Remote Finance Jobs | Everything you must know on how to find best paid remote openings!

Are you passionate about the area of finance? If you’re looking for the best finance openings, here’s a complete guide on how to get the best-paid remote finance jobs!

The word “Finance” is an influential concept in the world of economy driving all individuals, government, and companies in terms of revenue management, expense management, and investments. It is widely categorized into,

1. Corporate Finance
2. Public Finance
3. Personal Finance

Remote Finance Jobs are the most prestigious occupation in the market, demanding intellectual and calculative knowhow on financial instruments, the inflow, and outflow of money, investments, and the financial markets. The job opportunities are also considerably high in each of the categories mentioned above.

Before we deep dive into the details of remote finance jobs, let us try to understand the different subdivisions of jobs that fall under the umbrella of Finance,

1. Accounting Jobs for preparing, administering, and controlling payroll, income and expenditures, financial reports and statements, business plans
2. Tax Preparer Jobs for preparing and filing income tax returns for individuals and companies, reviewing the financial records
3. Bookkeeping Jobs for recording and posting financial transactions, generating financial reports and statements, financial reconciliation
4. Audit Jobs for ensuring adherence and compliance with statutory rules and regulations, verifying the assets and the liabilities
5. Banking Jobs for managing customer bank accounts, advisory services on banking
6. Compliance Jobs for managing, planning, developing, and deploying a company’s compliance and risk programs
7. Wealth Manager Jobs for providing advisory solutions on financial investments, wealth planning, and taxations
8. Risk Management Jobs for developing financial risk models for the company, enforcing controls, and propagating risk policies and processes across the company

Market opportunities for remote finance jobs

The market opportunities of remote finance jobs have never experienced a dearth or downfall in the curve. Though at times in the past when the economy had suffered a setback, the curve was fairly flat it took very few months to again raise the curve.

A detailed analysis of the job statistics of the subcategories of remote finance jobs are illustrated below,

1. Accounting Jobs

As per the predictions and analysis of the Bureau of Labor Statistics under the US Department of Labor, accounting jobs are expected to grow at the rate of 4% from 2019 till 2029. The rise is exponentially proportional to the growth in the economy. As the economy matures every year, the demand for accountants increases at a rapid space. We have a detailed and comprehensive guide on the topic of Accounting Jobs separately.

2. Tax Preparer Jobs

At ONet Online, statisticians have predicted that the employment opportunities for tax preparers are expected to increase between the range of 8% to 14% within the year spanning from 2012 to 2022. On similar lines, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a growth of 13% between 2012 and 2022. We have a detailed and comprehensive guide on the topic of Tax Preparer Jobs separately.

Tips: Many of the tax preparer jobs are seasonal, being at their peak between the months of January to April. Hence it is advisable to look for market opportunities at these times of the year.

3. Bookkeeping Jobs

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that bookkeeping jobs are likely to attain a growth of 16% between the year range of 2018 to 2028. The bookkeeping activities are now facilitated or enhanced by the upcoming and trending technologies like machine learning, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and robotics. We have a detailed and comprehensive guide on the topic of Bookkeeping Jobs separately.

4. Audit Jobs

Audit jobs will experience a surge of 4% from 2019 till 2029 as per the analysis ad statistics shared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Auditors are vital for small, medium, or large size companies to ensure adherence or compliance to the mandatory financial and statutory terms and conditions. Companies are penalized for non-adherence, hence recruiting auditors are one of their primary objectives thus increasing the demand for auditors.

5. Banking Jobs

The financial stability of the economy plays a significant role in the performance of the banking sector. With the world economy being stable, there will be no dearth in banking jobs. Though there are no predictable statistics on the growth, in the first quarter of 2020, there was an estimate of 49,000 bankers being employed in 12 key investment banks globally. It is fairly a high number of employees.

6. Compliance Jobs

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a growth of 5.8 % of compliance jobs within the year range of 2018 and 2028. An approximate estimate of 18,600 jobs is expected to emerge within the time frame.

7. Wealth Manager Jobs

The growth of wealth manager jobs in conjunction with other finance manager jobs will be experiencing a considerable rise, as high as 15% between 2019 and 2029. This is the prediction stated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

8. Risk Management Jobs

Along with the other financial management jobs, risk management jobs are expected to rise by 11% between 2019 and 2029 as per the predictions and study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the US.

