What does a finance project manager do?
A finance project manager handles the financial analysis of a project management process, including budgeting from the clients' requirements until the forecasting on project revenues. Finance project managers analyze financial statements and account transactions of a company, identifying business opportunities to generate more resources to increase revenue and profits. They create financial reports, recommending cost-reduction techniques to minimize loss while increasing the efficiency of the staff performance, strategizing procedures to maximize productivity, especially on meeting deadlines with high-quality deliverables.
Finance project manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real finance project manager resumes:
- Manage and coordinate all aspect of treasury operations.
- Manage and implement Hyperion centralize planning/budgeting/forecasting solution.
- Design all new internal management financial reports during the implementation and develop these reports in the new ERP environment.
- Team member for ERP and accounting package evaluation and implementation project.
- Maintain cash and paper flow, including monthly reporting, payroll, and expenses, using QuickBooks.
- Enhance existing cash flow model and correct Hyperion logic rules as required for acquisitions, disposition and restatements.
- Expand scope of testing to include all business units, including retail, commercial, treasury services, and private banking.
- Develop estimates, operating plans/forecast/reviews/reports (GAAP).
- Gain international accounting experience and local GAAP knowledge.
- Maintain up-to-date payroll records and authorize salary payments.
- Manage and implement Hyperion centralize planning/budgeting/forecasting solution.
- Prepare and support reimbursement through Medicare / Medicaid cost reports and audits.
- Document unit's internal control activities to correspond with Medicare's internal control objectives resulting in clean audit opinion.
- Utilize extensive QuickBooks skills and adhere to state and federal accounting requirements while performing financial reporting and corporate tax administration.
Finance project manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Finance Project Managers are proficient in Project Management, Financial Analysis, and Process Improvement. They’re also known for soft skills such as Organizational skills, Analytical skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Finance Project Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Project Management, 18%
Developed financial reports for management and created project management tools for engagements of 100+ consultants.
- Financial Analysis, 7%
Performed financial analysis including run rate, cost implications of renewing contracts during negotiations and financial implications of changing business practices.
- Process Improvement, 4%
Managed telecommunication industry related service sales opportunities and implemented process improvements leveraged to support NCR's $3.3 billion service business.
- Financial Systems, 3%
Implemented processes and procedures to ensure the integrity and maintenance of financial systems for tracking and reporting to transition executive management.
- Project Plan, 3%
Enhanced productivity partnering with executive team committees to drive company-wide productivity and innovation goals, as well as future project planning.
- Risk Management, 3%
Prepared monthly financial statements and yearly budgets; assessed financial data and developed risk management strategies.
Most finance project managers use their skills in "project management," "financial analysis," and "process improvement" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential finance project manager responsibilities here:
Organizational skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a finance project manager to have is organizational skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "because financial managers deal with a range of information and documents, they must have structures in place to be effective in their work." Finance project managers often use organizational skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "partnered with sales and department managers to develop and implement financial data reports to help with organizational decision making. "
Analytical skills. Many finance project manager duties rely on analytical skills. "to assist executives in making decisions, financial managers need to evaluate data and information that affects their organization.," so a finance project manager will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways finance project manager responsibilities rely on analytical skills: "maintain and approve reports, integrations, customizations and extensions for erp to external systems, databases, and platforms. "
Communication skills. finance project managers are also known for communication skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to finance project manager responsibilities, because "financial managers must be able to explain and justify complex financial transactions." A finance project manager resume example shows how communication skills is used in the workplace: "initiated communication that enhance stronger relationships with business managers and executives that enabled 97% of business processes to be outsourced. "
Detail oriented. For certain finance project manager responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "detail oriented." The day-to-day duties of a finance project manager rely on this skill, as "in preparing and analyzing reports, such as balance sheets and income statements, financial managers must be precise and attentive to their work in order to avoid errors." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what finance project managers do: "create detailed spreadsheets for monthly maintenance, monitoring of contracts, and financial reports. "
Math skills. Another crucial skill for a finance project manager to carry out their responsibilities is "math skills." A big part of what finance project managers relies on this skill, since "financial managers need strong skills in certain branches of mathematics, including algebra." How this skill relates to finance project manager duties can be seen in an example from a finance project manager resume snippet: "process improvement: automated spreadsheet to compute statistics presented to steering committee and for other management reporting purposes. "
