Finance Career Options - Career Planning and Placement (2024)

Office of Career Planning and Placement

What is finance?

Finance is the management of money which includes investing, borrowing, lending, budgeting, saving and forecasting. There are four main areas of finance: banks, institutions, public accounting and corporate.

Courses within the finance major provide a solid background in many subjects including:

  • Financial markets and intermediaries
  • Measuring the risk and return of investments
  • Financial management in international money and capital markets
  • Functional areas of bank management and related financial institutions
  • Recent developments in futures and options

Review the finance program page.

Traditional career titles

Entry-level titles in finance

Top industries in finance

  • Stockbroker
  • Budget analyst
  • Credit analyst
  • Financial analyst
  • Financial planner
  • Investment banker
  • Financial auditor
  • Financial analyst
  • Personal financial advisor
  • Investment banking analyst
  • Junior tax associate/accountant

What can I do with this major?

Industries

Suggested employers

Corporate and public finance

  • Treasury
  • Budget analysis
  • Financial analysis
  • Investor relations
  • Risk management
  • Financial reporting
  • Investment management
  • Cash and Credit management
  • DOW
  • DTE Energy
  • General Motors
  • Owens Corning
  • Ford Motor Company
  • Stellantis

Banking

  • Mortgage loans
  • Private banking
  • Branch management
  • Commercial lending
  • Corporate credit analysis
  • Ally
  • Comerica Bank
  • Chemical/TDF Bank
  • Huntington National Bank
  • Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans

Insurance

  • Sales
  • Claims analysis
  • Risk management
  • Travelers
  • Comerica Bank
  • Northwestern Mutual

Personal Financial Planning

  • Sales
  • Customer service
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • AXA Advisors
  • Prudential
  • Raymond James Financial

Investment Banking

  • Trading
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Corporate financial analysis
  • JP Morgan
  • AYCO, a Goldman Sachs Co.

Areas of Finance

Banks

Institutions

Public accounting

Corporates

  • Sales and trading
  • Equity research
  • Investment banking
  • Commercial banking
  • Research
  • Private equity
  • Portfolio management
  • Valuations
  • Due diligence
  • Transaction advisory
  • FP & A
  • Treasury
  • Investor relations
  • Corporate development

Career fairs

  • Annual career fairs for Ilitch School students and alumni to meet with employers in various functions for co-ops and internshipsand full-time employment
  • Check Handshake for details

Meet the Accounting Firms career fair

  • Annual career fair held for accounting and finance students and alumni interested in pursuing a CPA or other related certification
  • Engage with employers recruiting for co-ops andinternships and full-time positions in public and private industries
  • Check Handshake for details

Internships and full-time employment

  • Internships occur anytime during the academic year
  • Full-time recruiting occurs during the first three months of the Fall and Winter semester
  • Check Handshake for details

Quick prep tips

  • Apply for jobs, register for Career, Planning and Placementevents, research employers on Handshake
  • Attend meet andgreets, company presentations, career fair prep and mock interviews
  • Attend Ilitch School career fairs
  • Submit resume for review and approval on Handshake or schedule an appointment with a Career, Planning and Placement advisor
  • Prepare for upcoming interviews by meetingwith Career, Planning and Placement staff for one-on-one guidance
  • Research finance companies
  • Purchase business professional attire or borrow attire from theMary Ann Goldsberry Professional Dress Closet located in the Career, Planning and Placement, Suite 229

Get involved

Consider joining one or more of the following student organizations:

Job resources

Finance Career Options - Career Planning and Placement (2024)

FAQs

Finance Career Options - Career Planning and Placement? ›

Most finance jobs require four-year or advanced degrees, especially in business, math, economics, and statistics. Finance jobs differ and include roles as diverse as investment banker, actuary, portfolio manager, quantitative analyst, securities trader, and financial planner.

What is the path to a career in finance? ›

Most finance jobs require four-year or advanced degrees, especially in business, math, economics, and statistics. Finance jobs differ and include roles as diverse as investment banker, actuary, portfolio manager, quantitative analyst, securities trader, and financial planner.

