How do I start a career in finance with no experience?

To start a career in finance with no experience, you'll need to develop your network, learn the lingo, create a financial blog, enroll in an online finance course(s), and consider using a trading simulator. Even though most employers are looking for experienced analysts, you can follow some steps to help you get your foot in the door.

Which finance qualification is best?

The best finance qualification is having globally recognized certifications. These qualifications can unlock many opportunities but are not for the faint of heart. It takes hundreds of hours of formal training and studying to pass these examinations. Therefore, it's important to pinpoint a track you want to focus on and then pick a finance qualification that best aligns with your goals.

How To Become A Finance Professional: What It Is and Career Path

What is a finance professional and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Price Fishback Ph.D.

A finance professional is an individual who manages financial matters for organizations or individuals. They analyze, interpret, and report financial data to make informed decisions about investments, budgets, and expenses. They also manage financial risks and develop investment strategies to increase profits. Finance professionals work in a variety of settings, including banks, corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Overall, finance professionals play a critical role in ensuring the financial health of their clients or organizations.

What general advice would you give to a finance professional?

Price Fishback Ph.D.

APS Professor of Economics at the University of Arizona, The University of Arizona

Gain a great deal of oral and written presentation skills, training in statistics, and experience with computers.

ScoreFinance ProfessionalUS Average

Salary

4.3

Avg. Salary $55,551

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.6

Growth rate 15%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%

Asian 8.42%

Black or African American 5.70%

Hispanic or Latino 9.54%

Unknown 4.37%

White 71.87%

Gender

female 26.43%

male 73.57%

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

6.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a finance professional?

Pros

High earning potential
Opportunities for career advancement
Constant learning and development opportunities
Challenging and intellectually stimulating work
Prestige and respect within the industry

Cons

Long hours and high stress levels
Pressure to meet deadlines and produce accurate results
Frequent changes in regulations and accounting standards
Limited work-life balance
Intense competition within the industry

Key steps to become a finance professional

Explore finance professional education requirements

Most common finance professional degrees

Bachelor's

77.2 %

Master's

11.1 %

Associate

8.5 %

Start to develop specific finance professional skills

Skills	Percentages
Financial Objectives	16.55%
Financial Products	15.28%
Securities	11.31%
FINRA	10.39%
Annuities	9.45%

Complete relevant finance professional training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New finance professionals 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 finance professional based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real finance professional resumes.

Research finance professional duties and responsibilities

Evaluate, present, and manage solutions in alignment with client needs and NASD requirements.
Manage and strengthen customer relationships through cross-selling and up-selling to maximize retention and income generation by contacting existing and prospective customers.
License to provide health and life insurance, annuities, securities, and long term care products.
Develop and present retirement solutions involving annuities , 401K plans and life insurance products to customers and finalize sales contracts.

Prepare your finance professional resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your finance professional 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 finance professional resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable finance professional resume templates

Build a professional finance professional 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 finance professional resume.