10 Highest Paying Finance Jobs in 2023

Alana Grace

person standing near the stairs
Photo by Hunters Race on Pexels

Finance is a lucrative and competitive field that offers many career opportunities. If you are good with numbers, analysis, and decision making, you can find a finance job that suits your skills and interests. You can work in banking, investing, accounting, or consulting, among other sectors.

But which finance jobs pay the most? How much can you earn in different finance roles? What do you need to qualify for these jobs? In this article, we will answer these questions and more. Here are the 10 highest paying finance jobs in 2023:

10. Financial Analyst

  • Average salary: $67,000 per year
  • Job description: A financial analyst analyzes financial data and provides insights and recommendations to help businesses or individuals make better financial decisions. They may work in various sectors and specialize in a specific area, such as equity, credit, risk, or portfolio analysis.
  • Education: A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, statistics, or a related field is usually required. A master’s degree or a certification, such as CFA or FRM, may be preferred or required for senior positions.
  • Experience: A financial analyst typically needs at least one to three years of relevant work experience. They may also need to have knowledge of specific industries, markets, or products that they cover.
  • Skills: A financial analyst needs to have strong analytical, mathematical, and problem-solving skills. They also need to have excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills. They need to be proficient in using various software tools and platforms, such as Excel, SQL, Python, R, Tableau, Bloomberg Terminal, etc.

9. Financial Controller

  • Average salary: $88,000 per year
  • Job description: A financial controller oversees the accounting and financial operations of a company or organization. They are responsible for preparing and reviewing financial statements and reports, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and regulations, managing budgets and cash flows, supervising and training accounting staff, conducting audits and internal controls, etc.
  • Education: A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field is usually required. A master’s degree or a certification, such as CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or CMA (Certified Management Accountant), may be preferred or required for senior positions.
  • Experience: A financial controller typically needs at least five to ten years of relevant work experience in accounting or finance. They may also need to have knowledge of specific industries, markets, or products that they oversee.
  • Skills: A financial controller needs to have strong accounting, financial, and managerial skills. They also need to have excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills. They need to be proficient in using various software tools and platforms, such as QuickBooks, SAP, Oracle, etc.

8. Investment Banker

  • Average salary: $100,000 per year
  • Job description: An investment banker is someone who helps companies or governments raise capital by issuing securities, such as stocks, bonds, or derivatives. They may also advise clients on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, valuations, etc. An investment banker may work in different divisions of an investment bank, such as corporate finance, capital markets, sales and trading, research, etc.
  • Education: A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, mathematics, or a related field is usually required for entry-level positions. A master’s degree or an MBA (Master of Business Administration) may be preferred or required for senior positions.
  • Experience: An investment banker typically needs at least two to five years of relevant work experience in investment banking or a related field. They may also need to have knowledge of specific industries, markets, or products that they deal with.
  • Skills: An investment banker needs to have strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills. They also need to have excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills. They need to be proficient in using various software tools and platforms, such as Excel, PowerPoint, Bloomberg Terminal, etc.

7. Financial Manager

  • Average salary: $105,000 per year
  • Job description: A financial manager is someone who plans and directs the financial activities of a company or organization. They are responsible for preparing and analyzing financial reports and statements, developing and implementing financial strategies and policies, monitoring and managing financial performance and risks, etc. A financial manager may work in various sectors and departments of a company or organization, such as finance, accounting, treasury, budgeting, etc.
  • Education: A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, or a related field is usually required. A master’s degree or an MBA may be preferred or required for senior positions.
  • Experience: A financial manager typically needs at least five to ten years of relevant work experience in finance or accounting. They may also need to have knowledge of specific industries, markets, or products that they oversee.
  • Skills: A financial manager needs to have strong financial, analytical, and managerial skills. They also need to have excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills. They need to be proficient in using various software tools and platforms, such as QuickBooks, SAP, Oracle, etc.

6. Financial Advisor

  • Average salary: $110,000 per year
  • Job description: A financial advisor is someone who provides financial guidance and advice to individuals or businesses. They may help clients with various aspects of their financial lives, such as retirement planning, investment management, tax planning, estate planning, insurance planning, etc. A financial advisor may work independently or for a financial institution or firm.
  • Education: A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, or a related field is usually required. A master’s degree or a certification, such as CFP (Certified Financial Planner) or CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst), may be preferred or required for senior positions.
  • Experience: A financial advisor typically needs at least three to five years of relevant work experience in finance or a related field. They may also need to have knowledge of specific industries, markets, or products that they advise on.
  • Skills: A financial advisor needs to have strong financial, analytical, and problem-solving skills. They also need to have excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills. They need to be proficient in using various software tools and platforms, such as Excel, Quicken, Morningstar, etc.

