Career change as a business economist

Career change paths

• Head of corporate development

  Also: Head of strategy

  Start right away

  In the corporate development team of a large group or mid-sized company, you develop strategies, review potential acquisitions and lead major change projects, without being at a client's site all the time.

  What you bring:

  You can analyze markets, assess business models and prepare decision papers for executive boards.

  How to get there:

  Companies specifically hire experienced consultants for strategy and development teams. You travel far less, but you need to get used to working through internal coordination in a fixed organization.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €8,238gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Head of finance and accounting

  Also: Commercial director

  Start right awayPromotion

  As head of finance, you are responsible in a company for bookkeeping, closing, planning and financing, and you advise the management.

  What you bring:

  You know annual financial statements, taxes and control systems in detail and have seen many companies from the inside.

  How to get there:

  Companies hire experienced auditors, tax advisors and controllers directly, often through recruitment consultancies. You trade the variety of clients for a single company and usually get more predictable working hours, without an audit season.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €8,334gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Managing director

  Also: Head of a business unit

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As managing director of a mid-sized company or an investment firm's portfolio company, you are personally responsible for results, staff and delivery.

  What you bring:

  You have seen many companies from the inside, developed strategies and guided change.

  How to get there:

  After a few years, some consultants move to a former client or to a company owned by an investment firm, often starting at the second management level. Leadership experience with direct reports is decisive for this step.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €8,555gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Investment manager

  Also: Business valuation specialist

  With on-the-job training

  At investment firms, family offices or M&A advisory firms, you value companies, support acquisitions and help develop the firm's portfolio companies.

  What you bring:

  You can quickly size up business models and where they can be improved, and you are used to due diligence before acquisitions.

  How to get there:

  Investment firms hire consultants with strategy and finance experience. If you lack knowledge of company valuation or financial models, you can build it in courses of a few weeks.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office
  View job

• Ministry policy officer

  Also: Regional development officer

  With on-the-job training

  In ministries, government agencies, municipalities or public-sector companies, you prepare programs and reforms, manage projects and advise senior management.

  What you bring:

  You can structure complex topics, weigh options and write decision papers.

  How to get there:

  Public employers hire consultants with a university degree and train them in administrative law, budgeting and procedures. Working hours are usually more predictable than in consulting, but decisions take longer.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €6,457gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• IT business analyst

  Also: Data analyst

  With on-the-job training

  As an IT business analyst or data analyst, you work on data models, reports and software rollouts, usually with less travel than in consulting.

  What you bring:

  You know business intelligence, key figures and processes, and you can turn the needs of the business departments into clear requirements.

  How to get there:

  Companies hire consultants with BI experience and train them on their own systems. Courses on SQL or analysis tools take a few weeks. This move means less travel, but also less variety in topics.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €6,500gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Recruitment consultant

  Also: Executive search consultant

  With on-the-job training

  As a recruitment consultant, you search for managers and specialists on behalf of companies, approach them and support the selection process.

  What you bring:

  You know many industries and management levels and can quickly judge who fits which organization.

  How to get there:

  Recruitment firms train former management consultants in research, direct approach and selection procedures. The work is sales-driven, and your targets often depend on successful placements.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,167gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Tax auditor in the tax administration

  Also: Clerk in large-company tax auditing

  With on-the-job training

  In the tax administration, you audit the bookkeeping and taxes of businesses, with predictable working hours.

  What you bring:

  You know balance sheets, tax returns and typical structures from the companies' side.

  How to get there:

  Some states hire economists with a master's degree and tax-related work experience, for example from tax advising, as career changers in the tax administration and train them in-house. Each state regulates the area of work, the conditions and possible civil servant status (Verbeamtung) itself. Watch for the job ads of the state tax administrations.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €4,744gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Lecturer in tax law and accounting

  Also: Lecturer in courses for balance sheet accountants

  With on-the-job training

  At chambers, technical schools and training providers, you prepare adults for exams such as certified balance sheet accountant (Bilanzbuchhalter), certified tax specialist (Steuerfachwirt) or controller.

  What you bring:

  You can explain accounting, tax law and controlling with real cases.

