Careers in finance can be difficult for people who are not fully prepared for the role. Being entrusted with billions of dollars and managing the financial directions of global market conglomerates are not responsibilities that every job candidate is ready for. Graduates of an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program with a Concentration in Finance have both the technical skills and business savvy required to handle these vast responsibilities.
An MBA that focuses on finance is a great steppingstone for people who are ready to take on the challenge of making significant investing decisions and becoming leaders in the government, corporate and nonprofit worlds. Looking forward, finance continues to be a highly regarded concentration from the employer’s perspective. In fact, 96% of corporate recruiters surveyed by GMAC in 2022 reported they intend to hire newly minted finance MBA grads in the next year.
In addition, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates employment of financial professionals like financial managers and analysts to increase faster than the average of all occupations between 2021 and 2031. This expected job growth is due to factors like workers exiting the labor force, the growing economy, globalization and high-quality financial analysis enabled by advances in big data and technology.
There is a wide range of job options for graduates of an MBA with an emphasis in finance program. The following are just some of the career options to consider:
Financial Advisor
A career as a financial advisor is especially suited to people who have an affinity for working one-on-one with private clients. Also known as wealth managers, these professionals advise clients on financial decisions based upon their unique situations. BLS reports that the median annual pay for personal financial advisors in 2021 was $94,170.
Financial Analyst
People who have an interest in evaluating businesses, budgets and projects may enjoy the challenge that financial analysts face when examining the stability, profitability and liquidity of entities to determine whether they would be good investments. According to BLS, financial analysts earned a median annual salary of $95,570 in 2021.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
If finance MBA graduates are interested in propelling themselves to the C-suite, there is a strong need for people who are adept at strategic decision-making, opportunity analysis and leadership. CFOs have a wide range of responsibilities that direct corporations’ financial paths forward. BLS reports that the 2021 median wage for chief executives like CFOs was $179,520. Plus, chief executives often receive additional compensation in the form of stock options, bonuses and other benefits.
Investment Banker
The commercial and banking fields both employ investment bankers to raise capital for established and fledgling companies following their valuation analysis, determining the best market for the sale and negotiating with prospective buyers to maximize the cash flow of their investment firm or bank. ZipRecruiter data shows that pay for investment bankers can vary widely, averaging $103,284 annually as of November 2022.
International Financial Manager
A logical career pursuit for finance MBA grads is the role of the financial manager. This role has evolved alongside globalization, especially in large multinational corporations. Monetary transactions between countries involve complexities that require intense specialization and experience. International financial managers must consider exchange rates, governmental regulations, investment procedures and political risk for every transaction. BLS reports that financial managers (in general) earned a median annual wage of $131,710 in 2021.
When MBA graduates who have specialized in finance look for employment opportunities, they have a wide and varied range of options. These five jobs are a small sample of the opportunities suited to people who are interested in financial careers that involve a great deal of trust and responsibility.
Learn more about the Southeastern Oklahoma State University online MBA with a Concentration in Finance program.