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

The Open University & The Open University Business School

Finance Fundamentals: Financial Services after the Banking Crisis

5.0 (7 reviews)

Explore the UK financial services landscape, how financial firms and products are regulated, and how consumers are protected.

4 weeks

3 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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The Open University & The Open University Business School

Finance Fundamentals: Investment Theory and Practice

4.5 (15 reviews)

Look at the investment choices open to you, and the risks and returns of each. Start managing your financial future effectively

4 weeks

3 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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New York Institute of Finance

Mergers and Acquisitions: Accounting Principles

Understand how to apply accounting and tax principles with this final course in a program about mergers and acquisitions.

2 weeks

4 hrs per week

Premium course

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The Open University & The Open University Business School

The Digital Economy: Finance for Business Growth

4.8 (5 reviews)

Learn how to develop a funding strategy for your business; explore different types of finance and learn when, and how, to use them

4 weeks

3 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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Coventry University

Understanding Financial Statements

Learn how to make better business decisions with financial information.

2 weeks

3 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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New York Institute of Finance

Mergers and Acquisitions: Free Cash Flow Modeling

Learn how to evaluate a company’s financial performance to determine acquisition opportunities.

3 weeks

4 hrs per week

Premium course

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The Open University

Bookkeeping for Personal and Business Accounting

4.4 (86 reviews)

Learn how to balance your books and develop the skills to manage finances in personal and business environments.

4 weeks

3 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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University of Leeds

Starting a Business 5: Managing Finances

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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New York Institute of Finance

Mergers and Acquisitions: Structuring the Deal

Learn how to structure mergers and acquisitions and discover the documents, tax, and legal structures needed to execute a deal.

3 weeks

4 hrs per week

Premium course

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SOAS University of London

Understanding Public Financial Management: How Is Your Money Spent?

4.8 (14 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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University of Southampton

Understanding Money: the History of Finance, Speculation and the Stock Market

4.8 (24 reviews)

Explore how money, investment and finance have been represented in arts, literature and popular culture over the last 300 years.

3 weeks

3 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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New York Institute of Finance

Mergers and Acquisitions: Advanced Theory

Explore mergers and acquisitions in greater depth, examining accounting and projections.

2 weeks

4 hrs per week

Premium course

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New York Institute of Finance

Mergers and Acquisitions: Concepts and Theories

Get an introduction to mergers and acquisitions with this first course in a program from the New York Institute of Finance.

3 weeks

4 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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Browse more courses in Business & Management

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.