Automotive Finance Managers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of automotive finance managers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for automotive finance managers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of automotive finance managers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for automotive finance managers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Automotive Finance Managers?
Do automotive finance managers need a degree? What kind of experience do automotive finance managers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for automotive finance managers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Automotive Finance Managers
Jobs Postings for Automotive Finance Managers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 286,986 (54%)
- Master's degree: 110,755 (21%)
- No Education Listed: 88,585 (17%)
- High School or GED: 32,711 (6%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 9,214 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of automotive finance managers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 54% of positions. In 21% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 17% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Automotive Finance Managers
Jobs Postings for Automotive Finance Managers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 16,128 (5%)
- 2-3 Years: 62,341 (21%)
- 4-6 Years: 124,451 (41%)
- 7-9 Years: 50,774 (17%)
- 10+ Years: 47,933 (16%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for automotive finance managers. In 41% of job postings for Automotive Finance Managers, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 21% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 17% of job postings for automotive finance managers.
What Kind of Degree Do Automotive Finance Managers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for automotive finance managers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 23 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective automotive finance managers, and in 2021 a total of 1,075,293 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective automotive finance managers.
Top Degree Programs for Automotive Finance Managers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Automotive Finance Managers (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 366,667 |
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 351,860 |
| General Studies. | 129,753 |
| Accounting. | 71,881 |
| Finance, General. | 51,430 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 366,667 |
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 351,860 |
| General Studies. | 129,753 |
| Accounting. | 71,881 |
| Finance, General. | 51,430 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other. | 37,634 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,128 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other. | 14,224 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other. | 13,371 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General. | 9,051 |
| Project Management. | 4,155 |
| Accounting and Finance. | 3,644 |
| Actuarial Science. | 2,206 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,537 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services. | 991 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other. | 814 |
| Risk Management. | 396 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services, Other. | 358 |
| International Finance. | 121 |
| Public Finance. | 48 |
| Financial Analytics. | 13 |
| Credit Management. | 10 |
| Financial Risk Management. | 1 |
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Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Automotive Finance Managers
Enter into or advance within the rapidly growing accounting industry and prepare for professional certifications like the CPA.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Build a strong foundation of real-world business knowledge suitable for a variety of career options in your industry of choice.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Master finance principles and develop all-inclusive corporate finance strategies for business firms and financial institutions.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Leverage customized solutions to help families and individuals organize life priorities and plan for their financial futures.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Expand your leadership capabilities to change the business of doing business.
- Years To Complete: 3
Distinguish yourself as a knowledgeable accounting professional with advanced technical, research, and communication skills.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 17
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Grab a chair at the leadership table with Franklin’s 17-month M.S. in Accounting with a focus in Financial Operations. In this 100% online program, you’ll learn to think critically, communicate effectively and leverage technology in innovative ways.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Master financial analysis tools and tactics that provide the knowledge you need to contribute at a strategic level with Franklin’s 12-month online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Finance.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Develop into a well-rounded, adaptive and strategic business leader with a comprehensive mindset.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Automotive Finance Managers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by automotive finance managers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for automotive finance managers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Automotive Finance Managers
Based on 409,008 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Automotive Finance Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 252,985 | 62% |
| Finance | 219,300 | 54% |
| Financial Statements | 153,924 | 38% |
| Auditing | 134,946 | 33% |
| Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | 96,637 | 24% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Automotive Finance Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 221,137 | 54% |
| Communications | 190,792 | 47% |
| Leadership | 173,212 | 42% |
| Operations | 160,726 | 39% |
| Budgeting | 119,798 | 29% |
Based on 409,008 job postings related to automotive finance managers, accounting was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 62% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for finance, financial statements, auditing, generally accepted accounting principles and internal controls were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for automotive finance managers, followed by communications, leadership, operations, budgeting and forecasting.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 252,985 | 62% |
| Finance | 219,300 | 54% |
| Financial Statements | 153,924 | 38% |
| Auditing | 134,946 | 33% |
| Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | 96,637 | 24% |
| Internal Controls | 69,839 | 17% |
| Financial Analysis | 62,168 | 15% |
| Accounts Payable | 60,349 | 15% |
| Accounts Receivable | 54,029 | 13% |
| General Ledger | 52,631 | 13% |
| Month-End Closing | 50,739 | 12% |
| Public Accounting | 47,470 | 12% |
| Project Management | 46,025 | 11% |
| Balance Sheet | 43,322 | 11% |
| External Auditing | 43,289 | 11% |
| Process Improvement | 42,655 | 10% |
| Investments | 41,732 | 10% |
| Financial Services | 41,473 | 10% |
| Financial Planning | 36,680 | 9% |
| Billing | 35,059 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 221,137 | 54% |
| Communications | 190,792 | 47% |
| Leadership | 173,212 | 42% |
| Operations | 160,726 | 39% |
| Budgeting | 119,798 | 29% |
| Forecasting | 104,353 | 26% |
| Sales | 93,170 | 23% |
| Planning | 92,031 | 23% |
| Microsoft Excel | 92,027 | 23% |
| Customer Service | 88,656 | 22% |
| Problem Solving | 86,109 | 21% |
| Detail Oriented | 77,887 | 19% |
| Writing | 70,391 | 17% |
| Microsoft Office | 58,300 | 14% |
| Research | 56,285 | 14% |
| Coaching | 54,824 | 13% |
| Presentations | 54,678 | 13% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 52,100 | 13% |
| Coordinating | 51,013 | 12% |
| Self-Motivation | 49,069 | 12% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about automotive finance managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for automotive finance managers.
What do automotive finance managers do?
How much do automotive finance managers make?
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