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Job outlook for managers/finance accounting in the United States
Manager/finance accounting job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected manager/finance accounting job growth rate is 17% from 2018-2028.
About 123,100 new jobs for managers/finance accounting are projected over the next decade.
Manager/finance accounting salaries have increased 10% for managers/finance accounting in the last 5 years.
There are over 187,963 managers/finance accounting currently employed in the United States.
There are 132,824 active manager/finance accounting job openings in the US.
The average manager/finance accounting salary is $91,315.
Are manager/finance accounting jobs in demand?
Manager/finance accounting job and salary trends over time
Manager/finance accounting jobs over time
Manager/finance accounting job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 187,963 | 0.06% |
| 2020 | 179,874 | 0.05% |
| 2019 | 182,970 | 0.05% |
| 2018 | 170,344 | 0.05% |
| 2017 | 161,085 | 0.05% |
Average manager/finance accounting salary over time
Manager/finance accounting salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $91,315 | $43.90 | +3.3% |
| 2025 | $88,396 | $42.50 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | $87,103 | $41.88 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $85,122 | $40.92 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $82,856 | $39.83 | +3.2% |
Manager/finance accounting jobs by state
Most common states for managers/finance accounting
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 432 | 62% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 301 | 31% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,843 | 27% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,332 | 24% |
| 5 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 749 | 24% |
| 6 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,980 | 23% |
| 7 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,668 | 23% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,229 | 22% |
| 9 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,626 | 21% |
| 10 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,253 | 21% |
| 11 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 744 | 21% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 227 | 21% |
| 13 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 161 | 21% |
| 14 | Vermont | 623,657 | 129 | 21% |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 265 | 20% |
| 16 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 115 | 20% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,077 | 19% |
| 18 | Alaska | 739,795 | 140 | 19% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 762 | 18% |
| 20 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 353 | 18% |
Most common cities for managers/finance accounting
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bethesda | 3 | 5% | $98,988 |
| 2 | Annapolis | 2 | 5% | $99,340 |
| 3 | Lansing | 3 | 3% | $78,073 |
| 4 | Grand Rapids | 3 | 2% | $77,655 |
| 5 | Bloomington | 2 | 2% | $89,278 |
| 6 | Atlanta | 7 | 1% | $79,964 |
| 7 | Boston | 5 | 1% | $104,105 |
| 8 | Indianapolis | 5 | 1% | $81,260 |
| 9 | Detroit | 4 | 1% | $78,615 |
| 10 | Des Moines | 3 | 1% | $73,401 |
| 11 | Miami | 3 | 1% | $68,985 |
| 12 | Baton Rouge | 2 | 1% | $71,232 |
| 13 | Birmingham | 2 | 1% | $85,302 |
| 14 | Chicago | 6 | 0% | $92,264 |
| 15 | Denver | 3 | 0% | $79,627 |
| 16 | Los Angeles | 3 | 0% | $94,475 |
| 17 | Phoenix | 3 | 0% | $82,423 |
| 18 | Washington | 3 | 0% | $88,684 |
Manager/Finance Accounting job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of manager/finance accounting experts
Manhattan College
Fairfield University
Siena College
Lynn University
Ferrum College
University of Oregon
Stonehill College
American University
Lawrence Technological University
Pacific Lutheran University
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
University of Arkansas
The University of Scranton
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Keith Kerr Prof.
What general advice would you give to a Manager/Finance Accounting?
Keith Kerr Prof.: There are two approaches to maximizing your salary potential, but only one approach that is completely under our control. While we can learn the best ways to approach employers to advocate for raises and promotions, the outcome of this is dependent on many external factors. What you can control, however, is how you manage the money that you do make. Taking the time to make a detailed budget of your income, expenses and debts allows one to find ways to control their spending, thus generating extra cash for saving and investing each month.
What Manager/Finance Accounting skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Keith Kerr Prof.: There are two basic ways that most people in the US find financial success: Either find a job that pays a high salary, or find a career that you love, regardless of the salary, and make a habit of saving and investing part of your income each month starting with your first paycheck.
If you invest only $90 a month starting at 21 and ending at retirement, you would have a bit over 1 million dollars (assuming a 10% annual gain). Wait just 5 years and start doing this at 26 and your 5 years of time will have cost you $400,000 by retirement. This is the power of compounding. Start early and even with a lower salary, you still can find financial success while pursuing careers that are meaningful to you.
What general advice would you give to a Manager/Finance Accounting?
