Job
Finance Manager
- Department
- Finance / Management
- Earning potential
- £40,000–£65,000
- Training time
- Usually several years of accounting experience and professional study
Finance managers help a house builder understand its financial performance and make confident decisions about future developments.
Matt graduated in 2012 with a 2:1 BA (Hons) Business Management and Finance degree from Nottingham Trent University. During the sandwich course Matt completed an industrial placement for one year with the NHS, spending time in China after this as a volunteer teaching assistant. He is now based at his company in the Finance department.
Matt
Finance Manager introduction
Finance managers help a house builder understand its financial performance and make confident decisions about future developments.
The role of a finance manager in house building
A finance manager oversees key financial processes for a house building business or regional division. They help prepare management accounts, budgets and forecasts, monitor cash flow and explain changes in performance. Their work connects figures with the realities of buying land, building homes and completing sales. By working with commercial, land, construction and sales colleagues, they help teams understand costs, recognise risks early and plan resources effectively. Finance managers may also supervise accountants and finance administrators.
A day in the life of a finance manager
You might review month-end results, check the latest development cost and sales forecasts, and meet commercial colleagues about changes to a site budget. Later, you could discuss cash-flow assumptions with the finance director, review financial controls and coach a team member preparing a management report.
Skills for a finance manager
Finance managers combine technical accuracy with the ability to explain what the numbers mean for active housing developments.
- Financial reporting — Produces reliable accounts and management information.
- Budgeting and forecasting — Helps teams plan expenditure and anticipate changes to cash flow.
- Analytical thinking — Identifies trends, cost pressures and unusual variances.
- Communication — Explains financial findings to colleagues without finance backgrounds.
- Financial controls — Maintains robust approval, reporting and reconciliation processes.
- People management — Supports finance colleagues and coordinates deadlines.
Routes into finance manager work
A common pathway begins in finance administration, accounting technician or accountant roles. With experience preparing accounts, analysing budgets and working with operational teams, you can move into finance management. Some employers offer graduate finance routes or support professional accountancy study.
Qualifications and training
Employers often look for relevant accounting experience and may prefer or require a professional qualification from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) or the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). Requirements depend on the employer and the scope of the role.
Finance Manager pay and earning potential
An indicative annual salary range is £40,000–£65,000. This is an estimate for finance-management roles, not a published National Careers Service band for this exact title. The National Careers Service management accountant profile provides a broader comparator; confirm current house builder vacancies, location and bonus terms.
Career progression
Finance managers may progress from accountant or management accountant positions. With broader responsibility for funding, reporting, strategy and leadership, a potential next step is finance director. Larger employers may have intermediate roles such as senior finance manager or financial controller.
Explore our career progression guide for more ways to develop your career in house building.
Find finance manager opportunities
Explore finance opportunities with house builders where accurate reporting and practical commercial insight support the delivery of new homes.
Finance Manager FAQs
A finance manager oversees financial reporting, planning and controls for a business or part of a business.
They prepare budgets and forecasts, monitor financial results and cash flow, and help development teams understand financial risks and opportunities.
Many people progress through accounting or finance roles while building management experience and, where appropriate, completing professional qualifications may be helpful.
Many employers value or require professional accountancy qualifications, but exact requirements depend on the position and responsibilities.
A finance manager usually oversees reporting and financial processes for a defined area; a finance director leads broader financial strategy and senior-level decisions.
An indicative annual guide is £40,000–£65,000, with pay varying by employer, location and the scale of responsibility.
Finance Manager career path
- Financial Director