If you’re wondering what to do with a finance degree, the good news is—it leads to a variety of career opportunities in banking, investment, corporate finance, and more. Whether you enjoy analyzing numbers, helping companies with financial decisions, or managing assets, it gives you the skills to pursue various rewarding roles.

And what jobs can you get with a finance degree? In this blog post, we’ll explore typical careers for finance majors, insights into salary expectations, and job prospects.

Key Highlights

  • Finance and accounting jobs are as old as time, offering stability and growth opportunities across various industries.
  • If you’re seeking finance degree jobs, positions like financial analyst or risk manager are great entry points with growth potential.
  • Wondering what jobs you can get with a finance degree? Jobs for finance majors are diverse, ranging from banking and investment to consulting and private equity.
  • How much do finance majors make? For many jobs in finance, salary prospects can be highly competitive—with roles like CFO and investment banker offering six-figure incomes.
  • Is finance a good career for the future? Yes, it is. There are numerous jobs for finance majors in corporate finance, from cash flow management to financial planning.

Table of Contents

Careers for Finance Majors

One of the biggest advantages of obtaining a finance degree is its versatility. There are numerous jobs you can get with a finance degree, offering opportunities in various fields. Some roles involve analyzing data and developing financial models, while others are more strategic and focus on driving business growth. Whether you’re interested in banking, investment, or consulting, what to do with a finance degree depends on your aspirations and goals. Ensure you have a list of preferences and topics of interest.

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Traditional Banking Jobs

Finance and accounting jobs are as old as time. And what we call traditional banking has evolved beyond simple deposit-taking and lending. Today, banks offer digital services, forex, corporate banking, insurance, and wealth management. Key roles include credit analysts who assess the creditworthiness of clients applying for loans by reviewing financial statements and credit reports.

Working in finance is closely related to handling a certain level of risk and uncertainty. So, risk management is another essential area, with entry-level risk analysts building financial models to evaluate exposure and mitigate risks. Many banks also hire relationship managers to work closely with corporate clients, building long-term partnerships and offering personalized services.

Across all jobs you can get with a finance degree, traditional banking provides a solid foundation for gaining practical skills.

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Corporate Finance Jobs

In corporate finance, you work within a company’s finance team, handling cash flow, budgeting, and financial planning. Broadly speaking, corporate finance jobs involve the management of a firm’s financial resources to maximize profitability and ensure long-term growth.

Whether you’re working for global giants like Coca-Cola, Nike, or startups, corporate finance offers a broad range of career opportunities that cater to various expertise areas. Jobs for finance majors in this niche are typically divided into two main categories: financial accounting and financial analysis.

Financial Accounting

A financial accountant is responsible for maintaining and analyzing a company’s financial records. They ensure that major financial statements are accurate, complete, and compliant with accounting standards and regulatory requirements. Accounting or finance jobs within this category include:

  • Accountant: Handle daily accounting operations and prepare financial statements.
  • Accounts receivables: Ensure timely collection of payments from clients and manage outstanding invoices.
  • Accounts payables: A financial accountant in this role oversees payments to vendors and suppliers, ensuring proper documentation and timely settlements.
  • Internal auditor: Play a critical role in ensuring internal compliance, identifying inefficiencies, and safeguarding against fraud.

These are just some of the jobs you can get with a finance degree in this field.

Financial Analysis

These professionals focus on helping companies make informed decisions by analyzing financial data. What jobs can you get with a finance degree? Key roles in this area include:

  • Financial Analyst: Analyze financial performance, generate reports, and offer insights to guide management in strategic decision-making. A fundamental benefit of being a financial analyst is that, in most cases, you don’t specialize in just one or two types of activities. You must perform various analyses—enriching and preparing you for more sophisticated roles. Among the jobs you can get with a finance degree, a financial analyst position is probably the most multifaceted.
  • Financial Controller: Oversee budgeting, financial planning, and ensure that the cost of production aligns with company objectives. Controllers manage internal reports, contrasting the financial accounting team that deals with external reports. For a finance major, jobs in this niche require a deep understanding of cost management and financial regulations.
  • Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Analyst: Responsible for forecasting revenue, managing costs, and ensuring that financial projections align with strategic goals. FP&A analysts work closely with management to create budgets, assess financial performance, and drive business planning efforts.

