Best Finance Careers for the Future
Individuals who are planning to pursue a career in the field of finance may be interested in knowing which jobs are expected to experience above average growth through 2029. We will look at five different finance careers that are expected to experience job growth of 3% or higher during that time frame and discuss the type of education required to qualify for these positions and what each career entails.
| Job Title | Median Salary (2020)* | Job Growth (2019-2029)* |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Manager | $134,180 | 15% |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $89,330 | 4% |
| Management Analyst | $87,660 | 11% |
| Accountant/Auditor | $73,560 | 4% |
| Loan Officer | $63,960 | 3% |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Information About the Best Finance Careers for the Future
Financial Manager
As a financial manager, you will be in charge of monitoring an organization or business's financial health, which could include creating yearly budgets, overseeing investment decisions, keeping track of the financial market, and making sure that the organization is operating within the law in regard to financial regulations. You will also likely be responsible for managing employees who work in the finance department of the organization to make sure they are performing their jobs correctly and efficiently. From 2019 to 2029, the field of financial management is expected to grow by 15%, says the BLS, which is much faster than the average of 4% for all occupations, due to the growing economy and increasing globalization. To become a financial manager, you will generally need a bachelor's degree in a field like finance or economics along with a significant amount of work experience.
Personal Financial Advisor
Personal financial advisors typically work with individuals and provide them with advice and guidance on how to manage their finances. They may help clients develop an investment strategy, set up different types of savings accounts for events like retirement or sending their children to college, and manage clients' portfolios. According to the BLS, positions in this field are expected to increase by 4% between 2019 and 2029 in large part due to the aging baby boomer population who are nearing retirement and may need more financial guidance. To become a personal financial advisor, you will usually need a bachelor's or master's degree in a field related to business, finance, economics, or accounting.
Management Analyst
Management analysts are typically employed by a wide variety of different organizations and businesses, including those in the financial industry, and work to help the organizations become more efficient. Regardless of what type of business they are working with, management analysts often focus on the finances to figure out ways to cut costs, manage money more efficiently, and increase overall revenue. Between 2019 and 2029, the BLS predicts that jobs in this industry are expected to increase by 11% largely due to an increasingly competitive market, which makes it more important than ever for businesses to ensure they are being efficient. To become a management analyst, you will usually need a bachelor's degree in a field like management, business, or marketing, and may want to consider obtaining the Certified Management Consultant designation.
Accountant/Auditor
Accountants and auditors are responsible for preparing various financial documents and records for businesses and organizations and making sure that they are complying with applicable state and federal tax laws. There are a number of different types of accountants and auditors, from government accountants who review the finances of government agencies to external auditors who are employed by outside agencies to make sure an organization is managing and reporting their funds correctly. The BLS says that this career field is expected to grow by 4% between 2019 and 2029 as the economy continues growing and more companies become public. To become an accountant or auditor, you will generally need a bachelor's degree in accounting. For jobs that include filing reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), you will need to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) by passing a series of exams.
Loan Officer
As a loan officer, you will be responsible for meeting with individuals and companies who are in need of a loan and determining whether or not they qualify by analyzing their financial information. Sometimes your job may require you to identify potential clients by placing calls and providing information about different types of loans, like consumer loans, commercial loans, and mortgage loans. Between 2019 and 2029, this career field is expected to experience 3% growth, according to the BLS. To become a loan officer, you will usually need a bachelor's degree and will typically complete on-the-job training.