What are the four career pathways in finance? ›

The Finance Career Cluster prepares students for careers in financial and investment planning, banking, insurance and business financial management.

What are the three main areas of career opportunities in finance? ›

In the field of finance, there are three main categories of the industry: public, corporate, and personal. From financial planning to investment banking to insurance, people who pursue careers in finance power the world.

Which career is best in finance? ›

The top 5 highest paying jobs in finance are investment banking, hedge fund management, CFO roles, private equity, and actuarial positions. These careers typically offer substantial salaries and the potential for significant bonuses.

Is financial planning a good career path? ›

The job outlook for financial planners, professionals who help clients build long-term strategies for retirement and meet other financial goals, appears strong. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in this area are projected to grow 15% from 2021 to 2031.

Is finance a hard major? ›

Finance degrees are generally considered to be challenging. In a program like this, students gain exposure to new concepts, from financial lingo to mathematical problems, so there can be a learning curve.

What is the hardest finance career? ›

The most (and least) stressful jobs in banking and finance
  • Most stressful job in finance : Investment Banker (M&A or capital markets professional) ...
  • Second most stressful job in finance : Trader. ...
  • Third most stressful job in finance : Risk management & Compliance.

What does a financial planner do? ›

A financial planner works with clients to help them manage their money and reach their long-term financial goals. They advise and assist clients on a variety of matters, from investing and saving for retirement to funding a college education or a new business while preserving wealth.

What are the three fastest growing jobs in the US? ›

Fastest-Growing Careers
RankOccupationPercent Change
1Nurse Practitioners45%
1Wind Turbine Service Technicians45%
3Data Scientists35%
8 more rows

What is a finance major? ›

A finance degree offers students a thorough understanding of banking, trading, and economics. Finance is the study, acquisition, and management of money and investments. The field includes banking, credit, debt, and capital markets activities, which are all driven by economic principles and practices.

What are the pros and cons of a career in finance? ›

The pros and cons of a career in financial services
  • Financially rewarding. ...
  • Variety. ...
  • Exposure. ...
  • Social Scene. ...
  • Long hours. ...
  • Difficult characters. ...
  • Competition for jobs is high. ...
  • Few permanent opportunities.

What is a finance degree called? ›

About the degree: Bachelor's degrees in finance are typically either Bachelor of Science in Finance or Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. Some schools might also offer Bachelor of Art in Finance degrees, but this option is less common.

What are the top 5 jobs in finance? ›

10 High Paying Finance Jobs In 2024
  1. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) ...
  2. Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) ...
  3. Investment Banker. ...
  4. Financial Analyst. ...
  5. Portfolio Manager. ...
  6. Tax Accountant. ...
  7. Economist. ...
  8. Insurance Advisor.
Jan 15, 2024

Is finance a high paying major? ›

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics (BLS), careers in finance pay a median salary of $76,850 — 66% higher than the median salary for all occupations in the nation ($46,310).

Which job has the highest salary in the world? ›

  • Chief Executive Officer(CEO) The top position in the hierarchy of any organization is that of the CEO. ...
  • Anesthesiologist. Being the highest paying job in the USA, an Anesthesiologist is among the best-paid jobs in the world. ...
  • General Surgeons. ...
  • Psychiatrist. ...
  • Data Scientists.
Apr 16, 2024

Can I get into finance at 40? ›

The financial profession is a popular choice because it seldom requires obtaining a new degree. Additionally, career-changers over 40 are common. It is an easy transition for people who have been educators and coaches because they are used to shaping the knowledge and skills of others.

How do you know if finance is for you? ›

How To Decide? Finance is an exciting major with plenty of career opportunities. If you are interested in solving problems in creative ways or helping companies to plan how to grow their revenue or maintain profitability, a finance major is right for you.

Can I get into finance in my 30s? ›

But if you're 30, graduated from university at 22, and have 8 years of full-time experience, along with a mid-level position at a large company, it will be more difficult. It's still possible, but the success probability is much lower.

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