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Profession JRI–68 / Finance

Will AI replace financial managers?

Financial managers coordinate accounting, investing, and regulatory compliance activities. Core tasks include preparing for regulatory inquiries, evaluating staff, developing security valuation policies, and attending investment briefings to stay informed.

The risk spectrum — where Financial Manager sits
Financial Manager vs the 83 other jobs
Risk rank68 / 84
Automation timeline5-10 years
Median salary$166,570
Projected growth+14.8% (2024–34)
01 / Your plan

The skills that keep you relevant.

Picked to match what this role actually asks for — refreshed weekly, never by what a platform pays.

What you'll learn
ExcelTime SeriesTax Preparation
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Updated Sep 21, 2026

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02 / Job market

Official outlook: still growing.

Within the 84 professions
Salary$166,570
$31k$171k
Growth+14.8% (2024–34)
-25.9%33.5%

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a +14.8% change in employment for this occupation between 2024 and 2034, from a current base of 841,710 people employed earning a median of $166,570 a year.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–34 & OEWS May 2025.

AI adoption in postings →

03 / Real salaries

Financial Manager salaries by city

Median pay from real records (H-1B filings and tech job postings), across the cities with most observations.

New York$241,592San Francisco$223,454Chicago$185,047Miami$168,771Boston$210,000Los Angeles$180,000

Range shows p25–p75; the dot is the median. Sources carry a documented bias — see the full salary page.

See real salaries →

04 / How to enter

How to become a financial manager.

Typical preparation

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Experience

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

Job training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Getting in is one thing — the day-to-day runs on a specific set of tools and skills:

Foundations
Core skills
Tools

Full skill path with courses →

06 / FAQ

What people ask.

01Will AI replace financial managers?
Occupying a medium risk level, this position scores 40. Automation can aggregate data and standard reporting, while managers apply critical thinking, judgment, and communication. Technology is framed as a tool to boost efficiency rather than a complete substitute.
02How fast could automation affect Financial Managers?
Automation effects are expected within a 5-10 year window. The evidence notes that technology can take over data aggregation and standard reporting, but critical thinking for regulations and risk judgment remains a human responsibility.
03Which skills keep Financial Managers relevant?
Critical thinking and complex problem solving are rated high-demand for the field. Reading comprehension and active listening also appear among the skills needed to enter, while enterprise resource planning software is rated medium-demand. These abilities let managers interpret regulations and communicate strategies.
04What preparation does a Financial Manager need?
Preparation typically includes a four-year bachelor's degree, though it is not always mandatory. The evidence highlights critical thinking, reading comprehension, and active listening as key abilities for newcomers, and lists SAP, QuickBooks, and Alteryx among tools used.
05Is Financial Manager a good career to start in 2026?
For 2026, the evidence lists 166570 USD as the median annual wage, with a projected change of +14.8% (2024–34) and total employment of 841710. While automation handles routine reporting, judgment and communication remain valued.
06What tasks do Financial Managers perform?
Core duties include recruiting staff, evaluating cost data to plan budgets, overseeing training programs, and coordinating branch or department activities. Tools used include SAP, QuickBooks, Alteryx, Microsoft Access, IBM SPSS, and Adobe Acrobat.