A degree in finance opens doors to various opportunities. Graduate finance jobs are available in all major industries and have great career prospects. Depending on the degree, one can chose from varied financial career paths. For instance, PhD degree holders in finance generally get into research and teaching jobs (at the university level), while MBA graduates in finance usually apply for executive level positions in corporations.
Graduate Finance Jobs: Options
The important employment avenues for finance graduates are:
Commercial Banking
Opportunities in commercial banking are diverse. Key functions and positions include:
- Credit analyst: An entry level job, this involves evaluating consumer and business loan applications. The duties of a credit analyst include dealing with lenders, interacting with various managers and executives and projecting the future cash flow of a company.
- Loan officer: This involves selling loans to customers. A loan officer must have good selling skills and the ability to understand different businesses. Most high level banking professionals start out as loan officers.
- Trust officer: This requires delivering trust services and advice to customers (usually upscale) along with selling financial products. This profile is an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge of investing, taxes and estate planning.
Corporate Finance
Corporate finance jobs involve managing the funds of a business, planning mergers and acquisitions and planning the organization’s financial future. Important positions in corporate finance are:
- Treasurer: This involves supervision of a corporation’s treasury department, which encompasses raising funds, asset management and cash management. An upper management job, it requires strong analytical skills and the ability to motivate people.
- Credit manager: This involves establishing credit policies, including terms of collection. Credit management jobs require the ability to evaluate accounting statements.
- Investor relations officer: This involves dealing with public investors by disseminating financial information, issuing press releases and clarifying investor queries. Investor relations positions require interaction with top-level executives and understanding of public relations.
Financial Planning
Financial planners aid individuals in planning their financial future, such as setting up retirement funds and planning for children’s education. This work requires sound interpersonal skills and understanding of investments, taxes and estate planning. Financial planning positions are available with various investment and banking companies. However, most financial planners set up their own practice or work with smaller practices.
Other popular areas in which graduate finance jobs are available include insurance, risk management companies, money management, real estate and investment banking.