Requirements

Financial manager or director - requirements

As a financial manager or director, you’ll be responsible for financial planning, delivering financial reporting and contributing to corporate finance policy. Read on to find out more about working as a financial manager and director, what it might involve and what you can do to get a role.

Know what you'll need to land a job below.

What qualifications do you need to be a financial manager or director?

Financial managers and directors can train in a range of subjects but a degree in one of the following subjects will be especially useful:

Entering the field without a higher-level degree is possible through a graduate training scheme in accountancy, for example, or studying at a further education level with bodies like the ACCA or the IFA. Many financial managers will work towards chartership as an accountant or financial adviser.

Please note this is a beta version. We'll continue to improve our suggestions here so that we show you the most relevant subjects.

Do you need a postgraduate qualification to be a financial manager or director?

Getting a postgraduate qualification in a subject like finance, economics or business management will help you stand out to employers and work towards chartership.

You might consider postgraduate courses such as:

Accounting and finance
Professional accounting
Accounting and financial management
Financial management
International financial management
Charity accounting and financial management

What skills do you need to be a financial manager or director?

Your ability to make decisions and perform under pressure will make you valued as a financial manager, along with excellent financial and technical knowledge.

Hard skills usually include:

Finance and financial services
Banking and commerce
Investment principles
Risk and issue analysis
Financial regulations
Accounting
Auditing

Soft skills include:

Managing people
Managing processes
Working under pressure
Leading and influencing
Attention to detail
Highly organised
Presenting

Do you need work experience to be a financial manager or director?

Work experience is an important way to build expertise and compete with other applicants in an increasingly competitive field. You could get experience through placements offered with your university course, internships, work experience between your studies or through a graduate training scheme with a larger employer. Significant experience in the sector is usually needed to get a management role.