Corporate and Public Finance
-
Financial Analysis
-
Cash Management
-
Credit Management
-
Budget Analysis
-
Investment Management
-
Investor Relations
-
Financial Reporting
-
Payroll
-
Benefits
-
Real Estate
-
Risk Management
|
-
Private businesses of all sizes and types
-
State and local government entities
-
Federal agencies including:
-
Internal Revenue Service
-
Treasury Department
-
Schools and universities
-
Non-profit organizations
-
Foundations
-
Hospitals
|
-
Complete a related internship.
-
Develop strong computer skills, including spreadsheets, databases, and presentation software.
-
Sharp analytical skills are crucial in this industry.
-
Earn an MBA to reach the highest levels of corporate finance.
|
Banking
-
Corporate Credit Analysis
-
Commercial Lending
-
Trust Management
-
Capital Services and Mergers & Acquisitions
-
Mortgage Loans
-
Originations and Packaging
-
Branch Management
-
Operations
-
Cash Management
-
Credit Scoring and Risk Management
-
Private Banking
|
-
Commercial banks
-
Credit unions
-
Savings and loan associations
-
Savings banks
-
Mortgage banks
-
Captive finance companies
-
Regulatory agencies including:
-
Federal Reserve, FDIC, OCC, OTS
|
-
Develop a solid background in business including marketing and accounting.
-
Get experience through part-time, summer or internship positions in a financial service firm.
-
Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills in order to work well with a varied clientele.
|
Insurance
-
Claims Analysis
-
Underwriting
-
Risk Management
-
Sales
-
Actuarial Science
-
Loss Control
|
-
Life insurance firms
-
Property and casualty insurance firms
-
Commercial banks
-
Savings banks
|
-
Complete an internship with an insurance agency.
-
Talk to professionals in the industry to learn more about claims, underwriting, and risk management. Many good, entry-level positions exist in these areas.
-
Initiative and sales ability are necessary to be a successful agent or broker.
-
Develop strong communication skills, as many positions require interaction with others and the ability to explain information clearly and concisely.
-
Take additional statistics classes to prepare for a career in actuary science. Prepare to take the first in a series of actuarial examinations.
|
Personal Financial Planning
-
Sales
-
Customer Service
-
Operations
-
Portfolio Management
|
-
Brokerage firms
-
Trust companies
-
Financial partnerships
-
Multi-line insurance firms
-
Sole practitioners
|
-
Gain experience in sales.
-
Demonstrate a highly motivated and entrepreneurial personality.
-
Research how one obtains the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.
-
Develop a solid personal network.
|
Real Estate
-
Residential Brokerage
-
Commercial Sales
-
Appraisals
-
Property Management
-
Real Estate Portfolio Management
|
-
Real estate brokers
-
Commercial banks
-
Appraisal firms
-
Apartment and condominium complexes
-
Developers
-
Large corporations: real estate departments
-
Real estate investment trusts
-
Mutual funds
|
-
Obtain sales experience through part-time, summer or internship positions.
-
Research how to become a real estate broker through the National Association of Realtors.
-
Develop an entrepreneurial spirit.
-
Research apprenticeships in appraisal.
|
Investment Banking
-
Corporate Financial Analysis
-
Mergers and Acquisitions
-
Equity and Debt
-
Underwriting
-
Institutional Bond and Equity Sales
-
Retail Bond and Equity Sales
-
Business Valuation
-
Business Sale Transactions
-
Currency Trading
-
Derivatives, e.g. options
-
Trading
-
Venture Capital Fund Management
-
New Venture Analysis
|
-
Investment banking firms
(Changes in laws have created a fluid situation in this industry; Mergers and acquisitions continue to take place.)
-
Financial services firms
-
Insurance firms
(The Gramm Leach Bliley Act of 1999 allowed financial services firms to acquire or build investment banking subsidiaries and vice versa.)
|
-
An M.B.A. is required to move beyond the entry-level analyst position in investment banking. Investment banking is highly competitive.
-
Be prepared to work many hours of overtime per week, start at the bottom, and pay your dues.
-
Develop strong analytical and communication skills.
-
Cultivate personal ambitiousness.
-
Obtain a Series 7 License for both institutional and retail broker sales positions.
-
Work toward the CFA designation.
-
Review a list of Accredited Online MBA programs.
|
Money Management
-
Research
-
Trading
-
Marketing
-
Portfolio Management
|
-
Portfolio management firms
-
Commercial banks
-
Investment banks
-
Federal Reserve banks
-
Insurance firms
|
Most positions require an advanced degree in economics, finance or business and many years of financial experience. |
Accounting
-
Corporate or Government Including:
-
Financial Management
-
Financial Reporting
-
Cost Accounting
-
Tax Planning
-
Research
|
-
Companies of various sizes, in all industries
-
Federal agencies and departments including:
-
Federal Bureau of Investigation
-
Internal Revenue Service
-
Department of the Treasury
-
Office of Management and Budget
-
Securities Exchange Commission
-
State and local agencies
|
-
Sometimes opportunities in accounting exist in government and corporate settings for finance students.
-
Take more than the required amount of accounting classes to supplement finance curriculum.
-
Maintain a strong g.p.a.
-
Complete an internship in a government agency and become familiar with the government application process to work in the public sector.
|
