How long does it take to become a financial specialist?

It can take five and seven years to become a financial specialist depending on the career path. This role requires a bachelor's degree, typically in finance or economics. Once a person has their bachelor's degree, they will need to obtain all needed industry licenses and certifications. These may vary, and some may take more time than others.

How much do finance specialists make?

Finance specialists typically make around $70,000 annually. This average starting salary can quickly grow depending on the particular finance specialist's ability within their career. Salaries can range from a low of $60,000 per year, all the way up to and over $300,000 in a year.

What education is needed to become a finance specialist?

To become a finance specialist, a person needs a bachelor's degree. This role requires a bachelor's degree. Typically this should be done in finance or economics. Once a person has their bachelor's degree, they will need to obtain all needed industry licenses and certifications. These may vary, and some may take more time than others.

What qualifications do you need for finance?

The qualifications a person needs to work in finance include at least a bachelor's degree, various certifications, and, often, a master's degree. This role requires at least a bachelor's degree. Typically this should be done in finance or economics.

How To Become A Finance Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a finance specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Ken Johnston Ph.D.

Finance specialists act as financial advisors who help their clients determine present and future financial needs. A financial specialist analyzes financial data to determine a company's financial status, conducts cost and benchmarking analysis, prepares budget reports, develops financial models taking into consideration legal limitations and participates in regular audits and recommends corrective financial action plans. They design and review fiscal policies, identify investment opportunities, advise the senior management team on financial planning, and create financial forecast models based on current and past financial results.

A finance specialist should be proficient in business management, statistical, analytical and spreadsheet software, have in-depth knowledge of financial analysis models and forecasts, superb attention to detail, and excellent collaboration and communication skills.

Appilcants should have a bachelor's degree in finance or economics and a master's degree in finance. This is definitely not an entry-level job, it requires experience in the field of finance. On average, they earn a salary of $51,826 per year, which translates to $24.92 per hour. This depends on the size or location of the company though, because according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a $47,000 difference between the top earners and lowest earners.

What general advice would you give to a Finance Specialist?

Ken Johnston Ph.D.

Associate professor of finance, Berry College

With so much uncertainty in the economy currently, due to the coronavirus, graduates are going to have to be patient and flexible when it comes to beginning their careers. For many recent graduates, job start times have been delayed and may turn virtual as this pandemic plays out. Be reluctant to sign yearlong apartment rental agreements or include a coronavirus escape clause if your job is suspended. If your career starts virtually, move home and use those rental payment savings to start a Roth IRA. A Roth IRA is preferred as you are in a lower tax bracket when you begin your career, and given the size of the national debt, taxes are going to have to increase in the future. As Warren Buffet says, "Every decade or so, dark clouds will fill the economic skies, and they will briefly rain gold." If you can create investable cash, these are buying opportunities. Investable capital in these situations is like buckets to catch the rain.

ScoreFinance SpecialistUS Average

Salary

4.8

Avg. Salary $61,666

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.9

Growth Rate 10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.34%

Asian 10.00%

Black or African American 8.57%

Hispanic or Latino 9.58%

Unknown 3.87%

White 67.65%

Gender

female 57.91%

male 42.09%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress Level

6.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.8

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

6.6

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a finance specialist

Explore finance specialist education requirements

Most common finance specialist degrees

Bachelor's

62.3 %

Associate

17.3 %

Master's

10.3 %

Start to develop specific finance specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	22.87%
Phone Calls	16.01%
Cash Handling	10.13%
Customer Inquiries	9.14%
Patients	5.67%

Research finance specialist duties and responsibilities

Lead lease of aircraft including analysis and coordination of treasury, legal, tax and insurance reviews.
Manage client relationship by presenting solutions for customers state and unstate needs while cross-selling company products.
Ensure the highest standards of SOX compliance by conducting internal audits and annual SOX testing with external auditors.
Compare the closed month and calendar month reports in Hyperion.

Prepare your finance specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your finance specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a finance specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Finance Specialist Resume templates

Build a professional Finance Specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Finance Specialist resume.

Apply for finance specialist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a finance specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Finance Specialist Job

Abraham Hai

Finance Specialist, UNDP

My story on how to become a Finance Specialist I would say has been a very challenging journey.

I started my Finance Career as a junior finance assistant in an aid organization. I spent three years in that capacity and was recommended for a promotion.
Back in that time I only had a Higher Diploma Certificate.
When I lost my job with Save the Children, I decided to up[grade my education and think higher. I went for a degree course in Finance and was still working whiles i study. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Since then, it has been a ride with pride. I worked as Accountant and Finance Manager in two aid organizations. I completed a Masters programme. I started a study with the Institute of certified Management Accountant.
I have served as Finance Specialist for two organizations. A UN organization and an Aid organization.

For I would say to become a Finance Specialist is having the right education and the right experience.

How do finance specialists rate their job?

-/5

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Finance Specialist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2024

Cons

Never knowing how much you’re gonna get paid

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020

Pros

Able to do creative graphs showing financial activity, controlling budgets, and autonomy. I enjoy working by myself but i do miss talking with people

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020