5. Actuary

  • Average salary: $115,000 per year
  • Job description: An actuary is someone who uses mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to analyze and manage the risks and uncertainties of future events. They may work in various sectors, such as insurance, pensions, healthcare, banking, etc. An actuary may specialize in a specific area, such as life, property and casualty, health, or retirement benefits.
  • Education: A bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, actuarial science, or a related field is usually required. A master’s degree or a certification, such as ASA (Associate of the Society of Actuaries) or FSA (Fellow of the Society of Actuaries), may be preferred or required for senior positions.
  • Experience: An actuary typically needs at least two to four years of relevant work experience in actuarial or a related field. They may also need to pass a series of exams administered by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) or the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) to become certified. They may also need to have knowledge of specific industries, markets, or products that they deal with.
  • Skills: An actuary needs to have strong mathematical, statistical, and analytical skills. They also need to have excellent communication, computer, and business skills. They need to be proficient in using various software tools and platforms, such as Excel, R, SAS, MATLAB, etc.

4. Financial Director

  • Average salary: $130,000 per year
  • Job description: A financial director is someone who leads and oversees the financial activities and operations of a company or organization. They are responsible for setting and executing the financial goals and strategies of the company or organization. They are also responsible for managing and reporting the financial performance and position of the company or organization. A financial director may work closely with other senior executives and stakeholders of the company or organization, such as the CEO, CFO, board of directors, shareholders, etc.
  • Education: A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, or a related field is usually required. A master’s degree or an MBA may be preferred or required for senior positions.
  • Experience: A financial director typically needs at least ten to fifteen years of relevant work experience in finance or accounting. They may also need to have knowledge of specific industries, markets, or products that they oversee.
  • Skills: A financial director needs to have strong financial, analytical, and managerial skills. They also need to have excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills. They need to be proficient in using various software tools and platforms, such as QuickBooks, SAP, Oracle, etc.

3. Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

  • Average salary: $150,000 per year
  • Job description: A chief financial officer (CFO) is someone who is the top executive in charge of the financial affairs of a company or organization. They are responsible for developing and implementing the financial vision and strategy of the company or organization. They are also responsible for overseeing and directing the financial planning, budgeting, reporting, auditing, accounting, treasury, tax, risk management, etc. of the company or organization. A CFO may work closely with other senior executives and stakeholders of the company or organization, such as the CEO, board of directors, shareholders, regulators, etc.
  • Education: A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, or a related field is usually required. A master’s degree or an MBA may be preferred or required for senior positions.
  • Experience: A CFO typically needs at least fifteen to twenty years of relevant work experience in finance or accounting. They may also need to have knowledge of specific industries, markets, or products that they oversee.
  • Skills: A CFO needs to have strong financial, analytical, and managerial skills. They also need to have excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills. They need to be proficient in using various software tools and platforms, such as QuickBooks, SAP, Oracle, etc.

2. Hedge Fund Manager

  • Average salary: $200,000 per year
  • Job description: A hedge fund manager is someone who manages a hedge fund, which is a type of investment fund that uses various strategies and techniques to generate high returns for its investors. A hedge fund manager may invest in various types of assets and markets, such as stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies, derivatives, etc. A hedge fund manager may also use leverage, short selling, arbitrage, hedging, etc. to enhance their performance and reduce their risks. A hedge fund manager may work independently or for a hedge fund firm.
  • Education: A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, mathematics, or a related field is usually required. A master’s degree or an MBA may be preferred or required for senior positions. A certification, such as CFA or CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst), may be preferred or required for senior positions.
  • Experience: A hedge fund manager typically needs at least five to ten years of relevant work experience in investment management or a related field. They may also need to have knowledge of specific assets, markets, or strategies that they invest in.
  • Skills: A hedge fund manager needs to have strong financial, analytical, and problem-solving skills. They also need to have excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills. They need to be proficient in using various software tools and platforms, such as Excel, Python, R, Bloomberg Terminal, etc.

1. Chief Investment Officer (CIO)

  • Average salary: $250,000 per year
  • Job description: A chief investment officer (CIO) is someone who is the top executive in charge of the investment activities and policies of a company or organization. They are responsible for developing and implementing the investment strategy and portfolio of the company or organization. They are also responsible for overseeing and managing the investment performance and risks of the company or organization. A CIO may work for various types of companies or organizations, such as banks, insurance companies, pension funds, endowments, foundations, etc.
  • Education: A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, mathematics, or a related field is usually required. A master’s degree or an MBA may be preferred or required for senior positions. A certification, such as CFA or CAIA , may be preferred or required for senior positions.
  • Experience: A CIO typically needs at least ten to fifteen years of relevant work experience in investment management or a related field. They may also need to have knowledge of specific assets, markets, or strategies that they invest in.
  • Skills: A CIO needs to have strong financial, analytical, and managerial skills. They also need to have excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills. They need to be proficient in using various software tools and platforms, such as Excel, Python, R, Bloomberg Terminal, etc.

Conclusion

In conclusion, finance is a field that offers many high-paying jobs for people who are good with numbers, analysis, and decision making. However, these jobs also require a lot of education, experience, and skills. You have to work hard and smart to succeed in these jobs. We hope this article helped you learn more about some of the highest paying finance jobs in 2023. Thank you for reading and good luck with your career!

%d bloggers like this: