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4 Career Choices in the World of Finance

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If you have an interest in having a career that is related to finance, there are a wide variety to choose from. Many of these careers are in very high demand, so the opportunities for advancement and a high salary are very good. Regarding what career path you should take, it all depends on what you are interested in and your goals for the future. Here are a few of the good career choices in the world of finance.

If you have an interest in having a career that is related to finance, there is a wide variety to choose from. Many of these careers are in very high demand, so the opportunities for advancement and a high salary are very good.

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Financial Examiner

A financial examiner is a person who makes sure that various financial institutions are following specific laws that regulate how they do their business transactions. If any irregularities are detected, it is the financial examiner’s job to report these matters to the proper authorities for further investigation. They also assess the management of banks, assess the amount of risk contained in certain loans, and perform balance sheet reviews.

  • What They Do – Financial examiners monitor the financial condition of banks and other financial institutions. They can be “internal” examiners or work for a regulatory agency (like the SEC or Federal Reserve). They review balance sheets and income statements. The review internal document to confirm assets and liabilities. They will generally issue a detailed report at the end of the examination listing their findings. They must understand regulations and policies to determine their organization’s compliance with minimum requirements.
  • How Much They Make – According to BLS, the median pay for Financial examiners is $77,000 per year. The bottom 10% earn $45,000 while the top 10% earn in excess of $145,000.
  • Education and Training Requirements – You typically need a bachelor’s degree in Finance or accounting. A degree in accounting with a focus on Auditing can be very important in helping you land a job.

Actuary

If you want to become an actuary, this is a field that has been experiencing a great deal of growth in recent years. The job of an actuary is to figure out the probability of certain events occurring and use this data to determine the level of risk involved. This data is used by insurance companies to determine whether or not they will insure people for damages caused by certain events. All actuaries must possess excellent analytical skills in order to be successful at their job.

  • What They Do – Actuaries analyze the financial costs of risk and uncertainty using statistics and financial analysis. They help businesses develop policies that minimize the cost of that risk in industries such as insurance.
  • How Much They Make – According to BLS, the median annual wage for management analysts is $78,600. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $44,370, and the top 10 percent earned more than $142,580.
  • Education and Training Requirements – A bachelor’s degree in business administration is generally required. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have an MBA.

Management Analyst

The job of a management analyst is to consult with various businesses and suggest ways in which the company can perform their daily operations in a more efficient manner. Basically, these people instruct companies on how to streamline their operations in order to make the most profit with the smallest amount of overhead.

  • What They Do – Management analysts/consultants help businesses, and propose ways to improve an organization’s efficiency. They help organizations become more profitable and efficient through reduced costs and increased revenues.
  • How Much They Make – According to BLS, the median pay for Financial examiners is $93,000 per year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $55,780, and the top 10 percent earned more than $175,330.
  • Education and Training Requirements – Most employers prefer candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree (typically in Finance, accounting or Business). According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a graduate degree can improve employability.

Financial Analyst

A financial analyst has the responsibility of advising various people and companies to make solid choices in terms of their investments. They look at all the possible investment opportunities that are out there. By using this information, they can determine if their client is best suited to invest in mutual funds, bonds, stocks or some other form of investment. Another factor financial analysts must consider is the amount of risk their clients are comfortable with. Based on the level of acceptable risk and the amount of money their client has, they put together an investment plan to maximize the growth of their client’s portfolio.

  • What They Do – Financial analysts provide guidance to businesses and individuals making investment decisions. They understand and review macroeconomic and microeconomic conditions along with company fundamentals. They review business and industry dynamics and may make recommendations based on their analysis.
  • How Much They Make – According to BLS, the median pay for Financial Analysts is $77,000 per year. The lowest 10% earned less than $47,000 while the top 10% earned in excess of $148,000. The job outlook is 16%, faster than the average for careers.
  • Education and Training Requirements – While college is not required, there is an expectation that financial analysts have an undergraduate degree in Finance or accounting. An MBA or Masters will certainly help your career. All Financial Analysts must have good computer skills and should consider Excel training courses.
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