  How to get there:

  Chambers and training providers engage experienced practitioners as lecturers, often on a freelance basis first, alongside their main job. A course in adult education can help, and its length depends on the provider. Whether there are permanent positions depends on the training provider.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,075gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Financial analyst

  Also: Analyst for company acquisitions

  With on-the-job training

  As an analyst, you value companies, acquisition targets and financing for banks, investors or investment companies.

  What you bring:

  You can evaluate financial statements, spot risks and assess the value of a company.

  How to get there:

  Banks and investment companies hire auditors with experience in transactions or valuation, and certificates in financial analysis help. The workload can be high during transactions.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €6,570gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• IT auditor

  Also: IT audit specialist

  With on-the-job training

  As an IT auditor, you check access permissions, interfaces and data security of financial and ERP systems and advise on weak points.

  What you bring:

  You audit control systems systematically and know how bookkeeping and closing depend on IT systems.

  How to get there:

  Audit firms and internal audit departments train auditors with an interest in IT. For certificates such as the CISA, you pass an exam and also need several years of work experience in IT auditing, control or security. You should bring basic knowledge of databases and ERP systems.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €4,656gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Compliance manager

  Also: Money laundering prevention officer (Geldwäschebeauftragter)

  With on-the-job training

  As a compliance manager or money laundering prevention officer, you make sure at banks, insurers or companies that rules are followed, and you report suspected cases.

  What you bring:

  You know control systems, internal policies and audits and can assess risks soberly.

  How to get there:

  Banks and companies train experienced auditors on the regulations of their industry. Courses to become a compliance or money laundering prevention officer usually take a few days to a few weeks. At banks, the supervisory authority checks that you are professionally suitable for this function.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €7,039gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Credit analyst

  Also: Corporate client advisor for financing

  With on-the-job training

  At a bank, you analyze loan applications from companies, assess risks and prepare lending decisions.

  What you bring:

  You can read annual financial statements and planning figures confidently and assess the economic situation of a company.

  How to get there:

  Banks train tax advisors, auditors and controllers on the job in lending processes and internal rules, usually over a few weeks. The work is generally more predictable than during the audit season.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €5,690gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Head of purchasing

  Also: Head of logistics

  With on-the-job training

  As head of purchasing or logistics, you are responsible for suppliers, contracts, warehouses and transport.

  What you bring:

  You negotiate with service providers, manage budgets and know what a business needs in materials and services.

  How to get there:

  The new employer trains you on the job in product groups and purchasing systems. Courses on strategic purchasing, for example at the Federal Association of Materials Management, Purchasing and Logistics (Bundesverband Materialwirtschaft, Einkauf und Logistik), last a few days to a few weeks.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €7,515gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Commercial director of a clinic

  Also: Hospital administrator

  With on-the-job training

  In clinics, care facilities or rehabilitation centers, you lead administration, finance and business operations.

  What you bring:

  From leading a larger operation yourself, you know its administration, buildings, staff and service providers.

  How to get there:

  Clinics and care providers also look for managers from the business world. You learn healthcare financing through on-the-job training or in a part-time further training course in hospital management lasting a few months.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office
  View job

• Property manager

  Also: Property administrator for commercial real estate

  With on-the-job training

  As a property manager, you look after commercial or residential properties for owners and handle tenants, maintenance and billing.

  What you bring:

  Especially if you have managed buildings, you know the technology, service providers, contracts and costs of properties.

  How to get there:

  Real estate service companies train career changers from facility management on the job. Further training as a certified real estate specialist (Immobilienfachwirt) is possible but not a must. If you go self-employed as a residential property manager, you need a permit under § 34c of the Trade Regulation Act (Gewerbeordnung).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €4,238gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Business coach

  Also: Leadership trainer

  With vocational training

  As a business coach or trainer, you support managers and teams through difficult phases, facilitate workshops and develop leadership programs.

  What you bring:

  You know day-to-day management, team dynamics and change processes from many projects.

  How to get there:

  You can complete coaching training alongside work; scope and duration depend on the provider. The title coach is not protected, but clients look for recognized training. You can work as a freelance coach; permanent jobs exist in the staff development departments of large companies.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,155gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.