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Finance Manager Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

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A Finance Manager, or a Head of Finance, manages the financial health of an organization to promote success and growth while complying with legal and financial practices. Common duties you might list in a Finance Manager job description include making financial decisions, analyzing company finances and enforcing regulatory compliance.

Finance Manager duties and responsibilities

Finance Managers typically advise companies on how to increase profits through financial practices. They do this by monitoring all financial-related transactions and practices while staying current on financial laws and regulations.

You might include the following duties and responsibilities in your Finance Manager job description:

  • Compiling financial data, creating reports and analyzing the financial health of the company
  • Overseeing the finance department, including personnel matters for department managers
  • Managing company budgets and establishing budget guidelines for all departments
  • Forecasting company finances and creating financial models
  • Identifying ways for the organization to cut costs and increase profits
  • Assessing financial risks
  • Enforcing policies and procedures that keep the company in compliance with financial regulations
  • Mediating between the organization, employees, stakeholders, shareholders and investors on financial issues

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Finance Manager Job Description Examples

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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What does a Finance Manager do?

Finance Managers oversee all financial matters of an organization to protect your current financial state and make strategic plans for future growth. They work in various industries to help optimize cash flow and reduce expenditures to keep the company financially healthy.

Key areas for a Finance Manager include financial decision-making, compliance, reporting and guidance for other departments. They may also supervise Managers within the department by offering input on decisions and goals based on finances.

Hiring an effective Finance Manager can help you increase profits and meet your company’s financial goals effectively. You might see faster growth with the forecasting and planning that’s performed in this role. By keeping the company compliant, the Finance Manager helps you avoid potential legal action and fines.

Finance Manager skills and qualifications

In addition to needing strong mathematical skills, Finance Managers typically also need a variety of other prerequisite skills and qualifications to help them perform their duties. This typically includes:

  • Deep understanding of financial reporting standards (such as GAAP or IFRS) and experience preparing or reviewing financial statements
  • Proficiency in financial analysis, budgeting and forecasting, including variance analysis and cash flow modeling
  • Familiarity with financial regulations, tax laws and compliance standards relevant to your industry
  • Technical skills in accounting software and enterprise systems, including tools like QuickBooks, NetSuite, SAP or Excel-based modeling
  • Ability to manage operational costs and implement cost control strategies that align with business goals
  • Risk assessment and mitigation experience, particularly in relation to credit, investment or operational decisions
  • Strong negotiation and communication skills for resolving cross-functional budget or spending conflicts

Finance Manager experience requirements

It’s common for Finance Managers to start in other financial roles, such as Accountant or Financial Analyst. This allows them to gain experience developing their knowledge of accounting concepts, financial reporting standards and budgeting. They might move into advanced positions, such as Senior Accountant, within the finance department to improve their leadership skills.

When evaluating candidates, you might look for applicants with experience in your industry, such as banking or insurance. It can also be helpful to find candidates with experience in the financial software programs your company uses. This can help reduce new employee training time because the candidate doesn’t have to learn new software.

Finance Manager education and training requirements

Candidates for Finance Manager roles often have formal education in accounting, finance or business. However, that doesn’t mean degrees are the only path. If you take a skills-first hiring approach, you might prioritize a candidate’s hands-on experience with financial systems, reporting and budgeting over formal credentials.

While it’s common for candidates to have at least a bachelor’s degree in a business or financial field, some candidates might have specific degrees or certifications based on previous jobs that often lead to Finance Manager positions. For example, someone who has worked as a Senior Accountant might have their Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification, even though it’s not explicitly required for a Finance Manager role.

Finance Manager salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Finance Manager is $117,725 per year. Salaries may vary, though, depending on the company, location and the qualifications of the selected candidate.

Finance Manager salary expectations

2025-10-0126000.00118238.96278000.00YEARLY
  • Common salary: 118238.96 YEARLY
  • Typical salaries range from 26000.00 - 278000.00 YEARLY
  • Find more information on Indeed Salaries

*Indeed data – 2025-10-01

Job description samples for similar positions

If a Finance Manager job description doesn’t align with your needs, you may find the following similar job descriptions more helpful:

Finance Manager job description FAQs

What’s the difference between a Finance Manager and an Accounting Manager?

Both of these roles focus on a company’s financial wellbeing, but they address different areas.

Accounting Managers typically oversee only the organization’s accounting processes. They ensure financial transactions are recorded correctly through proper accounting methods, and they might shape the accounting policies and procedures of the company.

Finance Managers focus more on strategy and financial planning, taking all aspects of the company’s finances into consideration.

Where does a Finance Manager fit into the organizational hierarchy?

A Finance Manager is typically part of the Finance Department’s leadership team. As a result, they often oversee the team of Financial Analysts, Accountants and other financial professionals.

The structure of the company affects who the Finance Manager reports to. In a larger organization, there might be a Director of Finance, Vice President of Finance or Chief Financial Officer who oversees the Finance Manager. In smaller companies, they may report directly to the CEO or Owner.

What makes a good Finance Manager?

To be a successful Finance Manager, an analytical approach to thinking is often helpful. Strong technical skills are also beneficial, as the role often involves using multiple financial platforms to manage the company’s investments. Ethical decision-making and a strong commitment to following regulations and standards are also important.

Job Description Best Practices
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Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

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Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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