What is the highest salary in corporate finance?
The chief financial officer (CFO) of a decent-sized division manages between 25 and 200 people and earns $300,000 USD and above (bigger company and bigger division generally equals higher pay).
The CFO is the top-ranking executive related to managing a company's finances. This includes managing all aspects of financial and cash flow planning, as well as analyzing its financial position. A CFO is comparable to a treasurer or controller.
Corporate Finance Salary. $69,500 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $179,000 is the 90th percentile.
- Chief financial officer (CFO)
- Investment banking.
- Hedge fund manager.
- Private equity associate.
- Actuary.
Key Takeaways. Jobs within the financial industry, such as accounting, consulting, and corporate finance are some of the highest-paying jobs. In the financial services industry, there are some areas that pay significantly more than others, such as investment banking, private equity, and hedge funds.
No, corporate finance is NOT as “prestigious” as investment banking, and it doesn't give you as many exit opportunities. It's a different world altogether. But it's also a world where you can still make hundreds of thousands of dollars, and even into the millions if you're at the right company in the right role.
You don't need an MBA to work in finance, but the field is highly competitive, especially at the entry-level. Internships offer experience, exposure, and a tryout for a full-time gig.
1. Investment Banker. Roles in investing banking are highly sought after. For investment bankers, it's often a higher competition to land a role in one of the largest firms.
The median annual wage for business and financial occupations is $46,310 higher than the median annual wage for all occupations. Drawbacks of a career in finance can include high stress, long working hours, continuing education requirements, and, in some cases, limited job stability.
Generally speaking, people consider accounting majors to be more difficult to study and pass than finance majors. And there are a few different reasons for this. The content of accounting majors is, on average, much more technical than for finance majors, and this can make it more difficult.
What finance jobs make millions?
- Financial adviser.
- Senior accountant.
- Investment banker.
- Hedge fund manager.
- Financial analyst.
- Information technology auditor.
- Financial software developer.
- Private equity associate.
Increasing Income
There is a reason people in finance who work in private equity or a hedge fund make millions. These industries make money by investing in companies, and after a certain level you get an equity stake in the profits of the firm through carried interest.
1. Dentist: The highest paying jobs in America involve diagnosing and treating oral health issues and require a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree and state licensure.
A career in corporate finance offers the opportunity to be at the centre of how a business operates; it is the way in which companies finance creation, growth and the acquisition or disposal of business.
Both finance and tech offer lucrative career opportunities, and the highest-paying field between the two can vary depending on various factors such as location, job role, and level of expertise. However, it is generally observed that the tech industry tends to have higher earning potential compared to finance.
After bonuses, almost all investment bankers will clear the six-figure mark. Financial Analyst - Working for a corporation to determine investment strategies for the organization. An entry-level analyst usually does not make six figures. But after a few years in the role, six-figure salaries are common.
Finance Job Titles Hierarchy
The leader of most finance teams is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and they report to the CEO. At smaller companies the top finance position might instead be the Vice President of Finance or Treasurer.
If you are seeking an instructional or research-based position in finance, a doctorate degree in finance will best serve you. While you will be prepared for any role within the finance field, many who choose to pursue a doctorate degree in finance are interested in selective research or instructional roles.
- Chief executive officer (CEO)
- Chief financial officer (CFO)
- Chief technology officer (CTO)
- Chief operating officer (COO)
- Chief marketing officer (CMO)
- Chief human resources officer (CHRO)
The Finance Career Cluster prepares students for careers in financial and investment planning, banking, insurance and business financial management.