Dr. Natalia Boliari PhD: First, learn everything about the company you just started working for - its historical path, management, the way it's dealt with crises, etc. Second, learn everything about the specific industry the company belongs to and see how the company has developed relative to the development of the industry domestically and internationally. Third, always be extremely alert to notice new opportunities and be prepared to take calculated risks. That is, actively look for opportunities to complete as many and diverse tasks as possible, and volunteer to complete any type of work regardless of whether it seems relevant to your assigned job or not. Opportunities to learn, grow, and improve and thus to maximize your income, will only come up if you are exposed to diverse situations.
What Manager/Finance Accounting skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Natalia Boliari PhD: Be open minded. Finance is the broad definition of an industry which provides opportunities for careers in financial consultancy, financial analysis, stock brokerage, foreign investment, modeling, exchange rate forecasts, and many more. While most of those careers are attributed to the banking industry, you can find those and others in other sectors of the economy, such as insurance, technology, health care/medical, government, and so on. So, be open and look beyond the banking sector, examine the current and predicted trends in the economy to hunt for exciting career options.
What Manager/Finance Accounting skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
John McDermott Ph.D.: Be enthusiastic, work hard, and treat every assignment as a chance to learn and showcase your abilities. Seek out new and exciting opportunities, this will provide you the opportunity to expand your skill set and above all to help your company move forward.
What will help Managers/Finance Accounting increase their earning potential?
John McDermott Ph.D.: I believe communication, technical, and interpersonal skills will always be important to young graduates in finance. Over the next few years, being able to harness the power of new technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Large-Language Models will become increasingly important.
Feng Dong
Assistant Professor of Finance, Douglas Hickey Chair in Business, Siena CollegeSiena College
Finance And Financial Management Services
What general advice would you give to a Manager/Finance Accounting?
Feng Dong: First of all, it’s challenging to be a finance analyst now. The increasing complexity of the financial markets has raised a high demand for finance analysts, and the integration of advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in finance creates new opportunities for finance analysts who are proficient with these technologies. However, this requires much more effort than before to gain those skills, especially since much of the knowledge is not fully included in the current finance major curriculums. Second, finance analysts have various career options in many different areas in the future, such as investment analysis, risk management, corporate finance, or financial planning, and there are clear career progression paths from entry-level roles to senior positions, such as finance manager, director of finance, and CFO.
What will help Managers/Finance Accounting increase their earning potential?
David Spohn DBA, MBA, MJUR, CWM®: Likes:
- Intellectual Stimulation: Many finance analysts enjoy the challenge of solving complex financial puzzles and deriving insights from data. The role often requires staying updated with the latest economic trends and financial theories, providing continuous learning opportunities.
- Impact on Decision-making: Analysts often take pride in the fact that their work directly influences strategic business decisions. This can be highly rewarding, especially when their recommendations lead to successful outcomes.
- Career Opportunities: The field offers numerous pathways for career advancement. Analysts can ascend to roles in senior management, specialize in particular sectors such as fintech or healthcare, or move into investment roles.
Dislikes:
- High Pressure: The role can be highly stressful, with tight deadlines and significant implications tied to their analyses and recommendations. Financial markets are dynamic, and the pressure to provide accurate, timely insights can be intense.
- Monotony in Initial Stages: New entrants might find the work initially repetitive as they learn the ropes of data collection and basic analysis techniques. The intellectual rewards and more engaging tasks often come with increased responsibility.
- Work-Life Balance: Depending on the employer and the state of the market, long hours can be common, especially during financial reporting periods or significant market changes, which can impact work-life balance.
What will help Managers/Finance Accounting increase their earning potential?
Clemens Kownatzki PhD, MBA: As a beginner in any field, it pays to listen more than to talk. Be humble, pay attention, be nice to folks and probably most helpful is having a mentor who can guide you along and show you some best practices for navigating your career. You should take advantage of your education, not just to show a piece of paper that says you graduated but think of every single project, essay or paper that you write as part of a portfolio that demonstrates your skill sets. Especially in finance where we can sometimes be enamored with the beauty of a mathematical model, think about how any model should be applied in the real world. In some cases that might mean that you have to “get your hands on the wheel and learn how to drive.” I am not suggesting that you should put all your savings at risk and buy the next iteration of the latest cryptocurrency, but If you’re interested in a career in investing, put a small amount of money at risk and trade a stock, or if you must trade a few dollars’ worth of Bitcoin or Ether – as much as you would risk for a movie ticket seems reasonable. There are lots of virtual trading apps where you can trade with paper money, but there’s nothing like understanding risk when your own dollars are at stake, even if it’s just a few dollars. You should also absorb all the workshops, seminars and resources available out there. Follow Prof. Aswath Damodaran who has a YouTube Channel and hundreds of spreadsheets with financial models, all for free! Also follow some good content providers on various channels to get additional insights – in the field of finance, you need to be up-to-date on all events because those influence markets and the economy. Be ready to continue learning and update your skills and understanding while you’re working. Education doesn’t end after you finish your degree. All successful people are life-long learners.
