What Kind of Jobs Can I Do With A Degree in Finance?

A degree in finance, whether a bachelor’s, a master’s or an MBA, comes real handy when you are trying to break into a career in the government, banks, investment houses, real estate companies, manufacturing companies and many other enterprises.

Finance is core to an enterprise and a successful enterprise will need the services of intelligent finance domain experts to keep the wheels running smoothly. This is probably the reason for the endless supply of job opportunities for the right candidate in the financial sector. The nature of the job is such that there will always be a need for individuals with a finance degree.

Let’s take a look at some specific sectors within the finance domain.

Banking Sector

The banking sector is pretty much the core of the financial sector. To get into banking you must be strong with your fundamentals and core financial concepts since your skills in these areas are put to test on a daily basis. You have to keep yourself abreast of the current economic climate and events to meet your and your company’s objectives and serve its clients.

Within banking sector a list of potential employers could read like the following below

  • Commercial and savings banks
  • Credit unions
  • Savings and loan associations
  • Mortgage banks
  • Captive finance companies
  • Regulatory agencies such as The Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency(OCC) and Office of Thrift Supervision(OTS).

It should be pretty clear by now that there are a number of positions in a banking environment that will require your services. The banking industry is burgeoning and also very dynamic. A large number of individuals with a degree in finance are employed by banks. If you are evaluating specific areas then the following listing might help throw some light and help you identify specific areas that interest you and see yourself positioning yourself and your career.

  • Mortgage Loans
  • Credit Analysis and Commercial Lending
  • Origination’s and Packaging
  • Capital Services, Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Trust Management
  • Cash Management
  • Branch Management
  • Operations
  • Credit and Risk Management and
  • Private Banking.

Corporate and Public Finance

Getting into corporate and public finance might be difficult for a rank freshman. Experience is always preferred and it is always advisable to obtain relevant experience in this field before you make an attempt to apply for a job. A lot of students tend to intern in this sector to learn the basics of this business and get comfortable. Once you feel reasonably confident and are sure of the many areas within corporate finance, you will find yourself slowly moving up the hierarchy and soon becomes a very rewarding career. If you are considering a career in corporate finance then keep in mind that the right internship experience works as big advantage in helping to secure your dream job

Some of the the major employers in this sector are as follows

  • Privately owned businesses of varied sizes and types
  • Government entities
  • Federal agencies being the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service
  • Educational Institutions
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Trusts and foundations
  • Hospitals and other health care organizations

Investment Banking

Investment Banking is a field where the stakes are high and the expertise required is also very high. Similar to the corporate and public finance sectors, investment banking is a tough nut to crack for a fresh graduate. This is why you will find students interning in this field to gain relevant experience. Keep in mind that the investment banking business is extremely volatile and rewarding at the same time.

Some of the typical employers are in this area of finance are

  • Investment banking firms or companies
  • Financial services firms
  • Broking houses
  • Private equities
  • Corporate finance firms or companies

An MBA, CPA or CFA degree is an added qualification in breaking into or moving up in this sector. The front office dealers are the ones who work on deals and bring in the income. It is a stressful portfolio as the amount of money involved is tremendous. Trade decisions are made and changed in a split second as everything moves in line with the market and market sentiment.

Accounting

Finance and accounts go hand in hand. This is a relatively relaxed job portfolio and the level of stress compared to investment banking is minimal.
Some of the areas that you can work in are listed below

  • Various Companies from all industries
  • Federal agencies and departments such as
    • Internal Revenue Service
    • Department of the Treasury
    • Federal Bureau of Investigation
    • Securities Exchange Commission
    • Office of Management and Budget
  • State and local agencies

You can take up jobs in the following positions

  • Financial Management
  • Financial Reporting
  • Cost Accounting and control
  • Tax Planning
  • Research

Real Estate

If you have the flare and the inclination to understand real estate and the property market then a career in real estate might just be your calling. Your degree in finance can in handy since employers like the ones listed below are always on the lookout for suitable candidates to grow their real estate exposure and portfolio

  • Real estate brokers
  • Land and Property developers
  • Apartment /Condominium complexes
  • Appraisal firms
  • Commercial banks
  • Trusts for real estate investments and
  • Mutual funds

Some of the positions that you could consider in this industry are

  • Residential area brokerage
  • Commercial property sales
  • Property appraisals
  • Management of Property and
  • Real Estate Portfolio Management.

Insurance

Another big employer of finance graduates. Insurance sector like the banking sector is a very popular choice amongst finance students and graduates. Some of the employers in the insurance are as follows

  • Life insurance firms
  • Property and casualty insurance firms
  • Commercial banks and
  • Savings banks

And typical job opportunities in this sector include

  • Claims Analysts
  • Underwriters
  • Risk Management
  • Sales
  • Actuarial Valuation
  • Loss Control

The employers and the job opportunities for finance degree holders are endless. As for the nature of the job and what you can do specifically, it is always advisable to keep an open mind. Additional courses in math and statistics and accounting also aid in securing lucrative jobs as many positions require the ability to analyze and interpret data. It is also advisable to obtain experience through internships and summer jobs as you would have a better understanding of the work environment and its requirements.

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