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Senior finance specialist vs senior finance manager

The differences between senior finance specialists and senior finance managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a senior finance specialist, becoming a senior finance manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a senior finance manager has an average salary of $133,358, which is higher than the $89,779 average annual salary of a senior finance specialist.

The top three skills for a senior finance specialist include financial statements, financial data and financial analysis. The most important skills for a senior finance manager are hyperion, financial performance, and financial analysis.

Senior finance specialist vs senior finance manager overview

Senior Finance SpecialistSenior Finance Manager
Yearly salary$89,779$133,358
Hourly rate$43.16$64.11
Growth rate9%17%
Number of jobs71,214139,639
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4046
Years of experience48

What does a senior finance specialist do?

A finance specialist sells products and services at a financial institution. Finance specialists meet with customers to have a better understanding of their respective needs. The specialists offer insight into the trends in the financial market. They provide a suggestion on optimization strategies. It is expected of them to share their insight into the potential models in the business. The necessary skills for this job include strong communication, management experience, financial management, and analytical thinking.

What does a senior finance manager do?

A senior finance manager is an individual who supervises financial department staff members as well as monitors the daily financial operations within a company. Senior finance managers must keep track of the financial status and performance of the company so that they can identify areas for potential improvement. They review financial data and prepare reports to be presented to the management to help them in their business decision making. Senior finance managers must also maintain policies within the company and should have a deep understanding of financial regulations and legislations.

Senior finance specialist vs senior finance manager salary

Senior finance specialists and senior finance managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Finance SpecialistSenior Finance Manager
Average salary$89,779$133,358
Salary rangeBetween $55,000 And $146,000Between $95,000 And $185,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companyZSRoku
Best paying industryTelecommunicationProfessional

Differences between senior finance specialist and senior finance manager education

There are a few differences between a senior finance specialist and a senior finance manager in terms of educational background:

Senior Finance SpecialistSenior Finance Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBusinessAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior finance specialist vs senior finance manager demographics

Here are the differences between senior finance specialists' and senior finance managers' demographics:

Senior Finance SpecialistSenior Finance Manager
Average age4046
Gender ratioMale, 47.9% Female, 52.1%Male, 70.3% Female, 29.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 14.1% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 10.0% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage7%11%

Differences between senior finance specialist and senior finance manager duties and responsibilities

Senior finance specialist example responsibilities.

  • Develop, maintain financial models/applications (VBA Excel/Access) to automate and streamline business processes and perform financial analysis.
  • Align all financial activity with the regulations of the GAAP.
  • Analyze technical financial problems and provide professional assistance and advice concerning their solutions using GAAP and GASB standards.
  • Administer accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank statements reconciliations and confirmations.
  • Monitor and maintain various account reconciliations for audit requirements, compliance controls, and other special analysis requests.
  • Handle the tasks of monitoring payroll activities and program components to ensure compliance with establish legal and administrative requirements.
  • Show more

Senior finance manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage regional treasury functions including coordination with international HQ for daily cash balance requirements.
  • Manage staff of financial analysts who perform divisional and branch portfolio and profit/loss analysis.
  • Manage Oracle/Hyperion application upgrade used to support the close, consolidate and report process within Oracle/PeopleSoft ERP environment.
  • Manage financial reporting in support of CEO/CFO/President with oversight for data integrity and consistency of reporting across enterprise.
  • Manage eight team members' activities including daily transaction processing, monthly reconciliations and analysis, and financial statement preparation
  • Manage senior financial analysts responsible for evaluating the financial risks of a portfolio of large property and casualty insurance programs.
  • Show more

Senior finance specialist vs senior finance manager skills

Common senior finance specialist skills
  • Financial Statements, 13%
  • Financial Data, 6%
  • Financial Analysis, 6%
  • Calculation, 4%
  • Strong Analytical, 4%
  • Financial Management, 3%
Common senior finance manager skills
  • Hyperion, 7%
  • Financial Performance, 5%
  • Financial Analysis, 5%
  • Business Development, 4%
  • SR, 4%
  • Financial Models, 4%

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