Career advice

Become a Finance Manager

Finance managers, sometimes known as financial controllers, are responsible for managing a company’s financial aims and output - from day-to-day decisions through to end-of-year goals. Start your career now with short online financial management courses.

  • Best jobs in the UK #8
  • Job satisfaction 3.2/5
  • Median base salary £60,000
  • UK job openings/month 2,231
Source: Glassdoor’s Best Jobs (January 2020)

What skills do you need to become a finance manager?

  • Reporting

    Finance managers feed back monthly and annual financial reports to companies, analysing information and monitoring budgets.

  • Advising

    A finance manager will offer points of view on how to cut spending, improve investment and make a company more financially efficient.

  • Managing

    Professional finance managers need to manage both people and financial processes, overseeing everything from payroll and invoicing through to team performance.

  • Research

    It’s important for finance managers to be plugged into markets and aware of business trends. They must also make sure a company is in-line with financial regulations.

Develop these finance management skills. Take an online short course

ExpertTracks
4 ExpertTracks

A series of courses designed to help you specialise your skills. Start a free seven-day trial, subscribe to keep learning at your own pace, and cancel your subscription whenever you like.

University of Michigan

Innovations in Fintech

Explore the fintech revolution transforming the financial industry and consider the challenges of disruptive financial technology.

4 courses

16 weeks

Introductory

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Coventry University

Finance Data Analysis: Better Business Through Financial Management

Unlock the financial and organisational potential of a business with balanced scorecards and other strategic analysis tools.

5 courses

10 weeks

Intermediate

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FutureLearn in collaboration with Xero

Financial Analysis for Business Performance

Discover how sound financial analysis and the employment of cutting-edge technologies can transform business performance.

3 courses

12 weeks

Introductory

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Courses
15 Courses

Learn new skills, pursue your interests or advance your career with our short online courses.

University of Leeds

Starting a Business 5: Managing Finances

4.5 (15 reviews)

Find out how forecasting and managing your finances can lead to a profitable and sustainable business.

2 weeks

2 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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Coventry University

Understanding Financial Statements

4.8 (27 reviews)

Learn how to make better business decisions with financial information.

2 weeks

3 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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SOAS University of London

Risk Management in the Global Economy

4.6 (46 reviews)

What is risk? This free course examines the financial markets and the role that risk management tools play in the global economy.

4 weeks

2 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

Find out more
SOAS University of London

Understanding Public Financial Management: How Is Your Money Spent?

4.8 (29 reviews)

How do governments acquire and spend public money? Take a fresh look at public financial management with this free online course.

4 weeks

4 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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Coventry University

Break-Even Analysis Unlocked: How to Understand the Profit and Loss Statement

Find out how to predict business profitability, the break-even point and the margin of safety with powerful financial tools.

2 weeks

5 hrs per week

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Coventry University

Divisional Performance Measurement: How to Achieve Operational Excellence

Learn how to enhance the performance of divisional structures with the right operational and financial performance measures.

2 weeks

5 hrs per week

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FutureLearn

Financial Analysis for Business Decisions: Cash Flow Management

Explore fundamental aspects of cash flow management, from cash conversion cycles to short-term financing

4 weeks

4 hrs per week

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FutureLearn

Financial Analysis for Business Decisions: How to Use Tableau and Financial Modelling

Discover how to use Tableau to visualise data to gain new insights, how to apply financial models, and how to do a SWOT analysis.

4 weeks

4 hrs per week

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Show more Become a Finance Manager courses 

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What do people say about these financial management courses?

After completing the course, I am more knowledgeable, my opinions are respected and I am better equipped to implement procedures. I have improved as a manager.

Laylo
Learner on Contract Management: Building Relationships in Business

It was like learning in a classroom filled with people from diverse backgrounds, discussing, reading other learners’ comments… Feels good to have participated in this course.

Murali
Learner on Contract Management: Building Relationships in Business

The benefits of taking finance management courses online with FutureLearn

Learn flexibly online, for free

Develop valuable skills with a short, online finance management course wherever you are. Start learning for free, on desktop, tablet or mobile.

Upgrade or buy Unlimited for extra benefits

Upgrade your course for ongoing access to the course content, tests, and the chance to gain a Certificate of Achievement. Buy Unlimited for access to hundreds of short courses in a year and the ability to keep access to courses you gain a certificate on.

Meet financial management experts

Learn with experts from top international universities and business schools. Network with finance managers all over the world.