Also called: Comptroller, Chief Accounting Officer
Runs a company's accounting department and makes sure every financial report is accurate.
During month-end close you review the accountants' work, approve big journal entries, explain a jump in costs to the CFO and prepare for auditors.
Financial managers' BLS median is about $166k (May 2025), with high earners top-coded; large-company executives earn far more through bonuses and stock.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 12 years after high school. Bachelor's in accounting; CPA license plus 8-10 years.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Accounting, Finance.
Growing much faster than average (about 10% over 10 years). Tracks financial managers.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI speeds the close and automates reconciliations so departments shrink; the controller who owns accuracy and controls remains.
Classes: Accounting, Computer applications, AP Statistics, Business law.
Official data: O*NET occupation 11-3031.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.