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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Business and financial operations occupations

Woman sitting in office and typing on computer This occupational group includes purchasing agents, compliance officers, human resource workers, logisticians, fundraisers, market research analysts, accountants, auditors, credit counselors, and tax examiners.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2025, work was controlled by people for 40.2 percent of business and financial operations workers. Work was self-paced for 58.8 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of business and financial operations workers with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	27.9	72.1
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	97.7	2.3
Working around crowds	0.8	99.2
Telework routinely allowed	58.5	41.5
Supervising others	21.5	78.5
Supervisor present in immediate work area	49.1	50.9
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 76.9 percent of business and financial operations workers and on-the-job training was required for 74.7 percent.

A bachelor's degree was required for 63.1 percent of business and financial operations workers.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for 38.4 percent of business and financial operations workers. Another 61.3 percent were exposed to moderate noise, less than 0.5 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by 2.3 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by 97.7 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, speaking was required for greater than 99.5 percent of business and financial operations workers and was not required for less than 0.5 percent. For 1.7 percent of workers, speaking was seldom required, for 64.4 percent speaking was occasionally required, for 33.5 percent speaking was frequently required, and for less than 0.5 percent speaking was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 8.7 percent of business and financial operations workers and was not required for 91.3 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 91.1 percent of business and financial operations workers. On average, workers spent 89.8 percent of the workday sitting and 10.2 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of business and financial operations workers with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	91.1	8.9
Driving	25.4	74.6
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	12.7	87.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey