I think that the flexibility to work where and how you want should be connected to the ability to forge a career in the field you want. One way to do this is to allow people to work remotely in finance. People can find remote finance jobs at all levels, from entry-level to managerial jobs, as an accountant, analyst, bookkeeper, or budget specialist, for example.
One interesting feature of remote finance careers is the multiple paths you can take. For example, there are remote finance positions where you don’t always have to start as an entry-level employee to work your way up to a management position, and you may not need a lot of work experience for remote finance positions. You can build skills and gain the experience needed for an advanced financial position by starting out in a lower-level position in accounting or as a virtual bookkeeper.
My goal in creating this resource was to provide information on available remote finance career opportunities, required skills, potential salaries, and best places to search. I hope to give people starting their careers an edge, whether that’s creating a finance-related resume and cover letter or understanding best practices for applying for jobs. I want you to have the knowledge to make well-informed decisions to pursue a finance career on your own terms.
What Are Remote Finance Jobs?
There is a wide range of tasks, from preparing financial statements to reviewing transactions to analyzing business performance to managing budgets to assisting clients with their financial decisions. The work involves the use of various software, online databases and communication tools.
There are a wide range of remote work arrangements. Some employers allow their employees to work fully remotely; others restrict remote work to a certain location, time zone or require in-person work. There are remote jobs that restrict your work to a certain country.
Remote work means different things to different employers. Always read the job description to evaluate if the remote job meets your needs. The job may still have certain requirements that may impact your eligibility to work.
Different Types of Remote Finance Jobs
Some of the different roles in the finance field include accounting, financial analysis, bookkeeping, financial planning and advisory services. You should apply for the role that best aligns with your skills, interests and experience.
Common opportunities include:
- Financial analyst (remote): Reviews financial information, predicts future performance and generates reports to aid business decisions.
- Remote accountant: Maintains financial records, prepares statements and assists with tax or compliance matters.
- Virtual bookkeeper: Maintains accurate financial records, documents income and expenses and balances accounts.
- Accounts payable or receivable specialist: Processes payments to suppliers, monitors customer invoices and chases outstanding balances.
- Payroll specialist (remote): Helps with wage calculations, payroll processing and employee payment records.
- Financial planning analyst: Helps with budgeting, forecasting and financial planning for an organization.
More experienced professionals may pursue controller, finance manager, or director-level positions. These roles often involve strategic planning, leadership, and responsibility for financial controls.
Roles and Skills Required for Remote Finance Jobs
You will have to make sure your skills and experience cover a breadth of financial areas, including systems, processes and analysis. For certain positions, a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics or business may be required. In other situations, relevant experience could be valued more than a degree.
If your goal is a financial analyst position, proficiency in Microsoft Excel and an understanding of financial reporting, budgeting and cash flow would be valuable. Familiarity with accounting systems and QuickBooks or Xero and data visualization would also be helpful.
All positions require exceptional communication skills. The ability to explain financial concepts to non-finance people is crucial for remote positions. A CPA or CMA would help your application for a management or accounting role, but check the market first to see what’s in demand.
Where to Find Legitimate Remote Finance Jobs
While the obvious places to look for remote work are job boards, company career pages and professional networks, try to think outside the box. Compare positions to see what the going rate is for specific financial responsibilities. Check remote.co and flexjobs, as well as the careers pages for finance and accounting firms, tech and other professional services firms with a distributed workforce.
Example searches may include “remote junior financial analyst,” “work-from-home bookkeeper,” or “remote accounts payable specialist.” If you need more specific results, try using phrases that relate more closely to your skills and experience rather than role titles, as your results may become overwhelming quickly with roles that are outside your realm of experience.
Be sure to avoid positions that raise a lot of red flags. Reputable companies will describe the position, provide insight into the hiring process, and discuss the compensation. Paying for a position is never legitimate, and you should never give out your banking information until you are completely sure about a position and the hiring process that it is a part of.
What to Expect When Working in Remote Finance?
There are several factors that impact the salary of a given role, including experience, location, and the employer and position being hired for. Role seniority may also impact salary; however, a more senior financial analyst role may pay more compared to a more senior bookkeeping role, and a finance manager role may pay more compared to the other two roles.
If you’re looking to get a better idea of salary, you should consider using the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. You may also find it useful to visit role listings on sites; be sure to check the salary range. The Occupational Outlook Handbook is also useful; however, the roles listed are usually in person. There are other factors beyond role title and salary that may impact your earning potential.
These may include your location (which could impact the employer’s pay band), employment status (permanent, contract, temporary, etc.), certifications, industry, benefits, and hours worked.
Working in a particular location may affect what a role pays (making a remote role less profitable for an employee), but other roles may be profitable due to employment benefits. Prioritize benefits when evaluating an offer. A remote role with lower pay and better benefits may be more profitable than a role with higher pay and worse benefits.