So, what jobs can you get with a finance degree? A career in corporate finance often starts at an entry-level position, such as a financial analyst, and progresses through roles like finance manager, finance director, vice president, and eventually chief financial officer (CFO).

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Investment Banking Jobs   

Investment banking is one of the most sought-after careers for finance majors, offering fast-paced, high-stakes opportunities that appeal to ambitious professionals. Investment banks provide a range of services, including helping companies raise capital, facilitating mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and offering financial advisory services to corporations and governments.

One of the most attractive aspects of investment banking is its dynamic career development—unlike some other finance-related jobs, young professionals quickly take on significant responsibilities. Investment banks typically divide their services into areas.

  • Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): M&A analysts focus on helping companies buy, sell, or merge with other businesses. As part of the jobs you can get with a finance degree, these professionals identify potential targets, perform due diligence, and build financial models to assess the value of deals. The role requires strong financial modeling skills and a deep understanding of business strategy.
  • Equity and Debt Capital Markets (ECM/DCM): Analysts in these departments help companies raise capital by issuing stocks or bonds. Finance job roles and responsibilities in this area involve performing market research, advising on the best timing for issuing securities, and working with clients to structure deals that meet their financial needs.
  • Investment Banking Trading: These professionals work on trading desks, buying and selling securities for clients or the bank’s portfolio. Traders must have a strong grasp of market dynamics, risk management, and quick decision-making skills.
  • Research Analysts: Focused on producing deep financial and industry analysis, these analysts offer insights to support traders and M&A deals, guiding strategic decisions.

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in finance, you can land an entry-level position in investment banking. This often leads to a demanding yet rewarding career, with progression from analyst to associate, vice president, and managing director.

Jobs you can get with a finance degree are very versatile, too. For instance, many investment bankers eventually transition into roles in private equity, venture capital, or corporate leadership, attracted by the opportunity to lead businesses and make strategic decisions.

Investment Management Jobs

Careers with a finance degree also include investment management, focusing on growing clients’ wealth through smart, diversified investments. Asset and portfolio managers help individuals, institutions, and companies manage their wealth by crafting strategies to meet specific financial goals, often across multiple asset classes.

There are several exciting jobs you can get with a finance degree in various types of companies, including:

  • Asset Management Firms: These firms manage portfolios, investing in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and alternative investments. Asset managers assess risk and return to create balanced portfolios that meet clients’ risk tolerance and investment goals.
  • Hedge Funds: These investment funds employ aggressive strategies to maximize returns for high-net-worth clients and institutional investors. Many finance majors aim to become hedge fund managers and analysts, using advanced strategies like short selling, leverage, and derivatives to outperform traditional markets.
  • Private Equity (PE) Firms: PE analysts and associates focus on investing in privately held companies, helping to restructure and grow them before selling for a profit. As one of the key jobs you can get with a finance degree, private equity analysts perform rigorous financial due diligence, analyze financial statements, and model future profitability.
  • Venture Capital (VC): VC analysts invest in startups and early-stage companies with high growth potential. They evaluate the market potential of new technologies and products, assessing business models, leadership teams, and scalability to identify promising investment opportunities.

So, what jobs can you get with a finance degree in this field? A career in investment management often begins as an analyst or associate, working closely with portfolio managers to analyze investment opportunities and strategies.

With experience, professionals may progress to portfolio management, where they make critical investment decisions and manage client portfolios.

Jobs in Financial Services and Consulting

The financial services and consulting sector offers a wide range of career opportunities that blend financial expertise with advisory roles. These roles often focus on helping businesses solve complex problems, improve efficiency, and optimize operations. Key jobs you can get with a finance degree in this niche include:

  • Auditor: Auditors verify the accuracy of financial records and ensure compliance with regulations, often working for major firms like the big four—PwC, KPMG, EY, and Deloitte. Finance majors can gain valuable experience across various industries and business models.
  • Financial Consultant: These professionals advise on business restructuring, tax optimization, and M&A, helping companies improve profitability. Strong analytical and communication skills are essential.
  • Risk Consultant: Specializing in identifying and mitigating financial risks, risk consultants protect a company’s long-term financial health. It’s one of the promising jobs you can get with a finance degree.
  • Transaction Advisor: Focused on M&A, transaction advisors assess the financial performance of companies to ensure deals will deliver value, requiring a solid understanding of financial analysis and market dynamics. This may not be among the top careers for finance majors, but it offers valuable experience in deal-making and strategic finance.
  • Tax Advisor: Experts in tax strategy, these professionals help businesses and individuals minimize tax liabilities while ensuring compliance with local and international regulations.

