Looking for a rewarding job in finance? There are many ways to build your skill set and resume before you apply for your graduate degree. One of the best ways to jump start your career path is by finding a job that will help you prepare for a Master of Finance Program at an accredited educational institution. This may include a wide variety of entry-level jobs that will provide hands on experience in:
- accounting
- economics
- statistics
- banking
Related Resource: Top 10 Most Affordable Online Master of Finance Degree Programs
Accountant
The duties of an accountant are providing accounting or clerical support to the supervisor that will enhance transparency, communication, and efficiency of the business you work for. Mainly, an accountant will record all transactions that occur on a daily basis with clients to ensure productivity. Their responsibilities may also include researching, identifying, and resolving accounting problems with client accounts. You bring them to the supervisor. This entry-level job will get you familiar with:
- debits
- credits
- invoices
- checks
- account statements
- reports of all kinds
You’ll gain the required skills for a Master of Finance Program.
Related Resource: 5 Reasons to Become an Accountant
Financial Analyst
You could earn an entry-level job as a financial analyst if you have a bachelor’s degree in:
- accounting
- finance
- statistics
- economics
- business administration
- any related field
Financial analysts are responsible for:
- analyzing past and current financial data
- preparing reports and projections based on that data
- evaluating expenditures and depreciation
This job will directly help you meet the qualifications for a Master of Finance Program because of the amount of analytical skills used on a daily basis. Strategic thinking will be required to identify financial trends. When you master this job, you will be able to enhance your financial career and educational opportunities.
Related Resource: Job Profile: Financial Analyst
Insurance Agent
Becoming an insurance agent in any field is a great entry-level job for a Master of Finance Program. Their main responsibility is selling insurance plans in any related business field, which will help you gain experience in economics and even statistics. Insurance agents help people and businesses plan for a secure financial future, no matter what industry or purpose is being presented. The skills used on a daily basis include:
- preparing reports
- maintaining records
- assisting clients with filing and settling claims of any kind
You will gain one-on-one experience with clients on a daily basis. You’ll also begin to understand the importance of how measuring accurate financial data and projections work in the real world.
Junior Tax Associate
If you want to become a junior tax associate, you will need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting. This career gives you the exposure and experience required to earn a graduate degree in finance. Tax associates are responsible for supporting tax consultants in handling taxation matters. This career path will give you an in-depth knowledge of what financial health means for a wide variety of clients. You may be able to help identify tax problems as well as help to prepare tax documents, reports, and statements that are needed by every client that you serve.
Real Estate Industry
Exploring opportunities in real estate can help you to thoroughly understand financial trends in this niche as well as how to make accurate projections on a daily basis. As you will analyze and study the industry, you can serve the needs of your clients and discuss financial opportunities as they arise. They may:
- identify the costs of properties
- review their listings
- introduce clients to the premises
- discuss the conditions of the sale
- create real estate contracts
These are all required skills that could help you build a strong portfolio and resume to apply for the graduate degree in finance. Once you master the basics of this industry, you can propel yourself forward to become a manager in any financial related field.
Related Resource: What Finance Jobs are Available in Real Estate?
You may think it is tough to find a Master of Finance entry-level job. However, you can begin working with financial data with just a few undergraduate courses in:
- finance
- economics
- accounting
- or business related fields
The more time you spend in any entry-level position, the higher your chances are of finding job growth and getting accepted into your desired graduate program. The idea of building from an entry-level job is to master the basic skills so you can gain a specialty through an accredited graduate financial program.
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