June 8th, 2023
What Careers Can You Get with a Finance Degree?
A finance degree can deposit you right at the doorsteps of a financial institution or take you into the corporate world. Or it could set you on the path to a career in real estate or business analysis. Your knowledge of accounting, economics, and financial management is valuable currency that can open you up to a world of possibilities. Consider a few roles you might attain with a degree in finance:
Accountant
You don’t need to major in accounting to be an accountant. The knowledge you gain from a finance degree will serve you well across a wide range of numbers-focused careers. As an accountant, you help prepare financial statements, tax returns, and supporting documentation and ensure that all are accurate and in compliance with federal and state laws. You might also conduct internal audits to unearth errors, theft, and fraud. You could work across industries and in any size organization. From small startups to large corporations, and nonprofit organizations, accounting skills are critical to sound finances and long-term stability and success. To become an accountant, you’ll need additional certification beyond your degree, but accountants are expected to remain in demand and the median salary is $77,250.
Financial Analyst
As a financial analyst, you help banks and other businesses make sound financial decisions. You gather and analyze financial data and evaluate current market trends to make recommendations to management on the types of assets they should hold and investments they should make. You can work across industries, in the for-profit or nonprofit sectors and might specialize in such areas as securities, portfolios, or financial risk. Financial analysts earned a median salary of more than $90,000 in 2021 and employment of financial analysts is expected grow faster than average over the next decade.
FinTech Business Analyst
It seems everything is built with technology and finances are no exception. FinTech, or financial technology, refers to businesses that offer products or services, such as digital banking, that can automate or digitize financial services. With a background in finance, you already understand half the equation. If you’ve taken computer science during your studies, you may also have an inkling into the value of technology. Along with your business acumen, critical thinking, and passion for knowledge, FinTech could be a great path to pursue. As a FinTech business analyst, you examine company data, unite the business and tech departments, and make recommendations that can help your organization excel.
Compensation and Benefits Manager
A finance degree teaches you the critical need to leverage human resources for the benefit of an organization. As a compensation and benefits manager, you help set an organization’s pay and benefits structure. You also work with insurance brokers, investment managers, and other external vendors. Being able to understand the numbers on both a macro and micro level enables you to develop competitive wage structure and benefits packages that appeal to employees and the bottom line. The average salary for a compensation manager is more than $100,000.
Commercial Banker
It’s probably no surprise that a finance degree might pave the way for a career in banking. Working in commercial banking, you might become a loan officer, mortgage banker, trust officer, or a credit analyst. In each of the roles, you bring your knowledge of finance and economics to make fiscally responsible decisions. You work with individuals and businesses to assess their financial needs, offer solutions and services that might meet those needs, and determine their creditworthiness. You could also take these skills to a credit union, mortgage company, or other financial institution.
Real Estate Agent
You may not have realized it, but selling real estate takes a lot more work than just pounding a for sale sign into the ground and waiting for buyers. You need to understand the market, your region, the inventory, and where buyers and sellers are willing to land on a price. And you need to understand financial contracts, profits, and losses. Where could ever learn all that? You can start with a degree in finance. Real estate agents earn a median salary of more than $62,000, but depending on where you live and your selling skills, you may earn much more. Depending on your state, you may also be required to
Are you interested in finance but don’t know where it might lead? The sky’s the limit! At Limestone University, we offer a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Finance that can propel you toward careers in accounting, banking, investments, and real estate. Our program is offered entirely online for your convenience, and our dedicated faculty are ready to help you succeed. Click to learn more.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors in the world, commented after the financial crisis of 2009, “It’s been an ideal period for investors: A climate of fear is their best friend.
