Core skills to launch your career in finance

Are you a current or aspiring finance worker looking to pursue promotions or improve your finance skills? Explore a list of finance career skills in this guide, including both soft and hard skills.

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By: Matt Whittle, Edited by: Marie Custodio Collazo

Published: July 30, 2025

Female financial analyst explaining strategies to colleagues in a board room at the office.

Finance professions are in high demand and appear poised for continued growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9% employment growth for financial analysts and 17% for financial managers between 2023 and 2033 — far outpacing the average 4% growth rate for all occupations.

Employers seek finance professionals with diverse skill sets, including soft and hard skills. Level up your finance knowledge today with this in-depth guide on the most sought-after abilities in the field.

Top hard skills for finance careers

Hard finance skills refer to learnable technical abilities that involve specific types of tools and software. Discover the top hard skills for finance professionals below.

Risk management

This skill considers potential risks of investment strategies to maximize outcomes. Ideally, finance professionals balance bonds and investments to diversify their portfolios. If investments perform poorly, financial analysts must also perform loss prevention and reduction as part of their risk management efforts.

Accounting

Accounting refers to tracking finances for individuals and organizations. You can learn to read and analyze financial statements through industry-standard software like QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite. This crucial skill ensures that businesses remain solvent and can make forecasts to develop strong investment strategies.

Building financial models

Financial models offer a look into a company's finances and allow stakeholders to compare the value of their business with competitors. Finance professionals build these models by considering past, current, and potential future performance to develop a holistic view of a company's financial health to guide their investment and budgeting strategies.

Reporting

Accurate financial reporting ensures that companies meet ethical and regulatory requirements. Organizations may make quarterly or annual reports to discern profitability, evaluate incoming and outgoing expenses, and streamline tax processes. Common software platforms include Cube, Sage Intacct, and Insight.

Critical soft skills for finance professionals

Along with industry-specific skills, professionals benefit from interpersonal finance career skills. Consider the following list of key abilities.

Communication

Finance professionals may interact with technical and non-technical coworkers, requiring clear, thoughtful communication. The ability to speak with internal and external collaborators allows finance professionals to communicate their reporting through visual and verbal cues.

Problem-solving

Finance professionals benefit from making informed decisions amid crises and potential opportunities. Recognizing market gaps to solve industry problems can lead to new investments or enterprises. Problem-solving is also a crucial ability for risk management.

Critical thinking

Critical thinking allows finance professionals to process important data and reach logical and effective conclusions. Strong critical thinkers look beyond the numbers to find patterns and identify investment opportunities.

How to showcase your finance skills effectively

Developing your skills is important, but demonstrating them to potential employers is crucial. Include the following in your application materials for any prospective roles.

Certificates

Completing a finance certificate validates your completion of a set of specific courses. Include any certificates on your resume to communicate your proficiency to potential employers.

Networks

Connecting with other finance professionals allows you to showcase your skills to like-minded peers and mentors. These connections can lead to employment opportunities and other meaningful relationships.

Personal projects

Taking the initiative and starting your own finance project can help you demonstrate your skills. By listing projects on your résumé, whether you've worked as a consultant for another company or on a personal endeavor, you can stand out from other candidates.

Where to learn finance skills online

Use your personal and professional goals to find the right places to learn finance skills online. If you plan to pursue certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), or certified management accountant (CMA) credentials, you can sign up for training courses specific to these certifications.

To level up specific skills, look for independent courses, like edX's University of Cambridge: Foundations of Finance and Stanford Online: Principles of Economics classes. Certificate programs usually consist of 2-6 classes.

Take the next step in your finance career

Looking to level up your finance skills? Enroll in a finance certificate, course, Executive Education, or degree program with edX today.

Stand out in your field

Use the knowledge and skills you have gained to drive impact at work and grow your career.

Learn at your own pace

On your computer, tablet or phone, online courses make learning flexible to fit your busy life.

Earn a valuable credential

Showcase your key skills and valuable knowledge.

Frequently asked questions about finance career skills

What skills are most important for finance jobs?

The most important finance skills for employment include a mix of hard and soft skills relating to accounting, decision-making, financial reporting, and investing. Abilities vary based on the job, but strong communication skills allow finance professionals to collaborate with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Do finance careers require certification?

Entry-level finance jobs typically do not require certification, but higher-level positions may require candidates to have formal credentials like CFP, CMA, or CFA designations.

What software tools should I learn for a finance career?

Professionals in finance often use tools like Excel, Tableau, Bloomberg Terminal, and SQL. Learning how to use these and other programs can prepare you for success in finance. These tools allow you to organize, assess, and visualize large data sets.

Are soft skills important for finance professionals?

Yes. Finance professionals can benefit from soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and negotiation.

Can I start a finance career without a finance degree?

It's possible to start a finance career without a finance degree, but it will likely be more challenging. To increase your chances of starting a finance career without a relevant degree, build a strong network, pursue certifications, and find internships.