The three companies that hire the most finance project managers are:
- Guidehouse104 finance project managers jobs
- U.S. Bank26 finance project managers jobs
- Amazon15 finance project managers jobs
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Compare different finance project managers
Finance project manager vs. Manager finance planning and analysis
A manager finance planning and analysis oversees the daily operations of a company's financial planning department. They typically have administrative duties such as setting goals and guidelines, establishing timelines and budgets, delegating tasks among teams and staff, and reviewing financial reports regularly. They also perform research and assessments, gather and analyze financial data from different departments, coordinate staff, and solve issues and concerns when any arise. Additionally, as a manager, they must lead and empower staff to reach goals while implementing company policies and regulations.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a finance project manager are more likely to require skills like "project management," "project plan," "risk management," and "business process." On the other hand, a job as a manager finance planning and analysis requires skills like "customer service," "visualization," "direct reports," and "financial operations." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Managers finance planning and analysis earn the highest salaries when working in the manufacturing industry, with an average yearly salary of $109,735. On the other hand, finance project managers are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $111,677.managers finance planning and analysis tend to reach similar levels of education than finance project managers. In fact, managers finance planning and analysis are 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Finance project manager vs. Manager/finance accounting
A manager of finance accounting's role is to oversee the financial activities in a company or organization. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with other departments to gather financial data, analyze the revenues and expenditures, and develop written reports and presentations. A manager of finance accounting must also maintain accurate financial records, identify any errors or inconsistencies, and perform support tasks for staff when necessary. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the team, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that finance project manager responsibilities requires skills like "project management," "project plan," "risk management," and "business process." But a manager/finance accounting might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "cpa," "account reconciliations," and "payroll processing."
Managers/finance accounting may earn a lower salary than finance project managers, but managers/finance accounting earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $92,198. On the other hand, finance project managers receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $111,677.In general, managers/finance accounting achieve similar levels of education than finance project managers. They're 4.7% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for finance project managers in the next 3-5 years?
Nate Peach Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Economics, George Fox University
Finance project manager vs. Cash manager
A cash manager is responsible for monitoring cash flow, analyzing financial transactions, and allocating adequate budget and resources for every department's operations. Cash managers conduct data and statistical analysis to determine the company's expenses and financial loss and strategize techniques in minimizing those risks. They also help senior management in identifying business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and increase profits for the business. A cash manager handles billing disputes, resolves account discrepancies, and submits accurate financial reports.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from finance project manager resumes include skills like "project management," "financial systems," "project plan," and "risk management," whereas a cash manager is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "cash management," "ach," and "petty cash. "
Cash managers earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $101,436. Finance project managers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $111,677.When it comes to education, cash managers tend to earn lower degree levels compared to finance project managers. In fact, they're 12.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Finance project manager vs. Business manager-finance manager
A business manager/finance manager is responsible for handling the financial transactions of an organization, analyzing financial reports, and monitor investment activities. Business managers/finance managers strategize effective techniques to boost the organization's financial performance and identify business opportunities to increase revenues. They also prepare financial statements and assist senior management in making corporate decisions by conducting data and statistical analysis by studying market trends. A business manager/finance manager must have excellent critical thinking and analytical skills, especially in calculating costs and expenses to minimize the company's loss and stabilize profits.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between finance project managers and business manager-finance managers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a finance project manager might have more use for skills like "financial systems," "project plan," "risk management," and "business process." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of business manager-finance managers require skills like "oversight," "cpa," "business management," and "cash management. "
The finance industry tends to pay the highest salaries for business manager-finance managers, with average annual pay of $115,910. Comparatively, the highest finance project manager annual salary comes from the technology industry.In general, business manager-finance managers hold similar degree levels compared to finance project managers. Business manager-finance managers are 3.7% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of finance project manager
Updated January 8, 2025
