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Finance executive vs finance leader

The differences between finance executives and finance leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a finance executive and a finance leader. Additionally, a finance leader has an average salary of $117,284, which is higher than the $110,830 average annual salary of a finance executive.

The top three skills for a finance executive include financial statements, financial services and portfolio. The most important skills for a finance leader are financial analysis, financial management, and business development.

Finance executive vs finance leader overview

Finance ExecutiveFinance Leader
Yearly salary$110,830$117,284
Hourly rate$53.28$56.39
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs137,40093,582
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

What does a finance executive do?

Finance executives oversee an organization's money and profit. They are responsible for overseeing the income and expenses of the business' money transactions. These executives evaluate financial reports such as cash-flow statements, tax planning, and budgeting. Sometimes, finance executives manage a staff of finance clerks, hire new staff, and develop schedules. They work full-time in an office, but they also often work beyond regular business hours. As for qualifications, finance executives must have at least a bachelor's degree and a considerable length of work experience in the business field.

What does a finance leader do?

The duties of a finance leader depend on one's place or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around monitoring the sales and financial operations in a company, preparing financial reports and statements, finding new sales opportunities, identifying the market and client needs, and maintaining records of all financial transactions. There are also instances where a finance leader may set and allocate budgets, perform audits in costs and expenditures, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Finance executive vs finance leader salary

Finance executives and finance leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.

Finance ExecutiveFinance Leader
Average salary$110,830$117,284
Salary rangeBetween $68,000 And $178,000Between $78,000 And $174,000
Highest paying CityWest Babylon, NYSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkOregon
Best paying companyAppleApple
Best paying industryGovernmentFinance

Differences between finance executive and finance leader education

There are a few differences between a finance executive and a finance leader in terms of educational background:

Finance ExecutiveFinance Leader
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorAccountingAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Finance executive vs finance leader demographics

Here are the differences between finance executives' and finance leaders' demographics:

Finance ExecutiveFinance Leader
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 63.3% Female, 36.7%Male, 60.0% Female, 40.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 10.0% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 10.0% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between finance executive and finance leader duties and responsibilities

Finance executive example responsibilities.

  • Manage financial statements and work independently to produce accurate records for petty cash, bank reconciliations, and data inventory.
  • Experience in ERP implementation when A/R module are migrated from old system to new PS system.
  • Improve financial results $50 million (GAAP) in 2000 over 1999 and generate the first profit in four years.
  • Assist with compliance with SOX requirements by improving internal protocols and documentation procedures.
  • Reorganize accounting department according to SOX guidelines along with recommendations for improving processes.
  • Develop decision matrix and flowcharts for a revise financial and manufacturing system within current ERP software.
  • Show more

Finance leader example responsibilities.

  • Manage and coordinate annual GAAP audit of corporation financial statements.
  • Manage impairment and trouble debt restructures identification & measurement process in compliance with regulatory and GAAP guidance.
  • Participate in Lawson ERP implementation and training resources for corporate and site finance group.
  • Create superior back office business processes in conjunction with JD Edwards ERP implementation team.
  • Recruit by the CFO to support the growth and development of the Americas business.
  • Review, interpret, and approve budgets for all trade promotion events in the Americas.
  • Show more

Finance executive vs finance leader skills

Common finance executive skills
  • Financial Statements, 18%
  • Financial Services, 12%
  • Portfolio, 12%
  • Financial Products, 3%
  • Real Estate, 3%
  • Insurance Products, 3%
Common finance leader skills
  • Financial Analysis, 8%
  • Financial Management, 5%
  • Business Development, 5%
  • Financial Performance, 4%
  • Strong Analytical, 4%
  • HR, 4%

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