15 high paying finance careers in Australia, including remote
High paying finance careers in Australia await. Explore remote jobs and different roles perfect for flexibility, growth and higher pay.
The million-dollar question: Is finance a high paying career in Australia?
Finance professionals are laughing all the way to the bank, quite literally. Financial and insurance services ranked as the 4th highest paying industry in Australia in 2024, whilst nearly half of all professional occupations were experiencing skills shortages in 2024. This perfect storm of high pay and high demand creates incredible opportunities for anyone willing to get the right qualifications.
And despite what you might have seen in movies, the finance sector isn’t just about suits and spreadsheets anymore. Modern finance careers cover everything from traditional bookkeeping and payroll administration to cutting-edge data analysis and compliance roles. What they all have in common is decent starting salaries and excellent progression opportunities for people who know what they’re doing.
Swinburne Open Education can help you get there. Our nationally recognised certificates and diplomas will teach you the practical skills that employers so desperately need to help you break into this lucrative industry without years of formal education.
Why choose a career in finance?
Finance careers in Australia come with excellent pay and job security that most other industries can’t match. Financial and insurance services industry workers earn a median salary of $1,900 per week compared to the industry-wide median of just $1,700. That’s an extra $200 per week that adds up to over $10,000 more per year in your pocket.
And that’s just today. The industry keeps growing at an impressive rate of 5.6% per year, with 30,100 new workers joining the industry in 2024. This means it’s both easier to get in as a newcomer and climb up the ranks faster as companies keep growing their needs for financial professionals.
Besides solid salaries, diversity is another thing that makes financial careers especially desirable. You can choose from client-facing advisory roles, behind-the-scenes compliance work, analytical positions that let you work from home, or even entrepreneurial positions at startups. Whatever you’re interested in, there are plenty of opportunities to keep you busy.
This is what makes finance careers so popular in Australia:
Above-average earning potential: Finance professionals outpace median Australian salaries, with clear progression paths that can lead to six-figure incomes within a few short years of experience.
Strong job security: The financial services industry’s continuous growth means skilled professionals rarely struggle to find work. Even during economic downturns, financial professionals can count on job security as that’s when businesses need them most.
Flexible working arrangements: Many finance roles are some of the best work from home jobs in Australia, especially in areas like financial analysis and bookkeeping, where the work is almost entirely computer-based.
Multiple entry points: There are many pathways into finance like vocational training, apprenticeships, certificates and professional development programs that get you working whilst you learn.
Transferable skills: Financial skills translate across almost every industry since all businesses need people who understand how to manage money and meet compliance requirements.
Technology integration: The finance sector is one of the biggest adopters of automation and digital tools. That makes it an exciting field for people who love working with new technologies.
Clear progression ladders: Finance careers usually have structured advancement opportunities with defined skill requirements and salary increases at each level.
High paying finance careers in Australia: A comparison
Finance careers in Australia have major earning potential, with managers pulling in $2,100 per week and $56.20 per hour according to the latest ABS data. The table below covers some of the highest-paying finance careers, along with their average salaries and the type of qualifications you’d need.
| Career/role | Job overview | Average salary | Qualifications required | Work setting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment banker | Handles mergers and acquisitions for big corporate clients and helps companies raise capital through stock offerings and debt arrangements. | AU$101,130 per year | Bachelor’s degree in finance or economics plus professional experience. | Primarily in-person in major financial districts. |
| Chief financial officer | Leads financial strategy for entire organisations whilst overseeing budgets and managing financial risk across all business units. | AU$168,110 per year | Advanced degree in finance or accounting, plus extensive leadership experience. | Hybrid with considerable in-person requirements. |
| Accountant | Prepares financial statements and manages tax compliance. May also provide strategic financial advice to help businesses make smart financial decisions. | AU$66,889 per year | Diploma of Accounting from Swinburne Open. | Hybrid or remote-friendly. |
| Bookkeeper | Records daily financial transactions and maintains accurate ledgers that keep small businesses financially organised. | AU$61,726 per year | Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping from Swinburne Open. | Highly remote-friendly. |
| Financial planner | Builds wealth strategies for clients through investment advice and superannuation planning. | AU$96,271 per year | Diploma of Financial Planning plus ASIC licensing. | Hybrid with regular client meetings. |
| Payroll officer | Processes wages and manages leave entitlements for employees across various organisations. | AU$68,382 per year | Certificate IV in Business Administration from Swinburne Open. | Remote-friendly. |