Careers in financial consulting often begin at the junior consultant level, with progression to senior roles and partnerships, offering deep industry insights and leadership opportunities.

Finance Degree Salary

How much do finance majors make? Financial analysts typically earn around $95,000 annually, while corporate finance professionals can see salaries above $100,000, particularly as they advance into management roles. In practice, a finance degree salary can vary significantly depending on your role and experience.

Investment bankers and portfolio managers can earn even higher, with salaries often exceeding six figures early in their careers. The finance industry is known for offering competitive salaries and bonuses, making it a highly attractive field. Overall, working in finance can be a fast-paced yet rewarding career path.

A finance major average salary varies depending on the industry and specific role. Here are some of the highest paying finance jobs:

Jobs in FinanceJobs in Finance: Salary
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)$142,000 – $250,000 (Average: $187,000)
Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)$91,000 – $278,000 (Average: $159,000)
Investment Banker$108,000 – $201,000 (Average: $144,000)
Portfolio Managers$99,000 – $167,000 (Average: $129,000)
Hedge Fund Managers$94,000 – $160,000 (Average: $122,000)
Credit Risk Managers$100,000 – $125,000
Economists$80,000 – $200,000 (Average: $115,000)
Financial Analyst$95,000 – $160,000
Financial Advisor$80,000 – $148,000
Accountant$78,000 – $132,690
Data gathered from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Is Finance a Good Career for the Future?

Absolutely! AI in finance doesn’t hinder your career growth; instead, it accelerates it. A career in finance is not only lucrative but also future-proof. As technology advances, the need for finance professionals who can merge technical skills with strategic insight is growing.

What jobs can you get with a finance degree in the future will evolve, but the demand for roles such as financial analysts, risk managers, CFOs, and investment bankers will remain strong. Finance professionals are key to helping businesses navigate new challenges and leverage opportunities, ensuring a long-lasting career.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts steady growth for the finance sector in the coming years. From the jobs you can get with a finance degree, the financial analyst role is particularly promising, with a 9% job growth expected by 2033, surpassing the 4% growth projected for accountants and auditors.

How to Get a Job in Finance

To excel in the jobs you can get with a finance degree, you must focus on developing technical and soft skills. Proficiency in Excel, financial modeling, and a solid understanding of accounting principles are crucial for success.

Additionally, networking and finance internships can provide valuable experience that sets you apart from other candidates. Keep up with industry certifications such as the CFA or CPA to enhance your qualifications and increase your chances of securing a desirable role.

What jobs can you get with a finance degree? The possibilities are endless. From banking and investment to corporate finance and consulting, the finance industry offers a wealth of finance job roles and responsibilities.

With the right education, skills, and dedication, your finance degree can take you far. Now is the perfect time to start preparing for one while evaluating your options. Are you ready to explore what jobs you can get with a finance degree? Start learning today.

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FAQs

What jobs do most finance majors get?

Many finance majors start their careers as financial analysts, accountants, or credit analysts. These roles involve assessing financial data, preparing reports, and helping organizations make informed financial decisions.

What are 3 careers in finance?

Three common finance careers are financial analyst (focusing on company data), investment banker (advising on mergers and capital raising), and corporate finance manager (overseeing budgeting and financial strategy).

What is the highest paying finance job?

CFOs typically have the highest salary in finance, often overseeing a company’s entire financial strategy and performance.

Is finance a good degree to have?

Absolutely, a finance degree is highly versatile, offering strong job prospects, high earning potential, and opportunities in various sectors like banking, investment, and corporate finance.