The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government. A minister of finance (also called financial affairs, the treasury, the economy, or economic affairs) has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the budget, stimulate the economy, or helps control finances. Finance ministers are often found in state or provincial governments if that country has a form of federalism. Finance ministers powers can vary from governments, but not like a foreign minister. Sometimes the finance minister is the most powerful cabinet post, like in Canada or New Zealand. Other times they are unpopular posts if they must raise taxes or cut spending. In the United States, the finance minister is called the Secretary of the Treasury, though there is a separate Treasurer of the United States and it is the director of the Office of Management and Budget who drafts the budget. In the United Kingdom, the finance minister is called the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In Hong Kong it is called the Financial Secretary, though there is a Secretary for the Treasury subordinate to him.
Country-related articles and lists
Australia: Treasurer of Australia (with list) - There is also a Finance Minister who is junior to the Treasurer.
Brazil: Ministry of Finance (Brazil)
Canada: Minister of Finance (list)
People's Republic of China: Minister of Finance; see also the Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission and the Governor of the People's Bank of China
Denmark: Finance Minister (list)
Finland: Minister of Finance (with list)
France: Minister of the Economy, Finance and Employment (list)
Germany: Minister of Finance (list)
Hong Kong: Financial Secretary (with list), Secretary for the Treasury (under Financial Secretary)
Iceland: Minister of Finance
India: Union Cabinet Minister of Finance, (list)
Ireland: Minister for Finance (with list)
Israel: Finance Minister of Israel
Japan: Minister of Finance (with list)
Mexico: Secretary of Finance
Montenegro: Ministry of Finance (with list)
Netherlands: Ministry of Finance
New Zealand: Minister of Finance (with list)
Norway: Minister of Finance (with list)
Pakistan: Finance Minister of Pakistan (with list)
Poland: Finance Minister of Poland
Russia: Finance Minister of Russia. See also Finance Minister of Imperial Russia.
Samoa: Minister for Finance (with list)
Scotland: Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth (with list)
Serbia: Mirko Cvetković
Singapore: Minister for Finance, Ministry of Finance
South Korea: Ministry of Finance and Economy
Spain: Minister of Economy and Finance
Sweden: Minister for Finance (with list)
Switzerland: Member of the Federal Council heading the "Federal Department of Finance" (with list)
United Kingdom: Chancellor of the Exchequer (with list)
