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Financial manager

Also called CFO, finance chief, finance manager

Financial managers handle all the matters in reference to the finance and investments of a company. They manage financial operations of companies such as the assets, liabilities, equity and cash flow aiming to maintain the financial health of the company and operative viability. Financial managers evaluate the strategic plans of the company in financial terms, maintain transparent financial operations for taxation and auditing bodies, and create the financial statements of the company at the end of the fiscal year.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects18 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Administrative and commercial managersWhat does it pay?Well above averageFrom about €3,500 (Romania) to €12,800 (Italy) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Administrative and commercial managersWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree8 in 10 have a degree.Administrative and commercial managersWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Finance managers · ILO

What you'd do

Finance managers · ILO
  • Planning, directing and coordinating the financial operations of an enterprise or organization
  • Assessing the financial situation of the enterprise or organization, preparing budgets and overseeing financial operations
  • Consulting with the chief executive and with managers of other departments or sections
  • Establishing and managing budgets, controlling expenditure and ensuring the efficient use of resources
  • Establishing and directing operational and administrative procedures
  • Planning and directing daily operations
  • Overseeing the selection, training and performance of staff
  • Representing the enterprise or organization in dealings with outside bodies
Strive for company growthFollow company standardsControl financial resourcesPrepare financial statementsEvaluate budgets+ 17 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines every day
  • Very repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Financial Managers"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as administrative and commercial managers in the EU
2.6m3.02m2.85m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
660,000 replacing leavers 115,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Administrative and commercial managers18
All jobs29
Right now
4 of 27 countries report a shortage of finance managers, 6 a surplus.
Finance managers · EURES

What does it pay?

Well above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €3,500 a month (Romania) to €12,800 (Italy), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among managers in the EU, women earn 27% less per hour than men. Managers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in finance, banking and insurance is the usual route.

Highest qualification of administrative and commercial managers (EU, 2025)
Degree 76%Vocational 14%General secondary 7%Basic schooling 2%
Fields that teach it
Finance, banking and insurance · Accounting and taxation
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field
Business and law graduates in a matching job
66% in the EU

1,314 institutions in the EU offer business and law bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.37 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 8 tasks
Assessing the financial situation of the enterprise or organization, preparing budgets and overseeing financial operations0.43
Planning, directing and coordinating the financial operations of an enterprise or organization0.41
Planning and directing daily operations0.38
Establishing and managing budgets, controlling expenditure and ensuring the efficient use of resources0.37
Representing the enterprise or organization in dealings with outside bodies0.36
Establishing and directing operational and administrative procedures0.36
Consulting with the chief executive and with managers of other departments or sections0.34
Overseeing the selection, training and performance of staff0.32

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for finance managers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).