Job types and career paths of remote finance jobs

Job types and career paths of remote finance jobs are diverse and variegated. The field of Finance offers a multitude of opportunities to select among the varying pathways according to your skillset, domain expertise, educational qualifications, and preference. You can pursue any of the 3 options below while searching for remote finance jobs,

1. Financial and investment planning
2. Financial management
3. Banking and financial services

Once you graduate from your Bachelor’s Degree Program or be a certified Accountant, you can apply for a role from the list below,

• Accountant
• Tax preparer
• Auditor
• Controller
• Financial Analyst
• Bank Teller
• Personal Financial Advisor
• Treasurer
• Actuary
• Underwriter
• Budget Analyst
• Investment Advisor
• Compliance Officer
• Loan officer

While all the above roles may not be available an entry level remote finance jobs, you can aspire for them once you have gained experience in accounting, bookkeeping, generating financial statements and reports in a firm.

Tips: It is advisable to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for higher salaries and better job positions.

The rate of employment of the majority of the remote finance jobs are on the rise, and it is expected to continue in the next 10 years. Therefore you have ample opportunities to rise in your career and work with the major financial institutions, firms, or companies.

The best part is you can work remotely full time or part time in any of the category of remote finance jobs. You need a good accounting tool or software for aiding your work along with the collaboration, communication, and planning tools for remote jobs.

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Roles and responsibilities of remote finance jobs

Finance personnel is entrusted with the critical duties and responsibilities related to the financial health of a firm. The foundational stability of a company depends a lot on the accuracy of the financial figures. Manipulations and wrong representation of the financial statements and reports may result in major penalties, leading to the seizure of assets and closure of companies.

Though the duties of the Finance professional varies depending on the career path selected, yet on a broad level the roles and responsibilities of remote finance jobs are,

1. Defining the Ledger and the accounting structure of a company
2. Decide the financial parameters for inclusion in the statements and reports
3. Forecasting, planning, and preparing the financial budgets
4. Prepare the audit parameters for monitoring and verifying the financial assets and records
5. Conducting a detailed audit to prevent fraudulent transactions and activities
6. Recording the financial transactions and posting to the ledgers or books
7. Daily, monthly, quarterly and yearly reconciliation of financial accounts
8. Processing invoices and payments
9. Managing the stocks and investments of a company
10. Prepare and file income tax returns of individuals or companies
11. Ensure adherence and compliance with international accounting standards (US GAAP, IFRS) and SOX rules and regulations
12. Advisory services to customers of financial management and planning, investment management, and wealth management
13. Curating financial risk models for companies that include market risk, operational risk, and credit risk
14. Devise methodology to predict financial loss and its impact on the organization
15. Managing customer bank accounts – opening, continued support, transfer, or closure
16. Assist and support customers on loans, demand drafts, deposits, mutual funds, stock purchase, and credit cards
17. Closing of books or ledgers, ensuring reconciliation of accounts and accuracy in the financial reports and statements
18. Record income or revenue, expense, financial assets, and property of the company

Qualification needed for remote finance jobs

The minimum qualification needed for remote finance jobs is a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or economics. Many also obtain a Master’s degree for advanced knowledge in Finance, accounting, banking, wealth management, etc. They provide substantial knowledge on the financial models, financial instruments, analysis, and methodologies.

Many professionals opting for remote finance jobs apply for additional professional certifications to stay ahead in the competitive jobs market. The certifications assist in scaling up the competency level in the various financial concepts and techniques. You can select a particular career path or category under the Finance track and then go for the relevant certifications. The key among them being CFA or Chartered Financial Analyst, CPA or Certified Public Accountant, FRM or Financial Risk Manager, and many more.

Which are the best colleges to pursue a degree in Finance? Do you have this question in your mind?

Here is a list of the best colleges to answer your question, a ready guide for your reference,

1. The University of Pennsylvania, founded by Benjamin Franklin. It is located in Philadelphia and the fees are approximately USD 60,042
2. New York University located in Greenwich of Manhattan. The tuition fees are almost USD 54,880
3. The University of Michigan, located near Detroit. If you belong within the state, the fees are USD 15,948 and for others, it is USD 52,226
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA. Its fees are approximately USD 53,818
5. The University of Texas in Austin. It is one of the largest universities in the US. It comprises a conglomerate of 13 colleges and schools. The fees for outsiders are USD 39,322 and for students within the state its USD 11,106
6. University of California in Berkeley near the Bay of San Francisco. The fees vary being USD 14,226 for students from the state and USD 43,980 for the students residing outside.
7. Boston College located at Chestnut Hill was established by the Society of Jesus. It is currently being maintained by Roman Catholics. The fees are USD 60,202.
8. Carnegie Mellon University at Pittsburg is a private institution. The founder of the university is Andrew Carnegie, an industrialist. The fees are USD 58,924.
9. The University of North Carolina or UNC at Chapel Hill. It also has a varying fee, USD 9021 for the students within the state and USD 36,200 for outsiders
10. Georgetown University situated in Washington DC. The fees are approximately USD 28,509.

