How to Get Into Finance Without a Finance Degree

You can get into finance without a finance degree by starting in roles that train on the job, such as bank teller, accounting clerk, operations or client service associate, and by building spreadsheet, accounting and communication skills on the side. Some roles also require industry licensing exams, which employers often sponsor. Many people in finance studied something else entirely.

Entry points: roles that hire beginners

Bank teller or personal banker: customer-facing and a common way to learn banking from the inside.
Accounts payable or receivable clerk, bookkeeper: processing invoices and payments. A path toward accounting; see how to become an accountant.
Operations or client service associate: processing trades, transfers and paperwork at investment and wealth firms.
Loan processor or underwriting assistant: gathering documents and checking files for lenders.
Financial planning assistant: supporting advisors with meetings and client records. See how to become a financial advisor.
Insurance or claims trainee: structured training programs are common.

Skills and credentials that actually matter

Spreadsheets: formulas, lookups, pivot tables and clean formatting. This is the single most useful skill to build first.
Accounting basics: how the income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement connect. A community college course covers it.
Accuracy: small errors cost real money, so careful checking is valued above speed.
Clear communication: explaining numbers to people who are not numbers people.
Industry licenses for some roles: selling securities or insurance requires passing specific licensing exams, and insurance licenses are issued by each state. Many firms pay for the exam after hiring you.
Professional credentials later: designations in accounting, planning or investment analysis usually come after a few years of work, not before your first job.

If math is a strength, see careers for people who like math; if you lean toward deals and people, careers for people who like business.

A 90-day plan

Days 1 to 7: pick an area: banking, accounting, investments, insurance or lending. Read twenty postings and list the repeated requirements.
Days 8 to 40: study spreadsheets and accounting basics for an hour a day.
Days 15 to 35: hold three informational interviews with people in your chosen area. Ask which entry roles their teams promote from.
Days 30 to 60: build two finance projects (see below) and add them to your resume.
Days 45 to 60: rewrite your resume around accuracy, customer service and any money handling you have done. Our guide to transferable skills helps.
Days 61 to 90: apply to entry roles at banks, credit unions, accounting offices and insurers, and follow up on each application.

How to build proof

Build a personal budget model or a simple model comparing two loan options, with a one-page explanation.
Do bookkeeping for a small business, club or nonprofit as a volunteer treasurer.
Volunteer with a free tax preparation program in your community; many offer training.
Take a part-time cashier or customer service job that involves handling money and reconciling a drawer.
Write short summaries of how a public company made and spent money, using its published annual report.

What to avoid

Trading courses and signal groups: programs promising income from day trading are selling the course. They are not a path into a finance career.
Commission-only roles with fees to join: be careful with any opportunity that asks you to pay for training or recruit friends.
Expensive credential programs before your first job: most advanced designations require work experience anyway.
Overstating skills: finance interviews often include spreadsheet or accounting tests, so be honest about where you are.
Ignoring your own credit: some financial roles review credit history. Our guide to credit score basics explains what matters.

Where a mentor helps

Moving into finance from another field usually comes down to steady skill building and explaining your background well. A mentor helps you pick a direction, turn the 90-day plan into weekly steps, prepare for conversations and interviews, and keep going in the weeks when nothing seems to move. A mentor can also help you practice explaining your projects and prepare for skills tests. Mentors are not career counselors, recruiters or licensing experts; they help you do the research and the work yourself. See our career and education mentoring, mentoring for young adults and mentoring for professionals changing careers.

Common questions

Can I work in finance with a different degree?

Yes. Many finance teams hire people with degrees in economics, math, English, history and more, and some entry roles require no degree. Strong spreadsheet and accounting skills close the gap.

What finance jobs can I get without a degree?

Bank teller, bookkeeper, accounts payable clerk, loan processing assistant and insurance trainee roles often hire without a degree. Requirements vary by employer.

Do I need a license to work in finance?

Only for some roles. Selling securities or insurance requires passing licensing exams, and insurance licenses are issued by each state. Many employers sponsor the exams.

Get started

Want help building a plan to move into finance from where you are now? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.