Career Options after Under Graduate in Finance

Amazing Money, stupendous growth & Jobs all over the world- Welcome to the world of Finance.

There are several career options available to individuals who have completed their undergraduate degree in finance. Some popular choices include:

1. Investment Banking: Involves helping companies and governments raise money by issuing and selling securities.
2. Corporate Finance: Involves working for a company to manage its financial activities, such as budgeting, risk management, and financial planning.
3. Wealth Management / Portfolio Management: Involves managing the investment portfolios of high-net worth individuals.
4. Risk Management: Involves identifying, assessing, and mitigating financial risks.
5. Insurance: Involves assessing and managing the risks associated with insuring individuals and companies.
6. Commercial Banking: Involves working for a bank to help customers with their financial needs, such as loans, savings accounts, and other financial products.
7. Financial analyst or advisor: Involves providing research and analysis on economic, industry, and company trends to help businesses and investors make informed decisions.
8. Accountant or auditor: Involves maintaining and examining the financial records of businesses or individuals to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

Additional Degrees/ Certifications required 

There are several professional certifications that individuals with an undergraduate degree in finance can pursue. Some of the most popular include:

1. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA): This certification is offered by the CFA Institute and is recognized as the gold standard in the investment management industry. To be eligible, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and at least four years of professional work experience.
2. Certified Financial Planner (CFP): This certification is offered by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards and is designed for financial advisors who want to specialize in financial planning. To be eligible, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of professional work experience.
3. Certified Public Accountant (CPA): This certification is offered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and is designed for accountants and financial professionals. To be eligible, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and pass a rigorous exam.
4. Financial Risk Manager (FRM): This certification is offered by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) and is designed for professionals working in the field of risk management. To be eligible, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and pass a rigorous exam.
5. Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA): This certification is offered by the Corporate Finance Institute and is designed for professionals working in the field of financial modeling, valuation, and financial analysis. To be eligible, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and pass a rigorous exam

It’s worth noting that many of these certifications have additional requirements and may require ongoing education to maintain the certification.

Companies in Finance 

There are many large and well-known companies in the finance industry that specialize in different areas. Here are a few examples of top companies in finance, along with their specializations and background:

1. JPMorgan Chase: One of the largest banks in the world, JPMorgan Chase offers a wide range of financial services, including investment banking, commercial banking, and asset management. The company has a long history dating back to 1799, and has grown through a series of mergers and acquisitions.
2. Goldman Sachs: A leading investment bank and financial services company, Goldman Sachs is known for its expertise in investment banking, trading, and asset management. The company was founded in 1869 and has a reputation for being one of the most prestigious and selective firms in the industry.
3. BlackRock: One of the largest asset management companies in the world, BlackRock specializes in managing investment funds for individuals and institutions. The company was founded in 1988 and has grown through a series of acquisitions, including the acquisition of Barclays Global Investors in 2009.
4. Morgan Stanley: A leading investment bank and financial services company, Morgan Stanley offers a wide range of services, including investment banking, wealth management, and institutional securities. The company was founded in 1935 and has a strong reputation in the industry.
5. Wells Fargo: One of the largest banks in the United States, Wells Fargo offers a wide range of financial services, including retail banking, commercial banking, and wealth management. The company has a long history dating back to 1852, and has grown through a series of mergers and acquisitions.
6. Citigroup: One of the largest banks in the world, Citigroup offers a wide range of financial services, including investment banking, commercial banking, and wealth management. The company was formed in 1998 through the merger of Citicorp and Travelers Group.
7. Fidelity Investments: One of the largest mutual fund and financial services company, Fidelity specializes in brokerage services, retirement services, and wealth management. The company was founded in 1946 and has grown to become one of the largest investment managers in the world.
8. Blackstone Group: One of the largest alternative asset management companies in the world, Blackstone specializes in private equity, real estate, hedge fund, and credit funds. The company was founded in 1985 and has grown to become one of the largest alternative investment managers in the world.
9. Northern Trust: One of the largest institutional asset management and trust companies in the world, Northern Trust specializes in providing asset servicing, fund administration, and wealth management services to institutions and high-net-worth individuals. The company was founded in 1889 and has grown to become one of the largest asset managers in the world.
10. Bajaj Finance Limited : Bajaj Finance Limited, a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv, is an Indian non-banking financial company headquartered in Pune.
11. Tata Capital Limited: Tata Capital Limited is a financial and investment service provider in India. The company is based in Mumbai and has more than 100 branches across the country. The firm offers consumer loans, wealth management, commercial finance, and infrastructure finance.
12. Mahindra & Mahindra Finance Services Limited: Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited is an Indian rural non-banking financial company headquartered in Mumbai

These are just a few examples of top companies in the finance industry. There are many other well-known companies in various areas of finance, such as hedge funds, private equity firms, and venture capital firms.