What general advice would you give to a Manager/Finance Accounting?
Timothy Egan M.S. Marketing: -Research the company well for your first job as it will impact the way you feel about full-time employment. -Your first job won't be your last job. Use it to learn about yourself and an environment you can thrive in -Don't be afraid to move for a job opportunity or a second one for the first few years. Because if you want a spouse/partner, children, pets and a home it will be harder to explore the world with all those responsibilities. -If you want to work 100% remotely that can be good/flexible for a young professional, but you make yourself vulnerable to layoffs and disconnection. Having face time with management and coworkers builds an important rapport. Hybrid is better than remote
Dr. Karen Carpenter
Associate Professor of Health & Human PerformanceFerrum College
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences
What will help Managers/Finance Accounting increase their earning potential?
Dr. Karen Carpenter: This field is wide open. Decide the population you want to work with and what space you want to be in. Certifications are very valuable to get employed immediately virtually anywhere in the country. Our discipline has the power to save lives. It is an extremely rewarding profession.
Z. Jay Wang
Department Head, Associate Professor of FinanceUniversity of Oregon
Finance And Financial Management Services
What will help Managers/Finance Accounting increase their earning potential?
Z. Jay Wang: Students who have a history of doing work in the field outside the classroom either through internships, industry projects, or school-sponsored clubs managing financial decisions are better poised to maximize starting salary potential. Starting early to secure internships with top companies will also position students well for higher earning potential. Most top banks and firms will post internships from April/May to August, and close by the end of September for the following summer. They are also rolling, so may fill the roles by as early as June of the sophomore year for the following summer after junior year. Finally, networking with industry and alumni professionals in the companies, firms, banks prior to applying for an internship or full-time position will have an impact. The candidate will learn more about the opportunity and company culture for their resume and potential interview, and most top companies in finance will have a referral program. If the candidate impresses the internal connection with excellent questions and strategic answers, they may get a referral that moves them up in the stacks of applicants.
What general advice would you give to a Manager/Finance Accounting?
Dr. Wayne Durr: Maximizing your salary potential starts with understanding your value. What skills and
capabilities can you articulate to a prospective employer? The ability to articulate these skills
and what you bring to that company can be challenging. Think of your resume like an artist
thinks of their portfolio. What projects or analysis have you worked on? You cannot articulate
the value you will bring to that prospective company without the ability to articulate your skills
and capabilities. Do your research to determine what other employers pay people with the
same abilities. Ask employers what the salary range is and use that as your baseline. As you
get close to graduating, your classmates talk about the job offers they receive and most likely
share the salaries they are being offered. Listen and use this as a baseline. All this gives you
an idea of your value. Your first job isn't always the place where you'll be able to maximize your
earning potential. Think of your first job as where you will get the work experience to maximize
your future earning potential. Look at this as the place where you will sharpen your skills and
develop new ones. This first job will be where you fill out your resume and either have an
opportunity to maximize your earning potential there or elsewhere in the future.
Additionally, think about passive income and the "side gig". If you don't feel like you're
maximizing your earning potential at that first job, think about how you can make money on the
side. I believe we now live in a society where truly maximizing your earning potential comes
from more than your current employer. The ability to earn money from a side gig is more
prevalent than ever before. I think every student should take an entrepreneur class. Think
about your skills, which one could make you some side money. Don't dismiss jobs you did
growing up, like delivery service, landscaping, etc. There are so many apps and websites that
people and companies are looking for anything from an hour to a couple of days worth of work.
Take that first six months on the job to get settled in, and then start thinking about that side gig.
Octavian Ionici PhD
Sr. Lecturer in FinanceAmerican University
Finance And Financial Management Services
What Manager/Finance Accounting skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Octavian Ionici PhD: The finance profession is lucrative, rewarding and very competitive. Graduates should do their research about the organization they are interviewing with and be able to discuss how their skills can contribute to the business. They should also know if they would rather interact with people and clients or if they are drawn to intellectual pursuits such as analysis. Do they value power, prestige status, risk, or something else? Ultimately our core values, personal goals, interests, aptitudes, and personality will shape our career paths.
