieve important financial objectives.

If your goal is to become a leader within the financial industry, then earning your Master’s Degree in Finance may be the ideal way to get started on achieving that objective.

Is a Degree in Finance Really Worth It?

Absolutely! Earning a degree in finance is the single best way to prepare for a successful career in the industry.

A degree in finance will open new doors of employment and make you a more attractive job candidate, which is extremely important in this highly competitive industry.

Finance-related jobs can be highly technical in nature, and the most efficient way to gain the experience and knowledge needed to understand the technical aspects of roles in this field is to earn your degree in finance.

While completing a degree in finance may require hard work and dedication, the opportunities it will create for you should be well worth it.

If you’re serious about becoming a financial manager, then there’s no better way to prepare for the role than completing a degree in the field.

Should I Get My Degree in Finance Online?

Yes, you can and should choose to get your degree in finance online at CSU Global. 

We’re a regionally accredited and highly respected online university, and our 100% online programs are the perfect way to get your degree without having to sacrifice other commitments, like work and family responsibilities.

Our online finance programs were designed to offer as much flexibility as possible, but they also include other excellent benefits, like:

  • No requirements to show up at set times or in physical locations.
  • Monthly class starts.
  • Accelerated courses. 

These benefits are perfect for anyone who already leads a busy life, but who wants to obtain new higher education credentials to help jumpstart or advance their career in finance. 

If you’re worried that you don’t have the time to earn a degree, but you want to launch a career as a financial manager, then make sure to review our convenient, flexible, and entirely-online programs.

Why Should I Study Finance at CSU Global?

Our fully online Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree programs in Finance will provide you with everything you need to become a financial manager, including the confidence, skills, and foundational knowledge required to succeed in this challenging role.

Both of our finance programs are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and our master’s program is also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Reasons to Choose our B.S in Finance Program

Our Bachelor’s Degree in Finance will train you in all the essential financial principles you need to become a successful finance professional, including:

  • How to create accurate financial models.
  • How to properly value assets and securities.
  • How to analyze various financial risks.
  • How to utilize financial strategies and forecasting methods.

Completing our Bachelor’s Degree in Finance program will ensure that you’ve developed all of the skills and abilities needed to enter this competitive industry with confidence.

Reasons to Choose Our M.S in Finance Program

Our Master’s Degree in Finance dives even deeper into more advanced finance topics, ensuring you’re provided with detailed training, knowledge, and skills needed to manage financial teams and departments.

This program will help you develop strong analytical skills while also preparing you for the types of advanced leadership positions held by financial managers.

Our M.S. program holds several excellent rankings, including:

  • A #1 ranking on 25 Best Online Master’s in Finance for 2020, Best Masters Programs.
  • A #1 ranking on Best Online Master's in Finance Programs of 2022, Intelligent.
  • A #6 ranking on Best Online Finance Degree Programs of 2022, Intelligent.

This program’s graduates also report excellent results from the job market, with alumni reporting a median salary that is 6% higher than the national average for all master’s degree holders (BLS, 2019).

Furthermore, you can count on your degree earning the respect of potential employers, as CSU Global itself holds several impressive rankings, including:

  • A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges & Schools in Colorado from Best Accredited Colleges.
  • A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges in Colorado from Best Colleges.
  • A #10 ranking for Best Online Colleges for ROI from OnlineU.

Finally, we offer competitive tuition rates and a Tuition Guarantee to ensure that your tuition rate won’t increase as long as you remain enrolled as a student with us. 

To get additional details about our 100% online, fully-accredited Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, or our Master’s Degree in Finance please give us a call at (800) 462-7845, or fill out our Information Request Form. 

Ready to get started today? Apply now!