Finance Careers

Explore Finance & Accounting Related Careers

Compare Careers in Finance
Thinking about a career in finance? Explore the wide variety of careers that can be pursued in this every changing field.

Chief Financial Officer
CFOs plan, oversee, execute and adapt several corporate financial areas including international trade, mergers, restructuring, expansion, market liquidity, debts, banking and investments.

Comptroller
A comptroller is a managerial or executive position and thus these finance professionals must have several years of experience in the field and the ability to supervise staff.

Commercial & Business Banker
Bankers, whether they are working for small commercial operations or large businesses, need to develop a trust over time with their clients because essentially they know the exact details of their clients’ finances.

Money Manager
An investment advisor is an individual or a firm that is in the business of giving advice about securities to clients.

Loan Officer
Mortgage Bankers or Loan Officers are “the face of the loan process” meaning they personally work with clients getting ready to make this big purchase by helping them secure a loan.

Mortgage Underwriter
If you are analytical, detail-oriented, comfortable with learning and using software, have the ability to comprehend financial components relevant to the loan process and capable of looking at the big picture, then you could help fill the great demand for mortgage underwriters.

Certified Public Accountant
Becoming a certified public accountant undoubtedly opens the doors to many career prospects. In fact many potential employers prefer or require CPA-certification.

Actuary
An actuary career is a fulfilling one for the right candidate—someone with top quantitative skills and an excellent work ethic, who is analytical and able to work strategically well with colleagues, such as accountants, financial analysts and managers.

Home To Fast Growing Sectors of Business

According to California State University Northbridge, careers in finance may be subdivided into two categories: managerial and financial services. The university adds that financial services are “the fastest growing area in [the] finance [industry]” and include banking, insurance, securities and real estate.

An Associate and Bachelor degree in finance will make you eligible for an entry-level or mid-level finance career respectively. A Masters in Finance degree will help pave the way to an advanced corporate finance career. Several employers will prefer and sometimes require you hold a relevant credential, such as CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) or CFP (Certified Financial Planner).

Finance Careers & Specialties That Pay

The Bureau of Labor Statistics rates the job outlook for careers with a finance degree as very promising. The projected job growth for several financial professions tends to range between 16% and 32% through to 2020.

Both American & international companies need well qualified and well trained professionals to preform a wide variety of important duties. From CFO to mortgage loan officer, the number of possibilities is as high as any other industry.

The median salaries for finance professionals for 2010 range between $61,000 and $75,000 for these careers, adds the BLS. Corporate finance careers at an executive or managerial level have the potential to garner much higher salaries.

For example, according to the BLS, the median salary for financial managers was $103,910 in 2010. While the projected growth for managerial finance careers is only 9% through to 2020, those who work hard, gain experience, prove their knowledge and abilities and continuously learn have the potential to rise to these prestigious positions.