Almost every firm, government agency, and organization has one or more financial managers who oversee the preparation of financial reports, direct investment activities, and implement cash management strategies. As computers are increasingly used to record and organize data, many financial managers are spending more time developing strategies and implementing the long-term goals of their organization.
The duties of financial managers vary. Chief financial officers (CFOs), for example, are the top financial executives of an organization. They oversee all financial and accounting functions and formulate and administer the organization’s overall financial plans and policies. In small firms, CFOs usually handle all financial management functions. In large firms, they direct these activities through other financial managers who head each financial department.
From the Occupational Outlook Handbook 11/13/01
The CFA Society of Seattle promotes ethical and professional standards within the investment industry, encourages professional development through the CFA Program, and facilitates the open exchange of information and opinions.
These certifications typically require a combination of education and experience, and can be done in conjunction with a graduate degree, such as our Masters of Science in Finance - MSF.
The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) Program is a globally recognized standard for measuring the competence and integrity of financial analysts. Three levels of examination measure a candidate's ability to apply the fundamental knowledge of investment principles at a professional level. The CFA exam is administered annually in more than 70 nations worldwide. For more information, go to the CFA Institute web site.
Founded in 1985 as a nonprofit professional regulatory organization, the CFP Board exists to benefit the public by fostering professional standards in personal financial planning. Certified Financial Planner professionals are recognized as having met the highest standards for the practice of financial planning. For more information about becoming a CFP, visit the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards web site.
The Financial Risk Manager (FRM) certification establishes that an individual possesses the body of knowledge necessary for independent risk management analysis and decision making. For more, visit the Global Association of Risk Professionals web site.
A Certified Treasury Professional (CTP)/Certified Cash Manager (CCM) credential recognizes individual expertise in the field of cash/treasury management. The CTP program is a professional certification program designed to measure an individual's knowledge of the fundamentals of cash/treasury management and to enhance career development through continuing professional education. For more information, visit the Association of Financial Professionals web site.
National salary information is available on http://salary.com.
State of Washington detailed salary information can be found at: http://www.workforceexplorer.com
The Occupational Outlook Handbook by the US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics is a nationally recognized source of career information. Below is a partial list of Executive, Administrative, Managerial, and Professional Occupations web pages that can demand someone with a finance degree.
Actuaries
Budget Analysts
Financial Managers
Top Executives
Medical and Health Services Managers
Insurance Underwriters
Insurance Sales Agents
Loan Officers
Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
To find out more about the duties and qualifications of specific jobs requiring a finance degree, go to The Seattle Times online classifieds and enter a search for 'finance' or one of the job titles listed here.
Their web site is: http://marketplace.nwsource.com/jobs/