Being able to articulate what sparked their interest in the financial field and why they are interested in a chosen role will be an advantage during the hiring process. While still in college, students should join a professional association like the Financial Management Association to give them more access to that broad network, as well as access to career development resources that can set them apart from the crowd.
It's also critical to get an internship (paid or unpaid) in order to show some real-life experience. They can do this while they are still in college, during the summers, or even afterwards, to get a foot in the door.
Reading the WSJ and FT daily, and listening to Bloomberg, or other financial programs as a regular practice will help them to have fluency in the language of our profession. Because the finance sector is heavily regulated and changes occur due to changing economic and political conditions, they will need to stay updated with those changes. Financial media sources will help bring them that context to stay up to date on all of these moving parts.
What will help Managers/Finance Accounting increase their earning potential?
Octavian Ionici PhD: Try to understand what your boss or your company needs, then see if you can fill that gap with your skill set and work ethic. Finance constantly evolves. A career with lifelong learning will help keep you employable. Investing in continuous learning and skill development can increase your income potential down the road.
Plus, don't underestimate the power of a positive attitude and strong work ethic. You may not be an expert at the beginning, but you can take on every challenge given to you, work hard and try to turn it into a success for your organization. Each win will build your reputation and your portfolio of skills which you will then bring with you to your next job. As you do this, you will inevitably acquire specialized skills.
What will help Managers/Finance Accounting increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kimberly Gaither: Maximize your salary potential by asking questions and learning as quickly as possible. Be a good communicator with those above and below you as well as your peers. Be dependable. Persons who show up early and work hard will be valued and rewarded.
Matthew Cole Ph.D.
Interim Dean, College of Business and Information TechnologyLawrence Technological University
Architecture And Related Services
What will help Managers/Finance Accounting increase their earning potential?
Matthew Cole Ph.D.: Specializing in high-demand areas like tax or forensic accounting, demonstrating strong technology skills, negotiating based on industry salary standards, and pursuing professional development and additional credentials will maximize salary potential.
Fang Lin
Assistant Professor of FinancePacific Lutheran University
Finance And Financial Management Services
What Manager/Finance Accounting skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Fang Lin: Don't be afraid to negotiate your starting salary. Young journalists have a lot to offer newsrooms through social media skills and a willingness to adapt to new technologies such as artificial intelligence. Technology skills have value and should not be undersold. Also, young journalism students should not discount the value of their student media and internship experiences. Young journalists must use everything on their resumes to show how they bring value to their position and ask to be compensated fairly for the work they will contribute to the newsroom's success.
Dhruba Banjade
Assistant Professor in Finance & Department Chair of Business AnalysisWhat general advice would you give to a Manager/Finance Accounting?
Dhruba Banjade: i. The industry technology is changing fast. Specific skills will be more critical in the finance field in the next 3-5 years. Some of these are:
ii. Data analysis/ data mining skills. Knowledge of Excel, R, Python, data visualization, Tableau, RapidMiner, machine learning, and financial modeling skills are essential in finance and business.
iii. Skills and knowledge of artificial intelligence and machine learning will give more opportunities and help career development.
iv. Network security and cybersecurity are essential to protect financial transactions and digital data.
v. Knowledge of financial regulations and risk management will be in high demand in the next 3-5 years.
vi. Soft skills such as politeness, ability to work in a diverse group, good communication, learning attitude, etc, are also necessary.
vii. Many industry and business companies today focus on sustainable development and environmental, social, and governance activities. Knowledge of sustainability and ESG measures is also helpful.
viii. Broad knowledge of global financial markets, international finance, global economy, etc., will be valuable in the next 3-5 years.
John Clark Ph.D., CFA, CFP
Chair, Dept. of FinanceUniversity of Nevada - Las Vegas
Geological And Earth Sciences/Geosciences
What general advice would you give to a Manager/Finance Accounting?
John Clark Ph.D., CFA, CFP: Show you have experience. Doing an internship is a great way to increase your starting salary. I always advocate for doing applied research, this is research that you can show has implications for society - science for the sake of science is not good science! Obtaining an MS degree is also a good way to increase your salary, especially if your MS degree is relevant to your future job.
Kris Allee Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Doyle Z. Williams Chair in Professional AccountingUniversity of Arkansas
Accounting Department
What skills stand out on Manager/Finance Accounting resumes?
Kris Allee Ph.D.: Generally, prior experience working with US GAAP for financial reporting purposes, knowledge of regulatory standards, and the ability to reconcile accounts are necessary. Most successful candidates would likely be CPAs and have several years of work experience, sufficient general business knowledge, and have some degree of software proficiency. Abilities such as data analysis and critical thinking would be key as well. Some employers prefer accounting manager candidates who hold a master's degree to signify the level of skills and knowledge they have acquired.
