How long does it take to become a finance manager?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

It takes 10 to 12 years to become a financial manager. Many financial managers spend around six years obtaining a finance education and another four to six years accumulating work experience.

While a bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or Business Administration is often the minimum education needed for financial managers, many employers now seek candidates with a master's degree (preferably in business administration, finance, or economics). This can take anywhere from four to six years.

After graduation, to become a finance manager usually means having to work four to five years in a business or financial occupation, such as loan officer, accountant, auditor, or financial analyst. In some cases, companies provide financial management training programs to help prepare highly motivated and skilled financial workers to become financial managers.

A finance manager should also have at least one to three years of working in a supervisory role. One reason for this is that a finance manager must have extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.