Financial Examiners: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of financial examiners 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 financial examiners to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of financial examiners 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 financial examiners.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Financial Examiners?
Do financial examiners need a degree? What kind of experience do financial examiners 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 financial examiners to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Financial Examiners
Jobs Postings for Financial Examiners By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 3,550 (49%)
- No Education Listed: 2,036 (28%)
- High School or GED: 908 (13%)
- Master's degree: 589 (8%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 157 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of financial examiners. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 49% of positions. In 28% of job listings no education level was listed and in 13% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Financial Examiners
Jobs Postings for Financial Examiners By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 1,191 (29%)
- 2-3 Years: 1,308 (32%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,027 (25%)
- 7-9 Years: 310 (8%)
- 10+ Years: 256 (6%)
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 financial examiners. In 32% of job postings for Financial Examiners, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 29% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 25% of job postings for financial examiners.
What Kind of Degree Do Financial Examiners Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for financial examiners, 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 9 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective financial examiners, and in 2023 a total of 120,148 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 financial examiners.
Top Degree Programs for Financial Examiners
Top 5 Degree Programs for Financial Examiners (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Accounting. | 61,109 |
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Accounting and Finance. | 3,492 |
| Taxation. | 1,256 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,214 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Accounting. | 61,109 |
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Accounting and Finance. | 3,492 |
| Taxation. | 1,256 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,214 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services. | 1,034 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other. | 795 |
| Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation. | 314 |
| Auditing. | 155 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
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 Financial Examiners
Develop the foundational financial skills needed to keep business running successfully, including financial reporting and analysis, managerial accounting, and federal taxes, so you can start your career as an accounting technician, tax preparer, payroll assistant and more.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Turn a head for numbers into a career as a financial associate or analyst, and help businesses turn financial data into actionable insights that can maximize investments, improve cash flow, and impact decisionmaking.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
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
Stay Sarbanes-Oxley compliant and promote a fraud-prevention culture while preparing for professional certifications like the CFE.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
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
What Skills Do Financial Examiners Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by financial examiners 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 financial examiners, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Financial Examiners
Based on 6,388 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Financial Examiners
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Anti Money Laundering | 2,750 | 43% |
| Bank Secrecy Act | 2,157 | 34% |
| Auditing | 1,956 | 31% |
| Accounting | 1,390 | 22% |
| Office Of Foreign Assets Controls | 1,306 | 20% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Financial Examiners
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 3,201 | 50% |
| Communication | 2,781 | 44% |
| Operations | 1,901 | 30% |
| Investigation | 1,844 | 29% |
| Writing | 1,681 | 26% |
Based on 6,388 job postings related to financial examiners, anti money laundering was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 43% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for bank secrecy act, auditing, accounting, office of foreign assets controls and finance were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for financial examiners, followed by communication, operations, investigation, writing and research.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Anti Money Laundering | 2,750 | 43% |
| Bank Secrecy Act | 2,157 | 34% |
| Auditing | 1,956 | 31% |
| Accounting | 1,390 | 22% |
| Office Of Foreign Assets Controls | 1,306 | 20% |
| Finance | 1,212 | 19% |
| Due Diligence | 1,205 | 19% |
| Know Your Customer | 1,056 | 17% |
| Financial Services | 989 | 15% |
| USA Patriot Act | 833 | 13% |
| Risk Management | 807 | 13% |
| Banking | 715 | 11% |
| Loans | 704 | 11% |
| Suspicious Activity Report | 694 | 11% |
| Financial Statements | 680 | 11% |
| Financial Institution | 656 | 10% |
| Risk Analysis | 640 | 10% |
| Economics | 634 | 10% |
| Customer Identification Program | 620 | 10% |
| Securities (Finance) | 617 | 10% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 3,201 | 50% |
| Communication | 2,781 | 44% |
| Operations | 1,901 | 30% |
| Investigation | 1,844 | 29% |
| Writing | 1,681 | 26% |
| Research | 1,593 | 25% |
| Microsoft Office | 1,235 | 19% |
| Microsoft Excel | 1,043 | 16% |
| Detail Oriented | 1,012 | 16% |
| Problem Solving | 984 | 15% |
| Customer Service | 919 | 14% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 893 | 14% |
| Leadership | 893 | 14% |
| Coordinating | 889 | 14% |
| Planning | 855 | 13% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 784 | 12% |
| Time Management | 724 | 11% |
| Professionalism | 718 | 11% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 687 | 11% |
| Multitasking | 673 | 11% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about financial examiners? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for financial examiners.
What do financial examiners do?
How much do financial examiners make?
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