| Tax agent | Prepares tax returns and represents clients in Australian Taxation Office matters. | AU$65,110 per year | Tax Practitioner Board registration plus accounting qualifications. | Hybrid with client meetings during tax season. |
| Compliance officer | Monitors financial institutions for regulatory breaches and investigates suspicious transactions. | AU$71,030 per year | Certificate IV in Human Resource Management from Swinburne Open. | Remote-friendly. |
| Financial risk analyst | Uses statistical models to identify potential losses and prevent companies from making expensive mistakes. | AU$78,965 per year | Bachelor’s degree in finance or economics plus risk management certifications. | Remote-friendly. |
| Business analyst | Studies business processes and financial data to find efficiency improvements that save companies money. | AU$86,042 per year | Certificate IV in Business Big Data from Swinburne Open. | Remote-friendly. |
| Hedge fund manager | Manages investment portfolios for wealthy clients using advanced trading strategies. | AU$142,456 per year | Advanced finance degrees plus securities licensing and plenty of experience. | Mostly in-person in financial centres. |
| Finance administrator | Handles data entry and prepares reports that support finance teams with day-to-day operations. | AU$63,696 per year | Certificate IV in Business Finance from Swinburne Open. | Remote-friendly. |
| Finance project manager | Leads financial upgrades and manages budgets for major business initiatives. | AU$112,523 per year | Diploma of Project Management from Swinburne Open. | Hybrid. |
| Startup manager | Runs new business ventures by securing funding and developing financial growth strategies. | AU$63,871 per year | Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business from Swinburne Open. | Hybrid. |
| Finance team supervisor | Manages bookkeepers and analysts whilst staying on top of financial deadlines. | AU$112,523 per year | Certificate IV in Business Leadership from Swinburne Open. | Hybrid. |
High paying entry-level finance roles
Entry-level finance positions in Australia are great starting points for career changers and new graduates who want to break into this lucrative industry. These roles will give you hands-on experience with real financial systems whilst building the foundational skills that lead to higher-paying positions down the track.
Most importantly, many of these positions are easily accessible with a Certificate IV qualification from Swinburne Open, so you could be starting your new high paying finance career in just a few months.
Accounts payable officer
Starting salary: AU$48,000 per year
You’ll be processing supplier invoices and management payment schedules that keep businesses running smoothly. This role will suit you if you enjoy detailed work and building relationships with vendors who supply everything your company needs. A Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping from Swinburne Open is the perfect program to excel in this position.
Go to Accounting & Bookkeeping course
Accounts receivable officer
Starting salary: AU$47,000 per year
These are the counterparts to accounts payable officers. Your daily focus will be chasing up overdue payments and managing customer invoices to keep cash flow healthy. You’ll develop strong communication skills as you deal with clients about sensitive money matters. The Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping will also prepare you well for this position.
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Junior bookkeeper
Starting salary: AU$46,000 per year
You’ll be handling the day-to-day financials of small businesses by recording transactions and preparing basic reports. This role comes with incredible variety as you might work with different clients each day:
Local tradespeople who need help with GST and invoicing
Retail shops tracking daily services and expenses
Professional services firms managing client billing
Small manufacturers dealing with inventory costs
Swinburne Open’s Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping covers exactly the skills employers expect from junior bookkeepers.
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Payroll officer
Starting salary: AU$59,000 per year
Processing wages will become your speciality as you help employees get paid correctly and on time. You’ll master payroll software and develop expertise in employment law that will make you a valuable asset in any industry. The Certificate IV in Business Administration includes payroll systems training that directly applies to this role.
Finance administrator
Starting salary: AU$52,000 per year
You’ll be the backbone of finance teams by handling data entry and preparing reports that senior staff rely on to make decisions. This role is perfect for people who enjoy working behind the scenes to keep operations running smoothly. Swinburne Open’s Certificate IV in Business Finance is designed specifically for this type of administrative finance role.
Credit control officer
Starting salary: AU$57,000 per year
Credit control officers spend their days assessing whether customers can pay their bills as they balance risk with business relationships. You’ll need strong negotiation skills to work out payment plans with clients facing financial difficulties. This role is an excellent training ground to later advance to more senior credit and risk management positions that can be extremely lucrative.
Accounts clerk
Starting salary: AU$49,000 per year
General accounting duties will give you a broad exposure to how money flows through businesses. You’ll be supporting qualified accountants with their daily tasks whilst learning about financial services and how to handle sensitive data. A Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping from Swinburne Open will give you all the training you need to succeed in a position like this.