Best Tools and Software for Remote Finance Professionals
Remote finance roles may require different tools to manage and protect data as well as communicate with people remotely. The tools required may vary by position, but some comfort with using spreadsheets may be required for many roles.
Tools such as Excel and Sheets allow for calculation, reconciliation, budgeting and reporting. Users in finance may use QuickBooks and/or Xero or large ERP systems. Financial Analysts may use Power BI and/or Tableau.
There are other remote communication and collaboration apps like Teams and Zoom that allow for work distribution and coordination across different time zones. However, if there are concerns about the security of data, they should not be used.
Personally identifiable employee and customer data, as well as confidential business data, should always be protected with multi-factor authentication and approved security measures. Secure file-sharing and company policies should always be prioritized.
It is more important to get to know the most utilized platforms in your role than trying to learn a vast number of platforms. Knowing two systems that work together is worth more than a ton of single-use tools.
How to Get an Entry-Level Remote Finance Job
It can definitely be frustrating not having any work experience. There are tons of jobs that ask for experience, but how are you supposed to get the experience if no one is willing to give you a chance? There are a couple of things that you can do to help you in the long run.
Applying for a job at a lower but more realistic level, like Junior Accounting Assistant or Bookkeeping Trainee,e will help you gain experience that you can add to your resume.
Get a basic understanding of financing and how Excel is used. Create a practice budget or cash flow statement. Learn how to reconcile transactions. Create a practice invoice. Document all practice activities.
Using what you have learned, create a resume that has the experience needed for the job you want. List any other experience that you may have, like customer service or administration.
To give an example, say there is a recent graduate who knows how to use Excel and wants to get into the Accounting field. They can create a cash flow statement or invoice, learn how to reconcile, and apply to a junior finance position. They can use the experience that they gained to get the role instead of just focusing on their academic qualifications.
How to Prepare Your Résumé and Remote Finance Interview
Knowing how to format your résumé so recruiters can easily see your skills is key. When you can show evidence of what you have done, avoid statements like “responsible for financial tasks” and give more detailed information about what you actually did and the results you got.
Explain any previous experience and highlight important achievements like increasing the accuracy of financial reporting, reconciling, helping with the month-end close or reducing delays in the administration.
Do not create made-up percentages or financial figures for your résumé. This is unethical. Additionally, showing the ability to work independently and communicate effectively is important when applying for remote finance positions. Mention relevant software and how you used it.
Prepare answers to questions about financial statements, budgets, reconciliations and variance analysis. Be prepared to explain how you meet deadlines and solve work-related problems, including examples.
Find out more about the company and be prepared to ask intelligent questions about training, remote work, performance and the team’s daily activities and workflow during the interview. This will give you the opportunity to find out if the job will really work for you as well.
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Remote Finance Jobs Explained
With remote finance jobs, you generally do not have to do a daily commute, which means you may have more flexibility as to where you work, and you may be able to apply for jobs that are outside your geographic area.
Of course,e working from home has challenges as well. It may be hard to have face-to-face communication with colleagues, and most of your communication may be done via phone calls, emails, or other digital media. These challenges may be magnified when your colleagues are in different time zones. Some may even miss the office politics and the quick and informal face-to-face communication.
All employees also have the responsibility of data security. That means that finance employees also have to follow company procedures when accessing financial records and when sharing reports. It’s important to look at the entire arrangement when talking about remote working conditions.
When considering a remote position, you have to look at what support you will have, what communication will be like, what training you will have, what kind of equipment you will be provided, and what boundaries and expectations will be in place for work and life.
Conclusion About Finding Remote Finance Jobs
You can have a finance career at home, but you need to be focused. First, determine which job matches your current skills, then focus on the qualifications, software knowledge, and hands-on experience employers are looking for.
Instead of sending the same resume to dozens of companies, I would start with a small number of carefully selected vacancies. Customize each application, research the employer and track where you have applied.
The best remote finance jobs aren’t always the ones with the highest salaries advertised. Seek opportunities that provide relevant experience, professional development, fair pay and working conditions that are consistent with your goals. With continued preparation and targeted applications, you could be well on your way toward a sustainable career in finance.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Are the Best Remote Finance Jobs for Beginners?
Bookkeeping assistants and junior accounting clerks, as well as entry-level positions in financial support, are good places to start. The best options may vary based on your experience and qualifications.
2. Can I Work Remotely in Finance Without a Degree?
Yes, without a degree, you may still find opportunities for payroll and/or finance and administration roles. The chance of being hired may be improved with training and relevant software and/or industry experience.
3. How Much Do Remote Finance Jobs Pay?
The salary range varies with experience and other factors. Do your research to find out a potential range for your desired position.
4. Which Companies Hire Remote Finance Professionals?
Consulting firms, accounting firms, technology firms, financial services firms and other professional firms may hire remote finance professionals.
5. Are Remote Finance Jobs Available Worldwide?
This may depend on the employer. Some are more location-restrictive than others. Check the job listings to be sure.
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