Skills needed for remote finance jobs

An educational degree may place you eligible for remote finance jobs. But for succeeding in an interview and rising in your career, you need to possess certain skills for better positioning among all.

Be it the role of an accountant, tax preparer, banker, wealth manager, auditor, compliance manager, financial advisor, or controller, you must sharpen your financial domain and interpersonal skills before venturing for remote finance jobs. The key skills needed for remote finance jobs are elaborated below,

1. Accounting and Financial domain knowledge

You must be proficient in the financial concepts, accounting standards, the various financial instruments, statutory rules and regulations, and taxation policies

2. Knowledge of Financial Statements and Reports

You must be able to articulate the key entities that constitute the financial statements (balance sheets, profit and loss statements for example) and reports. Besides, you must be capable to create financial forecasts and budgets.

3. Knowhow of Accounting Software

Usage of accounting software is a common phenomenon in an accounting firm or any company for recording financial transactions, closing books, and generating financial reports. There are tools by Oracle, SAP, Tally, etc. You must be competent in using 2 to 3 of the tools or software.

4. Communication Skills

You must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills while dealing with the stakeholders, customers, auditors, or tax authorities. The remote finance jobs demand explaining the financial reports, processes, transactions, etc in clear and precise terms with proper usage of financial jargon. Hence companies will check your communication skills during the hiring process

5. Analytical and problem-solving skills

Resolving financial reconciliation issues, customer banking related issues, and mitigating issues during book closing are some of the critical activities in remote finance jobs. Hence it is essential to possess good analytical and problem-solving skills along with the strong financial domain knowledge

6. Understanding the financial market demands

Understanding the market fluctuations, inflation rates, money circulation in the stock market, and fiscal behavior are some of the key activities in remote finance jobs. You need to interpret the market and ensure the company’s books and financial stability is in sync with it.

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Recommended certifications for remote finance jobs

If we speak about recommended certifications for remote finance jobs, there are many pioneering to assist you in building up a strong foundation.

Facts to remember: Do you love Mathematics and Statistics? Do you possess good problem solving and analytical skills? If your answer is “Yes”, 50% of your hurdle in obtaining a respectable finance job is resolved. The rest 50% is your ability to score well in your Bachelor’s Degree and the certifications we have listed out.

Without delaying further, here is the list of 10 recommended certifications for remote finance jobs, that can help in building up your competency levels.

1. Chartered Financial Analyst or CFA

CFA is very popular among finance job aspirants, granted by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute. You need to appear for an aptitude test to qualify for the exam. A person with CFA certification is ranked high by recruiters, especially in the field of investment banking and portfolio management.

2. Certified Public Accountant or CPA

CPA is granted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. It builds up your knowledge specifically in tax, compliance, forensic accounting, and risk management. A person with CFA certification and experience of 1 year in public accounting are qualified for the CPA exam

3. Financial Risk Manager or FRM

Risk management is a niche skill in the finance industry. FRM provides excellent opportunities to increase your proficiency level in risk management. There are 2 parts to the exam, conducted by the Global Association of Risk Professionals. Besides clearing the exam, you require 2 years of work experience in risk management.

4. Certified Financial Planner or CFP

The CFP comprises 5 main divisions – Insurance, Investment, Tax, Retirement, and Estate Planning. The exam is conducted in 2 parts, each for 3 hours. The total duration of the course ranges between 18 and 24 months.

5. Financial Modelling

Financial Modelling certification is valuable for professionals working in banks as investment bankers or fund managers, property and fund managers in real estate, or any accountant and finance managers in the corporate houses.

6. Certified Credit Professional or CCP

The Credit Institute of Canada grants CCP certification specially designed for professionals interested in credit management. The program has 8 modules with exams at the end of each course, expanding for a duration of 3 years. As a pre-requisite, you must be experienced in credit management for at least 5 years.

7. Certified Management Accountant or CMA

CMA is granted by the Institute of Management Accountants. The course is focused on financial analysis and budgeting and strategic assessment.

8. Chartered Global Management Accountant or CGMA

Two leading accounting organizations CIMA and ICPA grant the CGMA certification. You are connected globally to accountants, Corporates, and government institutions through the CGMA license.

9. Certified Information Systems Auditor or CISA

Information Systems Audit and Control Association grants the CISA certification. It is focused mainly on information security, control, and auditing.

