Business, Finance, and Consulting

Corporate Finance

Responsible for making decisions that will help companies optimally invest their capital, reduce and manage their cost structure, and better forecast the company’s future. Typical responsibilities of a corporate finance analyst are analyzing potential investments by modeling financial impacts, creating financial budgets and forecasts that help company leadership prepare for the future of the business, and collect and analyze data trends to propose actionable insights. Entry-level roles include financial analysts, treasury analysts, and cost analysts. A unique aspect of corporate finance is interacting with all functions of the business such as marketing, supply chain, and accounting.

Commercial Banking

Responsible for providing banking and financial services to corporations. Banking services include treasury management services and foreign exchange and derivatives strategies and execution. Financing solutions include lines of credit, term loans, asset securitizations, and equipment leases/loans. Typical career options include relationship manager (RM), underwriter (UW), and product partner. Important skills to have are financial analysis, sales, and communication skills.

Investment Banking

One of the more demanding yet educational career paths available to finance majors due to the long hours and high level of responsibility. Some responsibilities include advising large corporations on strategic and financial decisions, servicing the acquisition of a successful competitor, and facilitating a company’s stock market debut. Investment banking is sought after due to the level of accounting, valuation, and overall corporate finance skills that are required and taught throughout the course of the banking analyst programs. Many analysts move on to attractive roles at a variety of possible employers such as hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital.

Asset and Wealth Management

Involves the direction of a client’s portfolio by an institution or individual. Institutional asset managers typically invest and direct large amounts of capital on behalf of clients such as pension funds, insurance companies, and endowments. Wealth management, which deals primarily with individuals and families, includes investment and brokerage services and financial and retirement planning. The most demanding and sought-after roles in wealth management are typically found in private banking, which focuses on advising high net worth individuals and family trusts and requires a more personally tailored level of client service.

Consulting

Provides expert advice to C-Suite executives of organizations on major strategic, financial, and operational issues. Organizations hire consultants in light of major disruptions to their business (e.g., acquisitions and divestitures, technology disruptions). Consulting firms hire undergraduates for analyst roles. Responsibilities include identifying business problems, conducting analyses, providing recommendations, and implementing solutions. Consulting career paths are known for their “exit opportunities” into high-level corporate roles and graduate school.

Business Analyst

Business analysts identify a company’s needs through the use of analytical tools and collect data to determine the state of the company. They are skilled at gathering and processing information and problem-solving. Additionally, business analysts are able to interact with a variety of people, from external customers, managers, and executives to industry experts, and are employed in a variety of industries.

Finance Industry Snapshot

Check out this finance Career Path resources from the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) This is a great resource to explore industries that interest you the most.

Careers in Marketing

Marketing Manager

Marketing managers plan campaigns to create interest in their product or service always keeping the end goal or big picture in mind. They create and evaluate marketing strategies and are in charge of managing a team of marketing professionals. Skills include excellent communication, organization, planning and a positive attitude towards their work.

Sales Manager

Sales Managers direct the company’s sales teams by setting goals, analyzing data, and developing training programs for representatives. They need to have great communication, critical thinking, and organization skills.

Retail Manager

Retail Managers maintain the day to day operations of the business, manage employees, create financial budgets, and plan annual objectives and goals. Some important skills for retail managers to have are strong relationship building and organization skills.

Account Manager

Account managers play the role of liaison between the company and the clients and are responsible for nurturing long-term relationships with clients. They are the face of the company so they need excellent communication skills and the ability to network.