What Can I Do With A Major In Finance? The Finance Major at SAU: Career Paths in Finance:

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Scarlett Knight
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1 This handout provides a brief introduction to possible careers in Finance. The Finance Major at SAU: The finance major at Southern Adventist University is designed to develop Christ-centered financial leaders who integrate their knowledge and work experience with integrity. While the program seeks to prepare students to fulfill God s unique call for their life whatever position that might be within a finance context, the program is focused on preparing individuals to be independently employed so as to maximize their opportunities to share the Gospel with the communities they serve, to assist in funding evangelism, to provide assistance to the poor, and to provide funds for the needs of their family. The finance degree provides a foundation for either the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation or the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. The courses explore the following fundamentals of finance: corporate finance; the relations between market interest rates, market conditions, and risk; and investments, as well as other more in depth topics such as taxation. Career Paths in Finance: Primary Areas of Employment for Finance Majors: Corporate Finance Security Firms Commercial Banking Asset Management Real Estate Personal Financial Planning Corporate Finance: Corporate finance refers to the activities related to operating a private or public firm. These activities range from large strategic financial decisions to the day to day handling of accounts receivable and accounts payable. Finance professionals analyze revenues and expenses in order to determine how to allocate the firm s capital for the best return. They also advise firm management about project costs, capital investments, and structure acquisitions for firm growth (Kansas University School of Business, 2009). Security Firms: Security firms act as underwriters, traders, and brokers. They can be classified into two large categories investment banking and brokerage firms. Large financial institutions may offer both branches of business. Investment banking activities include new security issuance (underwriting), merger and acquisition services, financing of various deals, trading, and asset management. Brokerage firms perform advisory services, assistance in the buying and selling of securities previously issued, trading for the firms account, and asset management (Gardner, Mills and Cooperman, 2005 and Kansas University School of Business, 2009). 1 School of Business and Management PO Box 370 Collegedale, TN

2 Commercial Banking: Jobs in commercial banking vary with the scope of the operations of the institution. Small and regional banks will offer traditional positions such as loan officer, credit analyst, branch manager, etc. However, mega banks offer a variety of positions including sales, investment banking, and trading (Kansas University School of Business, 2009). Asset Management: Asset management companies manage the money of their clients to achieve specific financial objectives within the guidelines under which the investment pool is organized. These might take the form of mutual funds, hedge funds, retirement or pension funds, insurance funds, or other institutional funds. Depending on the guidelines under which these firms were founded, they may invest in a wide range of financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, options, commodities, and futures (Kansas University School of Business, 2009). Real Estate: Real estate is an industry in its own right and also offers financial careers within large financial institutions such as commercial banks, investment banks, and insurance firms. Real estate finance professionals use financial techniques of analysis that are similar to those of stock issuance, debt offerings, commercial loans, and mergers (Kansas University School of Business 2009). Personal Financial Planning: Financial planners assist clients in achieving their long-term financial goals by providing advice and/or asset management services. Planners compensation can be an hourly flat fee, a percentage of assets managed, or commissioned based. Stockbrokers also provide advice as well as transactions services to clients. A broker s compensation is based on a commission from buy/sell transactions they perform for clients. Private asset managers manage a client s portfolio and typically receive compensation through a fee that represents a percentage of the assets managed (Kansas University School of Business, 2009). Typical Positions/Areas in Finance Include: Corporate Finance: Financial Analyst Accountant Cash Management Security Firms: Sales & Trading Research Mergers & Acquisitions Equity & Debt Advisory Services Credit Analysis & Management Controller/Finance Director Payroll Underwriting Financial Reporting Investor Relations Treasurer Chief Financial Officer 2 School of Business and Management PO Box 370 Collegedale, TN

3 Commercial Banking: Bank Examiner Loan Officer Branch Manager Sales Programmer Trust Officer Commercial Lending Mortgage Loans Trust Management Capital Services and Mergers & Acquisitions Operations Credit Scoring Asset Management: Fund Accountant Economist Buy-side or Sell-side Research Analyst Quantitative Analyst Portfolio/Fund Manager Trader Real Estate: Residential Brokerage Commercial Sales Appraisals Property Management Real Estate Portfolio Management Personal Financial Planning: Sales Customer Services Operations Portfolio Management *List of positions obtained from Kansas University School of Business 2009 Typical Employers in Finance Include: Corporate Finance: Private businesses of all sizes and types State and local governments Federal agencies including: IRS and US Dept. of Treasury Security Firms: Sales & Trading Research Mergers & Acquisitions Schools and universities Non-profit organizations Foundations Hospitals Equity & Debt Advisory Services Underwriting 3 School of Business and Management PO Box 370 Collegedale, TN

4 Commercial Banking Commercial banks Credit unions Savings & loan associations Mortgage banks Captive finance companies (GMAC, Ford Motor Credit) Regulatory agencies (Federal Reserve, FDIC) Asset Management: Hedge Funds Mutual Funds Private Banking Commercial bank trust departments Investment banks Federal Reserve banks Insurance firms Private equity funds Real Estate: Real estate brokers Commercial banks Appraisal firms Apartment & condominium complexes Developers Real estate investment trusts Mutual funds Personal Financial Planning: Brokerage firms Trust companies Sole practitioners Financial partnerships Multi-line insurance firms *List of employers obtained from Kansas University School of Business 2009 General Tips for Students Considering a Major or Career in Finance: Gain work experience in finance through internships, part-time employment, or summer work. Participate in a professional shadowing experience with someone who holds a position in finance. Seek campus leadership positions. Read the Wall Street Journal, Barron s, BusinessWeek, and Forbes Magazine. Join the Business Society, SIFE, or other student organizations that will facilitate career exploration Develop strong analytical, accounting, and interpersonal communication skills. 4 School of Business and Management PO Box 370 Collegedale, TN

5 Explore various professional designations and licenses relevant to finance career paths such as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Companies Recruiting Finance Majors at SAU include: Advent Home Learning Center Adventist Care Centers Adventist Health Center Aflac Convergys Curves Fitness for Women Enterprise Rent-A-Car Fastenal GC Auditing Georgia Cumberland Conference Glendale Adventist Medical Center Gordon Hospital Habitat for Humanity Life Care Centers of America Northwestern Mutual Finance Primerica Financial Services Regions Bank SAU Graduate Studies US Xpress Walgreens Wal-Mart Wells Fargo Salary Data for SAU Finance Graduates: Annual Position Mean Salary Financial Analyst $84,780 Budget Analyst $68,140 Credit Analyst $64,580 Personal Finance Advisors $92,970 Financial Examiners $78,180 Loan Officers $63,540 Financial Specialist $63,880 *Data for salaries comes from Bureau of Labor Statistics, School of Business and Management PO Box 370 Collegedale, TN

6 Citations: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics. Retrieved August 3, 2009, from: Gardner, Mona, Dixie Mills, and Elizabeth Cooperman, Managing Financial Institutions. 5th ed. Mason, OH: Thomson South-Western. Kansas University School of Business, What can I do with a Major in Retrieved August 3, 2009, from: 6 School of Business and Management PO Box 370 Collegedale, TN

How To Become A Successful Finance Major

How To Become A Successful Finance Major FINANCE What can I do with this degree? Transferable Skills In addition to the specific subject matter that Finance majors learn, skills are acquired that can easily transfer to any field including: Reading