10. Certified Internal Auditor or CIA

CIA is a certificate for auditing and controls accepted globally. It is specifically for Information technology, risk, and controls.

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Top 10 tools for remote finance jobs

To ensure the right control of the financial processes in a company and guaranteeing accuracy in financial and statutory reporting, CFOs invest in best-in-class Financial and Accounting software and tools. You must be skilled and proficient in dealing with such market-leading tools if you are aspiring to apply for remote finance jobs. Enlisted below are the top 10 tools for remote finance jobs,

1. Blackline

Streamlines and automates the financial reconciliation processes facilitating closure of books. It assists in intercompany accounting and reporting. The Accounting tasks are automated, thus moving away from the traditional manual methods of reconciling financial transactions

2. FloQast

Offers a solution for financial close management, enabling customers to close their books 3 days in advance. The results are accurate with automated reconciliation activities and tight integration with the ERP systems

3. Avalara

A cloud-based solution for accurate calculation of local and federal sales tax. It has prebuilt adapters for integrations with various transactional systems, almost 700 in number

4. Vertex

An industry-leading tax software enabling tax calculations and recording tax rates and codes efficiently

5. Entreflow

A cash management tool that is used by certain business firms. You can execute cash planning and forecasting efficiently, faster, and with accuracy.

6. Float

Specifically prominent in the market for the rolling cash forecast feature. It helps business to monitor the cash inflow and outflow in real-time mode

7. Jirav

Financial planning and analysis software predominantly used for forecasting cash flows, revenue, and expenses. It connects to both historical and current financial transactional data for the calculations.

8. PayPie

The tool forecasts and plans cash outflow and inflow by creating what-if scenarios for analysis. The predictions are conducted daily, weekly, and monthly.

9. Tesorio

A cash management software that leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence to predict and forecast the cash outflow.

10. Anaplan

Hosted in the cloud, the tool has financial modeling capabilities enabling the finance team to structure, automate, and bring in modifications in the financial models to capture the changes in the business interactions.

Top 25 dream companies for remote finance jobs

While we have spoken about the various remote finance jobs one can opt for to build up a career path as a finance professional. The next target is where to find the appropriate and desired roles. To resolve the dilemma, listed below are the top 25 dream companies for remote finance jobs.

1. Boston Consulting Group, founded in 1963 and established to perform excellently in leading-edge management consultancy and advisory activities.
2. Travelers, an insurance company in the US dealing with personal and casualty insurance for travelers
3. Cisco, a multinational firm in the US that produces and sells networking software and hardware along with telecommunication equipment and other technology products
4. Goldman Sachs, an investment bank and financial services company in the US, dealing with securities, assets, underwriting, securities, and investment management activities
5. Deloitte, a multinational global company and one of the Big Four accounting firms, ranking high when it comes to its huge employee base and revenue
6. Edward Jones, a financial services firm in the US, servicing customers in North America through 14,000 locations
7. Hewlett Packard or HP, a multi-national conglomerate in the US, focusing on the information technology
8. Morgan Stanley, established in 1585, is a financial services company and investment bank in the US
9. Kaiser Permanente, located at Oakland in the US and established in 1945, is an integrated managed care consortium
10. Citi, a group for financial services and investment banking, providing services to consumers, governments, corporations and institutions
11. American Express, established in 1850 and located in New York City, is a multinational financial service firm in the US
12. Allianz Life, a life insurance company in the US, providing life insurance and annuities products to its customers
13. Capital One Financials, a financial services firm in the US dealing with credit cards, bank loans etc.
14. Fidelity National Financial, a leading company for mortgage and insurance in the US
15. Principal Financial Group, an investment management company, providing retirement services to veterans
16. New York Life Insurance, one of the world’s largest insurance firms
17. Fannie Mae, a mortgage firm in the US, with 6 branches in the country
18. Chubb Limited, an insurance company, dealing with property and casualty insurance
19. USAA or United Services Automobile Association, a financial services company offering insurance, banking, and investing services to the military personnel and their families
20. TIAA-CREF, financial and retirement services company in the US offering remote working facilities
21. Arkency, a consulting firm, creates business software, conducts webinars, and educates programmers
22. PRA Health Services, a research firm specializing in introducing life-savings drugs and medicines
23. UnitedHealthGroup, a healthcare firm with 180,000 employees
24. Appirio with an employee base of 700,000 and headquartered in San Mateo in the US
25. Carlson Wagonlit Travel present in over 150 territories and countries worldwide

Top job boards to find remote finance jobs

Finance Jobs are available in abundance if you scan through the job boards on the internet. There are banking jobs, auditing jobs, tax preparer jobs, risk management, and compliance jobs, etc. The salaries offered are attractive along with various roles and functions. The majority of the companies focus on remote working on a full-time, part-time, or contract basis.