References
- https://www.wallstreetprep.com/knowledge/equity-ratio/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/business-and-marketing/careers-in-finance/
- https://www.ambition.co.uk/blog/2024/03/why-consider-a-career-in-corporate-finance
- https://www3.mtb.com/business/business-education-portal/how-to-finance-your-small-business/debt-financing-vs-equity-financing-options
- https://carofin.com/knowledge-base/company/why-do-companies-use-debt-financing/
- https://smg.quora.com/What-is-the-hardest-math-class
- https://www.naukri.com/blog/how-to-answer-what-makes-you-interested-in-taking-on-this-role-with-sample-answers/
- https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/mcminis/business/why-is-debt-cheaper-than-equity-7149681.html
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/03/062003.asp
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/debtfinancing.asp
- https://wallethub.com/answers/d/why-is-debt-cheaper-than-equity-4/
- https://learn.org/articles/What_are_Popular_College_Mathematics_Courses_for_Business_Majors.html
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/030515/business-administration-vs-finance-degree.asp
- https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/is-a-finance-degree-worth-it-everything-you-need-to-know/
- https://www.recruiter.com/recruiting/is-a-career-in-corporate-finance-for-you/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/finance.asp
- https://www.nobledesktop.com/careers/financial-analyst/become-a-financial-analyst-without-a-degree
- https://www.dummies.com/article/business-careers-money/business/accounting/general-accounting/corporate-finance-for-dummies-cheat-sheet-208127/
- https://collegeeducated.com/online-degrees/business-degrees/easiest-business-degrees/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/advantages-disadvantages-each-type-debt-financing-fastercapital
- https://flgpartners.com/equity-vs-debt-financing-in-2022/
- https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/news/2022/09/12/finance-degree-hard
- https://www.careervillage.org/questions/788850/what-level-of-math-do-you-need-to-complete-to-be-in-finance
- https://smartasset.com/financial-advisor/cfa-vs-cfp
- https://www.empower.com/the-currency/money/cfa-vs-cfp-which-right-you
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/credit-loans-mortgages/090816/cfa-useful-corporate-finance.asp
- https://northwest.education/insights/career-growth/top-earning-careers-in-the-corporate-sector/
- https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/resources/careers/salary/six-figure-salary
- https://www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/entrepreneur-toolkit/financial-tools/return-on-shareholders-equity
- https://bau.edu/blog/finance-vs-economics-major/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/professionaleducation/12/cfa-level-2-exam-focus.asp
- https://www.efficientlearning.com/cfa/resources/cfa-vs-cpa/
- https://quant.stackexchange.com/questions/11217/are-the-sin-cos-tan-functions-used-in-some-financial-calculations
- https://extension.harvard.edu/blog/corporate-finance-career-path-how-to-keep-your-growth-on-track/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/15-toughest-exams-world-234705616.html
- https://onlinebusiness.umd.edu/blog/mba-vs-cfa-what-should-you-get/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cfa.asp
- https://www.lsbf.org.uk/blog/opinion-features/how-to-get-into-corporate-finance
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/math-behind-investing-how-numbers-drive-financial-sullivan-mba
- https://ospi.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/2023-08/finance_careercluster.pdf
- https://mergersandinquisitions.com/corporate-finance/
- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mklugy_students-often-message-me-asking-which-is-activity-7128803466935709696-BJHg
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/fa-profession/090716/should-financial-advisors-pursue-cfa.asp
- https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student/exam-support-resources/fundamentals-exams-study-resources/f9/technical-articles/optimum-capital-structure.html
- https://www.thewallstreetschool.com/blog/cfa-vs-cpa-comparison/
- https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/strategy/business-financing/equity-financing
- https://www.coursera.org/articles/finance-major
- https://byjus.com/question-answer/the-cheapest-source-of-finance-isequity-share-capital-preference-share-retained-earning-debenture/
- https://study.com/academy/lesson/math-for-long-term-financial-management.html
- https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/youre-working-corporate-finance-you-sure-neglecting-yruye
- https://learn.org/articles/business_administration_hard_math.html
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/career/cpa-vs-cfa/
