What Jobs Can You Do With a Finance Degree?

A finance degree provides a strong academic foundation, equipping individuals with skills in financial principles, market dynamics, and economic analysis. This education prepares graduates for diverse professional opportunities. Core competencies include understanding financial statements, evaluating investment opportunities, and managing monetary resources. The analytical and problem-solving abilities developed make finance professionals valuable assets in various settings, opening doors to careers across many industries.

Corporate Finance and Management

Within non-financial corporations, finance professionals manage a company’s financial health and guide strategic decisions. Financial Analysts prepare financial reports, conduct variance analysis, and forecast future performance for internal budgeting and strategic initiatives. They analyze data to set financial expectations.

Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Analysts focus on budgeting, forecasting, and performance reporting. They analyze costs, revenues, and profit margins, providing insights for management decisions on capital allocation and operational improvements. This role involves collaboration with departments to align financial plans with business objectives.

Treasury Analysts manage a company’s cash flow, liquidity, and financial risk, including foreign exchange and interest rate exposures. They optimize working capital, manage banking relationships, and oversee short-term investments to ensure sufficient funds for operations. This role supports financial stability and capital raising initiatives.

Investor Relations Specialists serve as a primary link between a company and its investors, communicating financial results, strategic direction, and corporate news. They manage investor inquiries, organize earnings calls, and ensure transparent communication to maintain investor confidence. This role requires understanding corporate finance.

Investment and Portfolio Management

Careers in investment and portfolio management involve strategic allocation and oversight of financial assets. Portfolio Managers construct and oversee investment portfolios for individuals, institutions, or funds, aligning asset allocation with client objectives and risk tolerance. They make informed decisions on buying and selling securities, monitoring market conditions and performance.

Investment Analysts conduct research on securities, industries, and market trends to identify investment opportunities. They perform valuation analysis, build financial models, and prepare detailed reports and recommendations for portfolio managers or clients. This role requires strong analytical skills.

Equity Research Analysts specialize in analyzing public companies, assessing their financial health, competitive landscape, and growth prospects. Their research helps investors make informed decisions about buying, holding, or selling stocks. They often publish reports that include earnings estimates and target prices.

Quantitative Analysts, or Quants, develop and implement mathematical models and algorithms to identify trading opportunities, manage risk, and price financial derivatives. They apply statistical and computational methods to analyze market data, often working with large datasets.

Banking and Financial Services

The banking and financial services sector encompasses a wide range of roles focused on facilitating financial transactions, providing lending solutions, and offering financial advice to individuals and businesses. Commercial Bankers work with businesses to provide financial solutions such as loans, lines of credit, and treasury services, fostering client relationships and assessing creditworthiness. They help companies manage their cash flow and finance their operations and expansion plans.

Retail Branch Managers oversee branch operations while guiding individuals on personal banking products, mortgages, and consumer loans. They help clients understand various financial offerings and make decisions that align with their personal financial goals.

Loan Officers evaluate loan applications, assess risk, and guide individuals or businesses through the lending process, ensuring compliance with lending regulations and policies. Credit Analysts assess the financial health and credit risk of individuals or businesses seeking loans, reviewing financial statements, credit histories, and market data. Their analysis helps determine the likelihood of repayment and the appropriate terms for credit facilities.

Wealth Management Advisors provide comprehensive financial planning and investment advice to affluent individuals and families, covering areas such as retirement planning, estate planning, and investment strategies. They build long-term relationships, tailoring financial solutions to meet specific client needs and objectives.

Financial Analysis and Consulting

Roles in financial analysis and consulting involve providing specialized analytical and strategic advisory services, often to a diverse range of clients across various industries. Management Consultants with a finance focus advise organizations on improving financial performance, operational efficiency, and strategic planning. They analyze complex business problems, develop data-driven solutions, and help implement recommendations to achieve client objectives.

Financial Modelers construct detailed financial models to project future financial performance, evaluate investment opportunities, and assess the impact of strategic decisions. These models are used for budgeting, valuation, mergers and acquisitions analysis, and capital planning. They require a deep understanding of accounting principles and financial theory.

Valuation Analysts determine the fair market value of businesses, assets, or securities using various methodologies, such as discounted cash flow, comparable company analysis, and precedent transactions. Their work supports mergers, acquisitions, litigation, and financial reporting.

Risk Analysts identify, assess, and mitigate financial risks, including market risk, credit risk, and operational risk. They develop risk management frameworks, implement monitoring tools, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements to protect an organization’s financial stability. Their analysis helps organizations make informed decisions to balance risk and return. These roles often involve performing due diligence, analyzing market trends, and providing strategic recommendations based on rigorous financial insights.