What soft skills should all Managers/Finance Accounting possess?
Kris Allee Ph.D.: Given an accounting manager assumes a leadership position at the firm, the ability to lead effectively, communicate well, and organize and manage projects would be the most important soft skills necessary.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Managers/Finance Accounting?
Kris Allee Ph.D.: Knowledge of US GAAP and applicable regulatory standards. Proficiency in word processing and spreadsheet applications as well as specialized accounting software as needed.
What skills will help Managers/Finance Accounting earn the most?
Kris Allee Ph.D.: Certainly, passing the CPA exam is a must, as it is considered a necessary condition for advancement. Passing the exam also helps certify the minimum level of skills the person may possess. Financial analysis skills are also highly valued and hard to find in the average staff accountant. These skills traditionally would include computing, quantitative analysis, and understanding forecasting techniques and limitations. Finally, communication skills and the ability to effectively manage expectations and projects are what make an accountant indispensable and valuable to a firm.
Dr. Douglas Boyle
Chair & Professor, Director, Doctorate in Business Administration Program , Director, Nonprofit Leadership ProgramThe University of Scranton
Accounting Department
What skills stand out on Manager/Finance Accounting resumes?
Dr. Douglas Boyle: Accounting is a very technical profession, so any credential that shows you have an advanced level of knowledge makes a candidate stand out. Accountants have many opportunities to pursue credentials. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is the only accounting credential that is a license from the state. If you hold a CPA, the AICPA offers six specialty credentials to consider pursuing, including Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP), Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), and Certified in Entity and Intangible Valuations (CEIV). Three other organizations to consider that do not require a CPA to pursue are the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). The IMA offers two credentials, the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis (CSCA). The IIA offers six credentialling opportunities, the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA), Qualification in Internal Audit Leadership (QIAL), Certified Process Safety Auditor (CPSA), and Certified Professional Environmental Auditor (CPEA). Last, the ACFE offers the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). These opportunities enable accountants to specialize in several areas and provide opportunities to stand out. Our research shows that in addition to technical skills, soft skills are very important as you move to higher levels of a firm or organization.
What soft skills should all Managers/Finance Accounting possess?
Dr. Douglas Boyle: Our research shows that achieving a high level of emotional intelligence is viewed as most important by senior accounting professionals. Emotional intelligence is made up of self-awareness that includes emotional awareness and self-confidence. Self-management includes self-control, trustworthiness, conscientiousness, adaptability, and innovation. Social awareness includes empathy and organizational awareness. Relationship management includes influence, conflict management, teamwork, leadership, and communication. While it is important to work on all these skills, the three that are deemed most critical for accounting professionals are trustworthiness, conscientiousness, teamwork, and communication.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Managers/Finance Accounting?
Dr. Douglas Boyle: While it is important to be technically competent in all areas of accounting, you add the most value by being an expert in a few areas. That is why you may consider pursuing additional credentials (as shown above) in areas of interest to you. This enables you to master the technical skills and demonstrate such skills on your resume.
Thomas King
Department Chair, Director, Master of Accountancy Program, Professor, AccountancyCase Western Reserve University
Accountancy Department
What skills stand out on Manager/Finance Accounting resumes?
Thomas King: Evidence that someone is smart is a fast learner and works well with others.
What soft skills should all Managers/Finance Accounting possess?
Thomas King: The ability to develop working relationships with a wide range of colleagues who have diverse skills.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Managers/Finance Accounting?
Thomas King: The ability to extract information from unfamiliar data sets and then explain conclusions reached in a clear, persuasive manner.
What skills will help Managers/Finance Accounting earn the most?
Thomas King: The ability to lead others to bring about intended change.
Thomas King
Department Chair, Director, Master of Accountancy Program, Professor, AccountancyCase Western Reserve University
Accountancy Department
What general advice would you give to a Manager/Finance Accounting?
Thomas King: Be dependable. Reputations form quickly after people join organizations. A newly hired professional who demonstrates the ability to get things done rapidly and accurately will soon become a "go-to" person when new opportunities arise. Such exposure early in a career is invaluable.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Managers/Finance Accounting in the next 3-5 years?
Thomas King: I believe critical thinking will be more important than knowledge of any particular technology. Critical thinking means forming defensible conclusions with limited data. As jobs evolve with increasing automation and off-shoring levels, the importance of critical thinking in entry-level employment will rise.