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What is a director of operations and finance and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted expert
Brian Meehan
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A director of operations and finance oversees the financial and operational aspects of a company. They create budgets, implement policies, and ensure efficiency in business operations. This role involves analyzing financial data to make informed decisions, developing strategies to improve profitability, and working with others to meet business objectives. Additionally, a director of operations and finance negotiates contracts and partnerships, manages risk, and implements new technologies. Overall, this role ensures financial stability and operational excellence.

What general advice would you give to a director of operations and finance?

Brian MeehanBrian Meehan LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor of Economics, Campbell School of Business, Berry College

My advice would be to apply broadly for jobs and take advantage of the robust set of career opportunities a degree in economics provides. It also gives you a better gauge of the opportunity cost (next best alternative) of accepting a job. Try to determine what that best alternative is. Additional training can also be a good option. Those individuals interested in graduate schools, professional schools, law schools, MBAs, etc. should look into these opportunities. Improving your human capital stock (via training and education), while weathering a recession, and then capitalizing on a healthier job market at the end of this training, is a pretty good route (assuming the recession is short).
ScoreDirector Of Operations And FinanceUS Average
Salary
8.1

Avg. Salary $118,503

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%

Asian 6.42%

Black or African American 6.25%

Hispanic or Latino 15.40%

Unknown 4.35%

White 67.11%

Gender

female 38.27%

male 61.73%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress level
9.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.2

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.6

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a director of operations and finance?

Pros

  • Varied and challenging work

  • Good salary and benefits

  • Potential for career growth and advancement

  • Chance to develop leadership skills

  • Ability to implement process improvements

Cons

  • Pressure to meet financial targets

  • Accountability for mistakes or failures

  • Tensions with other executives or departments

  • Constant need to stay up-to-date on industry trends and regulations

  • High level of scrutiny from investors or stakeholders

Director of operations and finance career paths

Key steps to become a director of operations and finance

  1. Explore director of operations and finance education requirements

    Most common director of operations and finance degrees

    Bachelor's

    70.0 %

    Master's

    22.4 %

    Associate

    5.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific director of operations and finance skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Oversight6.49%
    Financial Operations6.25%
    Payroll5.39%
    Human Resources4.26%
    CPA4.14%
  3. Complete relevant director of operations and finance training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New directors of operations and finance learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a director of operations and finance based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real director of operations and finance resumes.
  4. Gain additional director of operations and finance certifications

    Director of operations and finance certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific director of operations and finance certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for directors of operations and finance include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research director of operations and finance duties and responsibilities

    • Achieve record revenue and EBITDA by Q3.
    • Guide the company to utilize ERP to manage the business versus spreadsheets.
    • Oversee SOX and financial controls, managing SOX compliance and reviewing and refining the existing processes.
    • Achieve Medicare certification and JCAHO accreditation without any deficiencies.
  6. Get director of operations and finance experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a director of operations and finance. The most common roles before becoming a director of operations and finance include controller, finance director team lead and finance manager.
  7. Prepare your director of operations and finance resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your director of operations and finance resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a director of operations and finance resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable director of operations and finance resume templates

    Build a professional director of operations and finance resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your director of operations and finance resume.
    Director Of Operations And Finance Resume
    Director Of Operations And Finance Resume
    Director Of Operations And Finance Resume
    Director Of Operations And Finance Resume
    Director Of Operations And Finance Resume
    Director Of Operations And Finance Resume
    Director Of Operations And Finance Resume
    Director Of Operations And Finance Resume
    Director Of Operations And Finance Resume
  8. Apply for director of operations and finance jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a director of operations and finance job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first director of operations and finance job

Zippi

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Average director of operations and finance salary

The average director of operations and finance salary in the United States is $118,503 per year or $57 per hour. Director of operations and finance salaries range between $77,000 and $181,000 per year.

Average director of operations and finance salary
$118,503 Yearly
$56.97 hourly

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How do directors of operations and finance rate their job?

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Director of operations and finance reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022
Cons

I am responsible for everything be it any side of the business


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Cons

Antigienic people, irresponsible people, lazy employees


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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Pros

I do not work as a finance Vice President but I would like to become one.

Cons

I don’t know because I have not worked as one.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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