A wide array of career opportunities is available to finance majors.

Examples of careers include:

Corporate finance: A firm’s chief financial officers are the controller and treasurer, who report directly to the vice president for finance. The controller’s division manages the accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting within the firm. The treasurer’s division is responsible for cash and credit management, credit analysis, investment management, bank relations, financial planning, financing and dividend decisions, and risk management. All business enterprises need finance graduates ensure that these divisions function productively and efficiently.

Investment banking and the securities industry: Investment banking firms trade, provide advice on, and manage the issuance of corporate stock, corporate bonds, and other securities. Investment banks also manage and facilitate mergers and acquisitions. Opportunities in investment banking include financial underwriting, investment analysis, mergers and acquisitions analysis, brokerage, and the support functions known as backroom operations.

Management consulting: Management consulting firms provide advice in all areas of business, including competitive analysis, performance improvement, cash management, credit management, information systems, strategic alliances, divestures, and ‘‘right-sizing’’. The finance graduate is exposed to diverse business environments, is given opportunities to work individually with clients, and learns to exercise creative judgment.

Regulatory agencies: The task of regulating bank holding companies, consumer credit institutions, and insurance companies falls to federal and state agencies such as the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Comptroller of the Currency, and state banking and insurance agencies. Opportunities include positions as a bank or insurance examiner, manager, and analyst.

Commercial banking: Commercial banking offers many diverse job opportunities. Many banks offer extensive management training programs to familiarize the graduate with all of the bank’s operations. Opportunities are available in credit analysis, commercial lending, new product development, risk management, personal trust administration, and other areas of bank operations.

Retail brokerage, financial planning, and portfolio management: Finance graduates can provide financial advice to investors and manage their portfolios. Financial concepts are used to analyze the suitability of various assets for inclusion or retention in the investment portfolio. Many finance graduates have found rewarding careers as retail brokers and financial consultants.

Insurance companies: Insurance companies offer career opportunities including the sale of life, health, accident, property, and casualty policies to individual and group clients. Tailoring these policies to the needs of clients requires a high degree of interpersonal and quantitative skills. The industry offers a growing number of career opportunities in financial planning, underwriting, actuarial analysis, portfolio management, reinsurance, real estate analysis, security analysis, and risk management.