What Careers are Available with an MBA in Finance?

Many excellent careers are available with an MBA in finance, as graduates with both a business and finance degree have the potential to land lucrative and rewarding jobs. The finance industry continues to grow, as does the need for qualified professionals to fill the many positions. Here are some careers possible with an MBA in finance as well as career outlook.

What is an MBA?

The MBA is an internationally-known degree aimed at helping students develop skills for jobs in both business and management. The full name for this degree is the Master of Business Administration. While this degree program focuses mostly on business skills, its value goes far beyond just the business world. A perfect example can be found in the MBA with the focus finance, a degree that focuses on the areas of business, management and finance. Here are some excellent occupations that can be obtained with a finance-focused MBA.

Financial Manager

Financial managers are the ones in charge of the financial health of a business. They review company financial reports, prepare financial statements and reports, analyze market trends and assist management in making financial decisions. U.S. News & World Report ranked financial managers ninth among best business jobs. Employment of financial managers is expected to grow about 19 percent over the 2016-2026 decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau also stated that financial managers earned an average annual wage of $143,530 as of May 2017.

Financial Analyst

Financial analysts, as their name implies, analyze historical financial data, study the market trends and examine a company’s financial statements. They then write up reports and make financial recommendations to the company. Financial analysts were ranked No. 15 among best business jobs by U.S News & World Report. The average annual wage for financial analysts in 2017 was $99,430. Financial analysts can expect employment growth of 11 percent between 2016 and 2026.

Chief Financial Officers

Chief financial officers (CFOs) are the individuals who have the responsibility of managing a company’s finances and ensuring the company is financially stable. Their other duties include financial reporting, financial planning, record-keeping and financial risk management. The CFO may also be in charge of data analysis. In addition to supervising the finance department, the CFO also is usually the financial spokesperson for the company. Chief financial officers earned a median annual wage of $127,784 according to an April 2018 report by PayScale.

Investment Bankers

Investment bankers manage stocks and bonds, execute investment strategies, and advise clients on financial investments. They also buy and sell company stocks, travel to meet clients, and deal with company takeovers and mergers. They go over financial trends with customers and advise them accordingly. Investment bankers often act as financiers or investment portfolio managers. According to an April 2018 report by PayScale, investment bankers earned a median annual salary of $92.054. The bureau projects that securities, commodities and financial services sales agents could see a job growth of six percent from 2016-2026.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment of business and finance occupations is expected to grow ten percent between 2016 and 2026 with about 773,800 new jobs created. An MBA with a Finance concentration covers both of these areas. Earning an MBA in Finance can lead to excellent employment options and good wage potential.