Sunday, 20 May 2012

Online Financial Management Certificate and Diploma Overviews

To ensure the success of any organization, proper management of financial resources is key. Whether public or private, governmental or non-profit, an organization needs professionals familiar with assets, investments and financial management to ensure that funds are accounted for and wisely spent. Graduate-level certificates are available online at many colleges and universities. This option provides flexibility for working professionals to sharpen their skills while continuing to work.

Online Financial Management Certificate Overview

Financial management courses may be found in certificate programs specific to financial management, non-profit management or business. These certificates are available in graduate-level programs and are generally intended for professionals who would like to improve their skills.

Program Information and Requirements

These professional development certificates require completion of 3-8 courses. Some schools require completion of accounting courses and finance courses prior to enrollment in financial management certificate programs. Others suggest, but don't require, that students take courses in accounting, business and economics prior to enrollment.

List of Online Financial Management Courses

Students complete courses in corporate and international finance and portfolio management. Some programs include courses specific to financial management for government or non-profit agencies. In these certificate programs, students choose a specialization like corporate finance, investment management, capital markets or governmental accounting. Not all courses in these specializations are available online, so students may have to attend courses on campus to complete the certificate.

Financial Management

In financial management courses, students use case studies and readings to deconstruct and analyze financial decisions made by national and international companies. Students learn to assess the financial health of organizations. They also learn about capital markets and policy-making at the management level.

Risk Management

Students explore the theories of financial risk management as they learn to recognize risks that organizations are facing today. Students explore the process of mitigating risks and about policies that should be considered in risk management decisions.

Portfolio Management

Equities, mutual funds, and individual retirement accounts are just a few of the topics that students explore in courses related to portfolio management. Students explore portfolio theory, portfolio design, Federal Reserve policies and interest rates as part of these courses. These courses may be overviews, or may be more advanced, focusing on specific aspects of investment management.

Career Information

Financial managers work in many fields, preparing financial reports and analyzing investments. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 30% of financial managers work in insurance and finance. (www.bls.gov )
According to the BLS, financial managers earned an average of $99,330, as reported in May 2008. That year, there were 539,300 individuals employed as financial managers. By 2018, the BLS estimates that there will be more than 580,000, an increase of 41,200. (www.bls.gov)

Continuing Education and Certification

Financial management certificate courses may transfer to a graduate-level degree, depending on the school or university where the certificate originated. Graduates can obtain certification after completion of courses and three tests through the CFA Institute or Financial Management Association International.

No comments:

Post a Comment