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Junior financial analyst
Starting salary: AU$60,000 per year
This job is for you if you’re very organised and attentive to details. You’ll be using spreadsheets and financial databases to spot trends that help management make better decisions. This role suits analytical minds who enjoy turning numbers into useful insights, like:
Comparing monthly sales figures to identify growth opportunities
Tracking budget performance across different departments
Preparing charts and graphs for executive presentations
Researching market trends that affect company performance
The Certificate IV in Business Big Data will give you many of the advanced skills you’ll need for this job.
Banking customer advisor
Starting salary: AU$45,000 per year
You’ll spend your days helping customers find the right banking products whilst processing loan applications and building relationships. This customer-facing role suits people who genuinely enjoy helping others achieve their financial goals. You’ll develop strong sales skills on the job as you learn about different banking products and services.
Compliance assistant
Starting salary: AU$55,000 per year
A compliance assistant helps organisations stay on the right side of regulators. You’ll learn about the rules that govern financial services and see firsthand how they get more complicated each year. Working in compliance will give you entry into specialised careers with premium salaries across the financial services industry.
Skills that boost earning potential in finance
Having the right qualifications dramatically improves your chances in the finance job market. People with non-school qualifications enjoy a 79% employment rate compared to just 58% for those without formal training. On top of that, 45% of people with non-school qualifications work in skill level 1 jobs (the highest level!), while most people without qualifications work in skill 4 and 5 jobs.
These are the best technical skills for landing a high paying finance job:
Financial software proficiency: Mastering programs like Xero, MYOB, Excel and QuickBooks makes you immediately valuable to employers who need people who can hit the ground running.
Regulatory knowledge: Getting formal education on tax laws and financial compliance requirements makes you more attractive for finance roles, as you’ll be better-equipped to protect employees from expensive mistakes and penalties.
Data analysis capabilities: Being able to interpret financial reports, spot trends and present insights helps businesses make better decisions about money.
Process improvement skills: Knowing how to streamline financial workflows and eliminate inefficiencies helps companies save time and money.
Attention to detail: Catching errors before they become expensive problems is one of the most valuable skills you can have as a financial professional. If you’re more of a big-picture person than interested in the nitty-gritty, then look for more strategic finance roles than analytic or accounting-based roles.
Problem-solving mindset: Finance roles are sometimes all about troubleshooting discrepancies or finding missing transactions. Besides attention to detail, you’ll need to be the type of person who gets satisfaction from fixing problems.
Clear communication: Knowing how to explain complex financial information in simple terms to non-finance colleagues will make you a valuable addition to any team.
Industry certifications: CPA membership or software-specific credentials show that you’re committed to your professional growth.
Leadership training: Getting a Certificate IV in Leadership and Management will show that you can handle supervisory roles that can pay considerably more than individual contributor positions.
How to start your high paying finance career
Breaking into finance has never been easier thanks to the skills shortages affecting Australia. Almost 50% of all professional occupations are in a skills shortage, which means that employers are scrambling to find candidates with the right qualifications. This is how you get started with your finance career in Australia:
Choose your specialisation: Decide whether you want to focus on bookkeeping, payroll, financial administration or business analysis based on your interest and career goals.
Get qualified with Swinburne Open: Enrol in relevant Certificate IV programs that teach practical skills employers really need, whilst providing nationally recognised credentials.
Build practical experience: Start with entry-level positions or volunteer work that gives you hands-on experience with real financial systems and software.
Get certified in relevant software: Learn programs like Xero and advanced Excel functions that most finance roles require from day one.
Network within the industry: Join professional associations and connect with other finance professionals on LinkedIn.
Apply strategically: Target companies that match your skill level whilst highlighting your formal qualifications and any practical experience you’ve gained.
Your finance career starts with the right qualification
Finance careers in Australia have some of the country’s best combinations of job security and earning potential. The dozens of high paying finance careers we’ve covered span entry-level positions to executive opportunities, all accessible with some career planning and the right qualifications. There’s something for all kinds of people in the world of finance, and all you need to do is find the right one for you and plan accordingly.
The path forward is very simple. Choose the right Swinburne Open course, build practical skills, earn your certification and position yourself for roles that pay well above average Australian wages. There are even plenty of high-paying jobs with no experience for those with the right qualifications. Your future finance career is waiting.
Explore our course catalogue and see how Swinburne Open can be your best ally as you enter the finance market.