A Master’s degree is considered to be a major asset within the finance industry. It has the potential to open many doors for students who are looking to kick-start their careers in finance. Here is a list of potential career opportunities with a Master’s in Finance added to your academic career. Read on.
Top 16 Job Opportunities for Finance Graduates
#1 Corporate Investment Banker
Business enterprises hire corporate investment bankers to conduct financial research and develop financial solutions. These professionals are expected to possess a keen interest in finance and the ability to understand how money is made and invested. They work to achieve financial goals and provide strategic advice by identifying and securing financial deals for their clients (a company, institution, or government).
#2 Financial Analyst
Financial analysts combine their knowledge, skills, and interests to evaluate investment opportunities for their employers. They are considered experts at providing guidance and recommendations for the best course of action for their employer’s future investment decision. These professionals are expected to be aware of current market trends as well as all investment opportunities within their specialist area. Their employers include non-profit organizations, government institutes, individual banks, pension funds, and insurance firms.
#3 Financial Advisor
Working as a financial advisor will require you to spend time providing specialist advice and guidance to your clients on how they can manage their money. These individuals specialize in a range of areas of expertise, including investments, savings, estate planning, mortgages, taxes, and pensions. They provide professional recommendations for their clients by analyzing the marketplace and ensuring that the client has all the necessary information to make a well-nurtured decision to secure a sale.
#4 Stockbroker
Stockbrokers possess exceptional analytical, negotiation, and communication skills to advise their clients on making informed decisions, such as investing in the right stocks and markets at the appropriate time. They keep up-to-date knowledge of financial and tax legislation affairs to ensure that the guidance they give to their clients is highly accurate. They conduct ongoing market research to update their clients directly with new investment opportunities.
#5 Actuary
Investment banking, corporate finance, pension funds, and insurance companies mainly hire actuaries. Their main role is to help their employer or clients take necessary action to minimize the associated risks and associated financial costs. They utilize financial and statistical theories to assess the likelihood of certain events occurring and present such technical and complex information in a way the non-specialist client can understand.
#6 Business teacher
Business teachers utilize their knowledge of finance and business to teach students the fundamental concepts of accounting, marketing, investing, and management. Although a bachelor’s degree allows graduates to teach high school business classes, higher degrees may be necessary for their successful access to internships as probationary business teachers in colleges.
#7 Accountant
Accountants prepare, analyze, and explain various financial statements, including profit and loss statements and balance sheets. They also monitor and report funds, conduct company internal audits, ensure that the company files all taxes on time, and advise management on best practices and suitable strategies to minimize costs and optimize profits.
#8 Securities, commodities, and financial services agent
These agents sell a large number of finance-related services with the best available investment opportunities to customers for the best wealth maximization. Their job is to communicate with clients about various kinds of acquisitions, mergers, and investments, and it involves great responsibility. Entry-level positions require only a bachelor’s degree; however, high levels involve a master’s degree as well as deep knowledge of the market and its related instruments with their features for better market forecasting and suggestions.
#9 Tax Associate
Tax associates help clients by keeping track of their requirements for internal revenue service. They keep proper records of clients’ income and expenses and review all of their relevant financial records. They apply various tax deductions and adjustments by using their expertise to reduce tax expenses. A master’s degree in any of those two subjects will greatly improve your chances of becoming a tax associate, even if a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance may be required for the role.
#10 Data Analyst
Data analyst jobs primarily include gathering large data sets and the analysis of such datasets as part of different projects. They tend to work with investment banks, hedge funds, and even commercial banks to inspect, filter, and analyze that data to find useful information they can use to draw relevant conclusions. Other than a bachelor’s degree, data analysts also tend to possess other skills such as database management, critical thinking, and public speaking.
#11 Business Development Officer
Business development officers do several tasks, such as budgeting, sales, customer retention, and personnel development, which are the ultimate objectives of business expansion. In the process, they are able to measure a company’s performance in achieving its primary goals. A bachelor’s in finance would suffice to apply for a business development officer position. It could help you learn how to operate on a set budget and achieve the targets on that budget under stress.
#12 Accountant
The accountants work for firms, government, or independently to evaluate the correctness of different financial documents. Other roles include collaborating with auditors to prepare financial books for external audits. You can hold the position of auditor with an undergraduate degree in finance.
#13 Commercial real estate agent
Commercial real estate agents apply their accounting skills to assess the financial status and future plans of a company with the objective of identifying the appropriate space. Agents appraise their available properties and can, therefore, counsel clients on financing their buyouts. Even though a degree is not required in this profession, a bachelor’s degree in finance will give you an added advantage in a sea of applicants vying for the job.
#14 Compensation and benefits manager
Compensation and benefits managers work with different organizations to help the management come up with a feasible and competitive wage structure that will support company sustainability in the long run. You are bound to increase your chances of becoming a compensation and benefits manager with a Ph.D. in finance.
#15 Chief financial officer
Chief accountants oversee all the economic activities of a firm and make professional recommendations whenever the business intends to make new decisions. They also have excellent knowledge of state financial regulations since they ensure that the business adheres to the rules and regulations of the IRS. Many head accountant roles require a master’s degree, but a doctoral level will place you ahead of the competition.
#16 Loan Officer
Typically, a loan officer is an officer in a financial organization. He or she will guide clients on how to prepare and make an application for a loan. Such clients can be individuals or companies. To carry out the responsibilities of a loan officer, an individual must possess a bachelor’s degree and have soft skills in sales and communication. Indeed, loan officers frequently have sales goals.
Conclusion
If you are already hooked on the professional duties mentioned in this blog, it is time for you to get your master’s degree in Finance as soon as possible. Good luck!