Top 5 Highest-Paying Finance Jobs in India with Leadership Roles

The Indian banking and finance sector has grown significantly in the last few years despite the global economic slowdown. While it has created new opportunities, the competition in the finance job market has also increased. Therefore, professionals must learn new skills and target more high-paying roles for career growth. To that end, this article looks at the highest-paying finance jobs you can prepare for and pursue.

5 Highest-Paying Finance Jobs in India 

1. Tax Director

Taxation is considered one of the best-paying finance careers in India, especially for senior-level finance professionals. The tax director or head of tax is often the lead role for tax management in any organization. As a tax director in India, you can work in tax advisory firms like Deloitte. Alternatively, one can even join multinational companies to lead and manage their tax affairs.

A. Responsibilities 

• Advise corporations on direct, indirect, and cross-border taxation matters
• Tax planning and ensuring compliance with tax laws
• Prepare internal tax policies to reduce tax expenses and exposure
• Prepare financial statements and tax audit schedules
• Finally, provide support to external tax auditors 

B. Top Skills

• Direct and international taxation
• Knowledge of Double Tax Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs)
• Knowledge of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA)
• Financial planning and accounting 
• Leadership and communication skills 
• Problem-solving 

C. Qualifications

• 8 to 10 years of experience as a CA
• 5 to 7 years of experience as a financial controller or tax consultant 

D. Average Annual Salary

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2. Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

A CFO is also among the highest-paying finance jobs across different industries. They are the head of finance in an organization and oversee accounting activities to find avenues for the company’s financial growth. Furthermore, they often report to the CEO of the company. Senior finance professionals can join as a CFO in a fintech company or work with a large-scale organization.

A. Responsibilities 

• Plan and implement a company’s overall financial strategy and policies for different departments
• Also, prepare the financial statements and other financial documents of the organization
• Monitor the smooth functioning of day-to-day financial operations, including accounting and reporting
• Developing investment and fundraising strategies 

B. Top Skills

• Financial planning
• Risk assessment
• Financial reporting and compliance
• Audit management
• Leadership
• Analytical thinking 

C. Qualifications

• A Master’s in finance or accounting 
• More than 10 years of experience in finance
• Chartered Accountant (CA)

D. Average Annual Salary

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3. Fund/Investment Manager

Another lucrative job opportunity to pursue is that of a fund manager. It is one of the highest-paying finance jobs for professionals with almost a decade of experience in finance and investment. This job mainly involves managing pension funds or mutual funds to ensure high returns for investors. 

A. Responsibilities 

• Analyzing securities for creating a portfolio
• Developing and implementing strategies to reduce portfolio risk
• Analyzing and allocating assets
• Also finding investment opportunities through market research and analysis

B. Top Skills

• Asset management
• Portfolio management
• Technical analysis
• Knowledge of the securities market
• Risk management
• Statistical analysis
• Financial analysis 

C. Qualifications

• A Master’s in Finance, Economics, or Investment 
• 7-8 years of expertise as a portfolio analyst, financial analyst or investment banker 

D. Average Annual Salary

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4. Finance Manager

It is also one of the highest-paying finance jobs in India. However, finance managers are in a lower position in comparison to CFOs. This role is more suitable for mid-career finance professionals with four to five years of experience. Briefly, the job of a finance manager involves planning and tracking expenses, budgeting, and optimizing cash flow. Moreover, the role also entails leadership and team management.

A. Responsibilities 

• Manage day-to-day financial operations, including accounting and payment tracking 
• Predicting financial trends and preparing budgets accordingly
• Finding and implementing strategies for profit maximization 
• Additionally, managing a team of junior-level finance professionals and trainees

B. Top Skills

• Financial budgeting and forecasting
• Credit management
• Financial planning and data analysis
• Financial reporting 
• Negotiation
• Allocation of funds
• Team management
• Problem-solving

C. Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s in Finance, Accounting, or Economics 
• 4 to 5 years of experience in financial planning and management

D. Average Annual Salary

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5. Actuarial Specialist

Actuary is another finance career opportunity that tops the list of finance job opportunities with high-income potential in India. The core responsibility of an actuarial specialist is creating models to analyze data and predict future risks. Finance actuarial specialists usually work with insurance companies or lending institutions.

A. Responsibilities 

• Develop and implement actuarial models for capital modeling
• Assessing and mitigating financial risks
• Using statistical methods to understand market trends and forecast investment returns
• Also, carrying out profitability analysis of products and developing strategies to improve profitability

B. Top Skills

• Statistics and financial modeling
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Advanced Mathematics
• Analytical thinking

C. Qualifications

• An undergraduate or postgraduate, such as a BSc or MSc in actuarial science, mathematics, or statistics
• Know-how of best accounting practices
• 4 to 5 years of experience as an actuarial analyst 

D. Average Annual Salary

Frequently Asked Questions About the Highest-Paying Finance Jobs in India

1. What are the Factors That Contribute to the High Salaries in Finance Jobs in India?

The primary factors for the growth of lucrative finance jobs in India are the expansion of the finance sector and rapid globalization. This has resulted in more corporate transactions. Hence, investment banking, private equity analyst, and financial analyst are emerging as the best-paying finance careers. Moreover, evolving compliance and regulatory frameworks, industry competitiveness, and the improving quality of financial education are other factors that help professionals get the highest salaries in Indian finance industry.

2. Are the Highest-Paying Finance Jobs in India Concentrated in Specific Sectors?

No, the highest-paying finance jobs in India, such as CFO, financial analyst, and investment manager, are available across various industries. These include insurance, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), banking, tech, health care, and even aviation. 

This is primarily because all large organizations in different industries need finance professionals to set and manage budgets, make investment decisions, manage risks, and plan finances. Therefore, with the right skills and experience, professionals can build their finance careers in India in any industry.

3. Are There Any Specific Qualifications or Certifications Required for These High-Paying Finance Careers?

Essentially, it is not mandatory to have specific qualifications or certifications, except for a financial educational background, to build finance careers in India. However, pursuing additional qualifications, such as an MBA in finance, help secure top finance roles with high salaries. 

Moreover, certifications such as CA, Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Treasury Professional, and Certified Management Accounting (CMA) are also beneficial for lucrative finance jobs in India.

4. What Skills and Experience do Employers Look for in Candidates for the Top Finance Jobs in India?

To put it succinctly, skills for the highest-paying finance jobs in India include financial management, internal audit, corporate finance, cost management, and financial analysis. 

Moreover, companies hiring candidates for the top finance roles with high salaries prefer onboarding professionals with more than five years of experience in respective domains. For senior-level jobs such as CFO and tax director, employers seek professionals with over eight years of post-qualification experience.

5. How do the Salaries of Finance Professionals in India Compare With Other Industries?

With the rapid growth of startups, companies and investing institutions need finance professionals to make sound financial decisions and grow. Therefore, similar to the jobs in IT, health care, retail and management, and management consulting, finance job opportunities with high-income potential also require skill, several years of practical experience, and niche expertise. Finance is thus one of the highest-paying industries in India. In fact, the highest salaries in the Indian finance industry are at par with other well-paying industries.

The Indian finance industry is expected to grow by 14% by 2027, creating more job opportunities for finance professionals. Moreover, the rapid growth of the fintech sector will also create a high demand for skilled professionals. Thus, professionals must upskill to get the highest-paying finance jobs. One of the best ways to do so is to pursue online finance courses that offer in-depth learning and practical experience. Explore Emeritus’ online finance courses today to get job opportunities with the highest salaries in the Indian finance industry.

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