Finance Manager
Distributes a company's financial resources and leads budget planning, advising senior management.
Overview
Finance Managers are responsible for distributing the financial resources of a company and for the budget planning. They support the executive or senior management team by offering insights and financial advice that will allow them to make the best strategic business decisions for the company.
Where they work
- Corporate houses
- Banks
- Investment firms
- Insurance companies
Work environment
It is a desk job, but might involve some travelling. You are likely to work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You like to analyse things
- You enjoy solving problems
- You enjoy working with numbers
- You like to pay attention to details
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10 + 2 in any stream (preferably Science or Commerce)
- 2Complete Bachelor's degree in Economics/CMA (Cost Management Accounting)/Finance/Business/Accounting
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete Bachelor's degree in Economics/Finance/Business/Accounting, followed by Master's in Finance like CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)/MBA Finance/M.A. in Economics/M.Sc. in Finance
- 2For admissions for Bachelor's degree, you must qualify in one of these entrance examinations: CET, SET, DU JAT, SET etc. and for Post graduate degree, you must qualify in any of the following exams: CAT/XAT/GMAT/SNAP/NMAT/CMAT.
- 3Note: A CFA certification from the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) institute of India is a good way to grow in this field.
Forms, exams and applications
Undergraduate: CET, SET, DU JAT and similar. Postgraduate: CAT, XAT, GMAT, SNAP, NMAT or CMAT. A CFA certification from the CFA Institute of India is noted as a good way to grow in this field. Check the official notification for current eligibility and dates.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Management or Commerce.
Government institutes
- Government College of Commerce and Business Administration, Chandigarh
- Maulana Azad College, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Gargi College, New Delhi
- Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi
- Madras Christian College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Faculty of Management Studies, New Delhi
- Department of Management Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra
- Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Indian Institutes of Management, Gujarat
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Amity University, Raipur/Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
- PP Savani University, Surat, Gujarat
- Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Technology & Management, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
- University of Technology, Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Institute of Management & Research, New Delhi
- IBMR IBS, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Institute of Management & Research, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
- Narsee Monjee, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Finance Manager
- 2Senior Finance Manager
- 3General Manager
- 4Chief Finance Manager
- 5Executive Director
- 6Director
- 7Chairperson
Related careers to explore
Financial Analyst
Uses company data to assess profitability, liabilities, strengths, weaknesses and future potential.
Chartered Accountant
Qualified to monitor a company's finances across taxation, accounting, applied finance and management accounting.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Commerce, Science.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to analysing.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Lovaii Navlakhi — Among the first Certified Financial Planners (CFP) of India. He is an MBA (Finance) and an ICWA. A staunch believer in persevering with training, he's now the Founder and CEO of International Money Matters. Lovaii has additionally been a board member of Financial Planning Standard Board, India.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 219 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Financial_Accountant/Salary
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.