The job boards collaborate with the companies offering them to post their job opportunities. You can search for your dream job and role and apply for the preferred opportunity. The top job boards to find remote finance jobs are enlisted below for your quick reference,

1. WeWorkRemotely
2. Jobrapido
3. unremot.com
4. Indeed
5. RemoteOK
6. Glassdoor
7. Simplyhired
8. Dynamitejobs
9. Remotive
10. Angel

Top finance companies hiring remote professionals, post the roles required along with the approximate salary range, and also a summary of the duties and responsibilities.

You can filter based on the location, salary range, employment mode, and roles. It is better to register on some of the websites for receiving updates on the job opportunities. Additionally, your profile may appear under the search criteria of potential job recruiters. Ensure you mention all the skillsets and experiences in your profile details and description.

Before applying for the job, it is recommended to check the company background and the authenticity of the roles. Many of the websites facilitate communication between the candidate and the company for any queries before applying for the roles. The websites sort out the recent job postings along with the company names for easy search.

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Top resume elements of remote finance jobs

By now, you know where to apply for your remote finance jobs and where to search for your preferred roles. You must now be wondering how to crack the interview smartly and stand ahead in the competition? To answer your question, you must create a strong resume before appearing for the interview.

A detailed and intelligently written resume is the key success criteria in remote finance jobs. You must focus on specifying the right skill set and experience for attracting the hiring companies. Here are the top resume elements of remote finance jobs that you must focus on mandatorily,

1. Knowledge of the financial concepts on accounting, auditing, banking, taxation policies, risk management practices, etc depending on the roles you specialize in and the domain of your expertise
2. Mention the various finance roles you have performed in your prior engagements along with the duties and responsibilities
3. Specify your knowledge on Accounting standards like US GAAP, IFRS etc., SOX controls and policies, GDPR rules and regulations
4. Detailing out your knowledge on the financial reports and statements and how you have resolved reconciliation issues
5. Awards and accolades received on previous engagements for successful auditing or recording financial transactions without any errors and issues
6. Usage of accounting software and tools
7. Interpersonal and communication skills
8. Finance or risk management certifications obtained specifying the validity of the licenses

Pay structures of remote finance jobs

Remote Finance jobs are twined with lucrative salaries since they demand extensive knowledge of mathematics, statistics, and economics. Risk management and investment banking specifically are niche skills and hence the pay structures are high.

If you are successful in establishing yourself in any financial services firm or bank, then your career growth is unstoppable. Here are the samples of pay structures of remote finance jobs under the various job categories,

• Investment Banker, earning a salary of about USD 61,929 in a year for managing business portfolios and government funds
• Information Technology Auditor, earning an average salary of USD 63,412 in a year ensuring the company meets the compliance rules and regulations
• Compliance Analyst, earning an approximate salary of about USD 64,443 yearly reviewing financial data, transactions, and the infrastructure
• Financial Advisor, with an average salary of about USD 66,931 in a year, assisting companies to meet their financial goals and objectives
• Insurance advisor, earning USD 67,263 in a year helping customers to select the right insurance products
• Financial Analyst, earning about USD 69,419 in a year, working for financial institutions, and insurance companies
• Hedge Fund Manager, with a high average salary of about USD 98,256 in a year monitoring markets and protecting investors
• Chief Compliance Officer, a prestigious role earning USD 128,380 in a year, entrusting to oversee the departments meet the compliance standards
• Chief Financial Officer, a crucial role in a company, earning USD 127, 729 in a year
• Private Equity Associate, earning USD 108,152 yearly
• Financial Software Developer, earning USD 106, 124 on an average in a year

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Entry level remote finance jobs

While applying first time for remote finance jobs, you must ensure that you mention the educational qualifications and certifications obtained. A Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or economics is the first criteria for entry level remote finance jobs.

Certifications like CFA are vital to attracting the hiring managers. The key roles in the entry level remote finance jobs are typically that of a,

• Financial Analyst
• Accountant
• Budget Analyst
• Loan Officer
• Auditor
• Management Analyst
• Financial Examiner

You need to demonstrate your knowledge of the accounting principles, concepts of financial management, and focus on continual learning. Interpersonal and communications skills will play a vital role when you apply for remote finance jobs for the first time.

The salary structure of entry level remote finance jobs vary in the range of USD 30,000 in a year to USD 50,000 in a year. If you can showcase any hands-on experience of working voluntarily in a finance firm, then you are better positioned than the others. It can influence your salary structure too.