Finance Manager
Run a company's day-to-day finance function - reporting, controls, planning, team.
This UK finance manager career guide covers what the role involves day to day, typical salary at each stage, the usual entry route, the skills employers expect, and related careers worth comparing.
Quick facts
- Starting salary
- £45,000 - £60,000
- Mid-career salary
- £60,000 - £85,000
- Senior salary
- £95,000 - £140,000
- Work environment
- Office or hybrid
- Time to entry
- 5 - 8 years (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)
- Degree required
- Usually required
- Category
- Business, Finance and Legal
What a Finance Manager does
Run a company's day-to-day finance function - reporting, controls, planning, team.
- Management Accounts - Monthly reporting and variance analysis.
- Group Finance - Group consolidation and statutory accounts.
- FP&A - Forecasting, budgeting and business partnering.
- Treasury - Cash, FX and funding management.
How to become a Finance Manager
- Look up Finance Manager roles on LinkedIn or Indeed and read 5 real job ads
- Talk to someone already working as a Finance Manager - even a 15-minute call helps
- Find one beginner course or qualification used by people in this role
- Build one small piece of evidence you've explored this (project, shadowing, short course)
- Apply to one entry-level role or related opportunity within the next month
Key skills
- Management accounting
- Controls
- Leadership
- Reporting
- Systems