- https://www.wgu.edu/blog/finance-degree-difficult2301.html
- https://blog.ongig.com/job-titles/finance-job-titles/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-managers-basics-corporate-financial-functions-patrick-brown
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/financial-careers/08/most-competitive-financial-careers.asp
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/financial-mathematics
- https://300hours.com/corporate-finance-career-path/
- https://www.joinleland.com/library/a/unlocking-your-potential-how-to-become-an-investment-banker-with-a-degree-in-mathematics
- https://www.nirmalbang.com/knowledge-center/debt-to-equity-ratio.html
- https://www.efinancialcareers.com/news/2018/09/perfect-age-cfa-charter
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/040915/what-considered-good-net-debttoequity-ratio.asp
- https://engineering.jhu.edu/ams/research/financial-mathematics/
- https://online.mason.wm.edu/blog/what-is-corporate-finance
- https://kruzeconsulting.com/cfo-cpa-startup/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/financialcareers/08/make-million.asp
- https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/career-paths/business-finance-consulting/corporate-finance/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cfo.asp
- https://finance.uworld.com/cfa/registration-cost-fees/
- https://www.riversaascapital.com/blog/why-do-companies-take-on-debt/
- https://testprepinsight.com/resources/how-hard-is-the-cfa-exam/
- https://www.softcover.io/read/bf34ea25/math_for_finance/lin_alg
- https://www.lightspeedhq.com/blog/advantages-of-debt-financing/
- https://www.theadvisorcoach.com/how-to-make-six-figures-financial-advisor.html
- https://www.bajajfinserv.in/investments/equity-mutual-funds-vs-debt-mutual-funds
- https://business.wfu.edu/mba/articles/need-to-be-good-at-math-for-mba/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/small-business/equity-debt-financing
- https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/debt-management/articles/-/learn/how-debt-is-sold-to-collection-agencies/
- https://scholarshipguidance.com/career-education/18218/what-skills-should-a-personal-financial-advisor-have
- https://www.zippia.com/answers/is-finance-harder-than-accounting/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/financial-careers/08/financial-career-options-professionals.asp
- https://iimskills.com/corporate-finance
- https://www.24houranswers.com/blog/108/How-Hard-is-Calculus
- https://learn.org/articles/math_requirements_finance.html
- https://www.zelleducation.com/blog/cpa-vs-cfa-difference-between/
- https://www.buysidehustle.com/how-to-get-rich-in-finance-9-money-habits-to-follow/
- https://mergersandinquisitions.com/corporate-finance-career-path/
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/financial-managers.htm
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/highest-paying-finance-jobs
- https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/corporate-finance-salary
- https://www.accounting.com/careers/financial-analyst/how-to-become/
- https://www.acquisition-international.com/what-is-harder-accounting-or-finance/
- https://csuglobal.edu/blog/finance-hard
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/corporatefinance.asp
- https://www.gmercyu.edu/academics/learn/careers-in-finance
- https://northwest.education/insights/careers/top-5-highest-paying-jobs-in-finance/
- https://www.quora.com/Which-career-field-pays-the-most-finance-or-tech
- https://training-you.fr/the-most-and-least-stressful-jobs-in-banking-and-finance/
- https://learn.org/articles/business_administration_not_good_at_math.html
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/commercial-lending/debt-vs-equity/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/professionals/101215/best-way-prepare-cfa-level-1-exam.asp
- https://www.toppr.com/ask/question/the-costliest-of-longterm-sources-of-finance-is/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/debt-vs-equity-weighing-risks-rewards-magdalena-francisczok-52hsf
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/032515/what-difference-between-cost-debt-capital-and-cost-equity.asp
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Corporate-Finance-Salary
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/professionaleducation/07/cfa-charter.asp
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/financialcareers/08/five-undergrad-tips.asp
- https://quintedge.com/cfa-scope-salary-jobs-recruiters/
- https://www.wgu.edu/blog/should-pursue-finance-degree2301.html
- https://www.naukri.com/blog/how-to-answer-why-do-you-want-to-pursue-a-career-in-finance/
- https://www.globalexpansion.com/blog/highest-paying-jobs-in-america
- https://www.quora.com/Should-I-study-finance-if-I-am-not-good-at-math
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Corporate-Finance-Salary--in-California