Job Titles after finance degree

There are a wide range of job titles that individuals with an undergraduate degree in finance can hold, depending on the type of company and specific role. Here are some examples of common job titles for finance professionals:

1. Financial Analyst: This role involves analyzing financial data to inform investment decisions, financial planning, and risk management strategies.
2. Investment Banker: This role involves helping companies and governments raise money by issuing and selling securities.
3. Wealth Manager: This role involves managing the investment portfolios of high net worth individuals.
4. Financial Advisor: This role involves providing financial advice and support to individuals or companies.
5. Credit Analyst: This role involves assessing the creditworthiness of individuals or companies seeking loans or other forms of credit.
6. Risk Manager: This role involves identifying, assessing, and mitigating financial risks.
7. Financial Planner: This role involves providing financial advice and support to individuals or companies.
8. Accountant: This role involves maintaining and examining the financial records of businesses or individuals to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
9. Financial Salesperson: This role involves selling financial products and services, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and insurance.
10. Portfolio Manager: This role involves overseeing the management of a portfolio of investments, including making buying and selling decisions.
11. Actuary: This role involves assessing and managing the risks associated with insuring individuals and companies.
12. Financial Data Analyst: This role involves analyzing financial data using statistical techniques and software to identify patterns and trends to help make informed business decisions.
13. Treasury Analyst: This role involves managing a company’s financial resources and risk, including cash management and forecasting, debt management and financing, and risk management.
14. Credit Risk Analyst : This role involves analyzing and evaluating the creditworthiness of potential borrowers, assessing the risk of default, and recommending credit decisions

These are just a few examples of job titles that individuals with an undergraduate degree in finance can hold. The specific job title will depend on the company and the individual’s level of experience and education.

Career Paths 

here are a few examples of career paths that individuals with an undergraduate degree in finance can pursue:

1. Investment Banking: An individual with a degree in finance may start off as an analyst or associate in an investment bank, and then move up the ranks to become a vice president, director, or managing director. This career path typically involves a high level of responsibility and the ability to work on large and complex financial transactions.
2. Corporate Finance: An individual with a degree in finance may start off as a financial analyst or controller in a corporation, and then move up the ranks to become a CFO or treasurer. This career path typically involves working closely with other departments in the company to manage its financial activities, such as budgeting, risk management, and financial planning.
3. Financial Planning and Analysis: An individual with a degree in finance may start off as a financial planner or analyst, and then move up the ranks to become a manager or director of financial planning and analysis. This career path typically involves providing financial advice and support to individuals or companies, and may involve working with other departments such as marketing, operations and sales.
4. Wealth Management: An individual with a degree in finance may start off as a financial advisor or wealth manager, and then move up the ranks to become a senior advisor or manager. This career path typically involves managing the investment portfolios of high net worth individuals and providing them with financial advice and support.
5. Risk Management: An individual with a degree in finance may start off as a risk analyst, and then move up the ranks to become a manager or director of risk management. This career path typically involves identifying, assessing, and mitigating financial risks for companies or financial institutions.
6. Actuarial Science: An individual with a degree in finance may pursue actuarial science as a career, which involves assessing and managing the risks associated with insuring individuals and companies, using mathematics and statistics. They may start as an actuarial trainee and then move up to become a senior actuary or a chief actuary.
7. Financial Research: An individual with a degree in finance may start off as a financial research analyst, and then move up the ranks to become a senior analyst or research manager. This career path typically involves conducting research on economic, industry, and company trends to help businesses and investors make informed decisions.
8. Accountancy: An individual with a degree in finance may start off as an accountant or auditor, and then move up the ranks to become a manager or partner in an accounting firm. This career path typically involves maintaining and examining the financial records of businesses or individuals to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

It’s worth noting that many of these career paths require additional education and/or professional certifications, and that many finance professionals switch between different roles within the same company or move to different companies as they advance in their career.

Written by Mr. Rakesh Bhatia – Jitin Chawla Team