A vice president of a finance department helps to direct and oversee the financial duties of the department.
The vice president of a finance department is considered a "top executive." The Bureau of Labor Statistics, which provides occupational outlooks and job descriptions for most jobs available to workers in the United States, reports that top executives often work long hours but are some of the highest-paid workers in the United States.
Duties
A vice president of finance has a wide range of duties related to overseeing and securing a company's finances. Some of those specific tasks include managing the company's debt, overseeing the company's accounting protocols, ensuring that the company's financial portfolio and its employees are following standard, legal accounting rules and acting as a leader within the company's executive framework.
Education
A vice president of a finance department needs at least a bachelor's in business administration, liberal arts or specialized subject area, such as finance, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It also will be helpful to have a Master's degree in one of these areas, as well. Remember that your level of education and the degree subject you choose to pursue largely needs to depend on industry standards. Investigate the educational backgrounds of the professionals in your field whom you hope to work for or whose job you would like to have one day.
Work Environment
Top executives such as vice presidents often have a team of staff that help them with carrying out their duties. They often have large offices and high salaries. However, there are downsides to their working environments. Vice presidents may work very long hours--including arriving early at the office and working well beyond the typical end of the work day. Some will work weekends and be required to travel to conduct company business.
Places of Work
Vice presidents of finance work in a wide variety of companies, universities and banks in the United States. Wherever there is a need for financial accountability, there likely will be a vice president of finance or an equivalent position.
Salary
Salary varies depending on the company and the experience of the vice president. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics does report that "top executives" are among the "highest-paid workers in the United States." In May 2008, the median annual wage of a general and operations manager was $91,570, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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