A bachelor's degree in financial management or a closely related field can qualify you to perform duties such as preparing financial reports, directing investments and planning a company's long-term strategies and goals. Find out more information about programs, courses and related careers.
What Will I Study?
A 4-year program, consisting of 120-180 credits, can lead to a Bachelor of Science in an area such as finance, financial management or financial economics or a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis on finance. Typical courses you might encounter include financial management fundamentals, accounting, economic forecasting, income tax planning, real estate finances, venture capital, public finance and portfolio analysis. You may have the opportunity to serve an internship.
Online or partially online programs can consist of internships, which must be completed in person, or an independent capstone project. If you hold an appropriate associate's degree, you may qualify for admission to an online degree-completion program. Degree-completion programs are composed entirely of upper-level courses. Depending on school policy, you might be able to finish a degree-completion program in 1-2 years.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Fields</b></td><td> Financial economics, financial management, finance or business administration with a finance concentration</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Common Courses</b></td><td>Financial Management Fundamentals, Accounting, Economic Forecasting, Income Tax Planning, Real Estate Finance</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Career Options</b></td><td>Loan officer, portfolio analyst, tax preparer, treasurer, risk manager</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)</b></td><td> 15% (for all financial managers)</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---HowImportantIsAFinancialManagementBachelorSDegree">How Important Is a Financial Management Bachelor's Degree?</h3><p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a bachelor's degree is the minimum educational preparation you need to secure a position as a financial manager. Though finance or financial management is the most logical choice for a major, you can also major in accounting, economics or business administration. The BLS also states that many employers now prefer to hire individuals with a master's degree in a similar concentration.
</p><p>The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has an online, searchable database of postsecondary institutions. A search yields over 500 schools that offer bachelor's degree programs in finance and financial management services.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatJobsCanIGet">What Jobs Can I Get?</h3><p>As noted by the BLS, nearly every organization, company or government agency employs financial management specialists. You might decide on a banking career as a loan officer, trust officer or branch manager. In the area of money management, you could become a fund accountant or portfolio analyst. You may qualify for a job as a controller, overseeing all financial reports. Treasurers and finance officers set and direct an organization's budget. You may specialize further as a cash, credit or risk manager. You might secure a position with the government as a management analyst, compliance officer or bank examiner, or you might decide to freelance as a tax preparer or financial adviser.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatIsTheOccupationalOutlook">What Is the Occupational Outlook?</h3><p>The BLS projected employment opportunities for financial managers would increase 15% from 2019-2029. Because competition for positions is expected to be stiff, your chances for employment might improve with a master's degree or a specialized certification. With your degree and a specified amount of work experience, you can qualify to sit for certification examinations administered by various professional organizations. For example, the Institute of Management Accountants confers the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation. The CFA Institute offers the Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) and the Certificate of Investment Performance Management (CIPM) designations.
</p><p>In 2020, The BLS determined the mean annual wage for tax preparers to be $52,710. Financial advisors and financial analysts came in at $122,490 and $96,630, respectively. The mean annual wage for financial managers topped the list at $151,510.</p>
