Career change as a financial advisor

Career change paths

• Management consultant for financing

  Also: Funding consultant

  With on-the-job training

  As a consultant, you support medium-sized companies with financing, funding, succession and crises.

  What you bring:

  You can read balance sheets, structure financing and know banks and funding programs from the inside.

  How to get there:

  Consultancies for medium-sized companies hire experienced bank advisors, and after some years, going self-employed is also possible. Courses on funding or business succession take a few days to a few weeks.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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

  €6,768gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Bank branch manager

  Also: Head of a corporate client center

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As a branch or team leader, you lead advisors, are responsible for sales targets and look after important customers yourself.

  What you bring:

  You know advising, sales, rules and customers, and you have met targets and trained colleagues.

  How to get there:

  Banks usually fill branch management positions internally through programs for junior managers. Banking qualifications such as certified senior bank specialist (Bankfachwirt) or certified bank business administrator (Bankbetriebswirt) help but are not always required.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €8,030gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Credit analyst

  Also: Credit risk manager

  With on-the-job training

  In back-office credit processing (Marktfolge) or risk management, you review loan applications, assess risks and monitor existing loans, without sales targets of your own.

  What you bring:

  You can assess creditworthiness, collateral and business models and know lending processes from advising.

  How to get there:

  Banks train advisors internally for the back office, often over a few months. The work is more analytical and regular than in sales.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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

  €5,690gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Treasury manager

  Also: Head of financing in a medium-sized company

  With on-the-job training

  In a company, you steer liquidity, loans and bank relationships as a treasury manager or in the finance department, and you hedge interest rate and currency risks.

  What you bring:

  You know financing, liquidity and banks from the other side of the table.

  How to get there:

  Medium-sized companies hire experienced corporate client advisors for treasury and financing. For overall management of finance, you also need bookkeeping and controlling skills, for example through further training as a certified balance sheet accountant (Bilanzbuchhalter).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €6,570gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Lecturer at a bank academy

  Also: Trainer for financial advice

  With on-the-job training

  At the academies of banks and savings banks or at training providers, you teach apprentices and employees in banking and finance topics.

  What you bring:

  You know investment products, lending business and advisory rules from practice and can explain them clearly.

  How to get there:

  Academies and training providers look for lecturers from practice, often first part-time. A course in teaching methods or trainer aptitude under the AEVO (Ausbildereignung) helps. Permanent positions exist mainly at the academies of the banking groups.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €5,075gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Product manager at a bank

  Also: Sales manager for investment products

  With on-the-job training

  In the product or sales management of a bank, fund company or insurer, you develop products and sales concepts and train advisor teams.

  What you bring:

  You know what customers ask, which products can be explained and where advisors need support in conversation.

  How to get there:

  Banks and fund companies often fill these positions with experienced advisors, internally or through job advertisements. You work mostly at the head office instead of with customers of your own.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €7,950gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Customer adviser at a health insurance fund

  Also: Corporate client manager at a health insurance fund

  With on-the-job training

  At a statutory health insurance fund, you advise insured persons and employers on membership, contributions and benefits and attract new members.

  What you bring:

  You know health and long-term care insurance, advisory conversations and the handling of applications and contracts from insurance practice.

  How to get there:

  Health insurance funds hire insurance clerks for customer advice and sales and train them internally in social insurance law, often over several months. For permanent case-officer work, some funds later expect the exam as a social insurance specialist (Sozialversicherungsfachangestellte/r) or an internal course.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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

  €3,964gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Recruitment consultant in temporary agency work

  Also: Recruiter

  With on-the-job training

  As a recruitment consultant, you win companies as customers, search for suitable applicants, hold interviews and support assignments.

  What you bring:

  You approach people actively, recognize needs, can sell offers and maintain customer relationships over years.

  How to get there:

  Temporary work agencies and recruitment firms like to hire sales professionals from insurance and train them for a few weeks. A recognized qualification comes from training as a personnel services clerk (Personaldienstleistungskaufmann/Personaldienstleistungskauffrau). After some years in HR work, you can take the upgrading course for certified HR specialist (Geprüfter Personalfachkaufmann/Personalfachkauffrau, IHK).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,046gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Real estate agent

  Also: Real estate adviser

  With on-the-job training

  As a real estate agent, you market apartments and houses, conduct viewings, advise on price and financing and accompany buyers and sellers up to the notary appointment.

  What you bring:

  You sell products that need explaining, know building insurance and financing questions and can close deals.

  How to get there:

  Real estate agencies, banks and property developers hire sales professionals from insurance and train them. For your own work as an agent, you need a permit under § 34c GewO, but no expertise exam is required for it. Training as a real estate clerk (Immobilienkauffrau/Immobilienkaufmann) gives a solid foundation.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €3,940gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Sales trainer

  Also: Trainer in brokerage training

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As a trainer at an insurer or training provider, you train new talent, prepare them for the expertise exam (Sachkundeprüfung) and train brokers in products, advice and sales.

  What you bring:

  You know advisory conversations, needs analysis and handling of objections from practice and can demonstrate them to others.

  How to get there:

  Insurers and training providers of the industry fill trainer positions with experienced brokers or managers and train them. The trainer aptitude exam (Ausbildereignung, AEVO) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and a trainer course of a few months improve your chances. You can work freelance as a trainer, and permanent positions exist mainly in the academies of large insurers.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €5,254gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Financial analyst

  Also: Portfolio analyst

  With further training

  As an analyst at asset managers, fund companies or insurers, you value companies, bonds and funds and prepare investment decisions.

  What you bring:

  You know securities, markets and investment products and can put opportunities and risks in context.

  How to get there:

  For analyst positions, a degree in economics is usually expected. You complete recognized further training such as CFA or CEFA alongside work; the duration depends on the program and your pace. Good English and confident spreadsheet skills are required.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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

  €6,570gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Real estate appraiser

  Also: Expert appraiser for lending value determination

  With further training

  As an appraiser, you value houses, apartments and commercial properties for banks, courts and private individuals.

  What you bring:

  You know mortgage financing, property documents and real estate markets from advising.

  How to get there:

  For lending value appraisals for Pfandbrief banks, the Lending Value Ordinance (BelWertV § 6) requires many years of experience in property valuation; certification by a state-recognized body or one accredited under DIN EN ISO/IEC 17024 counts as proof of qualification. Part-time courses in property valuation are available, and the duration depends on the provider. For public appointment as an expert, you must prove special expertise (GewO § 36).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light
  View job

• Construction financing adviser

  Also: Real estate loan broker

  With further training

  As a construction financing adviser, you compare loans from many banks, work through customers' financing with them and accompany the application through to payout.

  What you bring:

  You advise customers on long-term decisions and know how to protect real estate purchases through residential building, term life or disability insurance.

  How to get there:

  For brokering real estate loans, you need a permit under § 34i GewO with an expertise exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), and the length of preparation courses depends on the provider. Among others, the certified senior specialist for insurance and finance (Fachwirt für Versicherungen und Finanzen) and its successor, the Bachelor Professional in Insurance and Financial Investments (Bachelor Professional in Versicherungen und Finanzanlagen), as well as certain tracks or elective qualifications for insurance clerks are treated as equivalent. The IHK checks whether this applies to you.*Regulated by law (Trade Regulation Act (GewO) § 34i; Real Estate Loan Brokerage Ordinance (ImmVermV) § 4).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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