Finance MBA Jobs

 

The following article is sponsored by the University of St. Gallen. Check out their international MBA program.

 

 

Alternate Titles: Financial Consultant, Wealth Management Advisor (for those with additional training, certifications, and experience)

Job overview: A financial advisor advises people on how to invest their money and achieve their financial goals. In the past, financial advisors were referred to as stockbrokers, brokers, account executives or registered representatives. While a financial advisor's traditional role is to buy and sell securities, the title change reflects the view that financial advisors should also be looking out for their clients' overall financial health.

Job duties: Meeting with clients, explaining the services you provide, educating clients, recommending investments, assisting with financial planning for life circumstances such as retirement, monitoring client accounts to determine if changes are needed, researching investment opportunities

Schedule: According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 24% of financial advisors work over 50 hours a week.

Salary:  The median annual salary for financial advisors in 2010 was $64,750 and the top 10% earned more than $166,400 per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How an MBA Helps: Depending on the firm you apply to, having an MBA can be asset during the hiring process. In terms of building your following as an advisor, an MBA can help you can clients and build trust.

 

 

Job overview: A financial analyst advises companies on their investment decisions by analyzing the performance of stocks, bonds, and other types of investments.

Job duties: Recommending individual investments or portfolios, evaluating data, keeping up with economic trends, studying financial statements, meeting with company officials to get a better idea of the company's needs and culture, preparing written reports, explaining investment recommendations

Schedule: Most financial analysts work full-time for more than 40 hours a week.

Salary: The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the median annual salary for a financial analyst was $74,350 as of May 2010 with the top 10% earning more than $141,700.

How an MBA Helps: According to US News & World Report, financial analysts are perpetual students, so an MBA will help you learn about the economy and how to stay on top of financial trends. It is particularly helpful for those who aim to work as Portfolio Managers. In addition, an MBA is often a job requirement for this position.

 

 

Job overview: A financial planner helps individuals set their financial goals and strategies. While most financial planners work on their own or in small firms, more large firms are either hiring financial planners or making their financial advisors get additional financial planner certification.

Job duties: Helping clients create personal budgets, control expenses, and set their financial goals; job duties may include building working relationships with Financial Advisors, Investment Managers and/or Mutual Fund Companies; keeping current with tax laws, new developments in financial products, and strategies for personal financial management

Schedule: Highly variable depending on your client load, your type of practice, and how much effort you put into finding new clients -- anywhere from part-time to 40+ hours a week

Salary:  According to Payscale, financial planners make anywhere between $33,935 and $99,499 a year.

How an MBA Helps: Depending on the firm you apply to, having an MBA can help with the hiring process. MBA coursework in economics, finance and accounting is helpful.

 

 

Alternate Titles: Financial Manager

Common Finance Officer Titles: President, Vice-President, Controller, Loan Officer, Trust Officer, Reserve Officer, Securities Trader

Job overview: Most finance officers managers operations for banks, credit unions and finance companies.

Job duties: A finance officer's job duties depend on title, the employer, education level and experience.

Schedule: Most finance officers work full time and keep long hours.

Salary:  The median pay for a finance officer is $103,910 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How an MBA Helps: Many employers prefer finance officer candidates with a masters degree. Essential coursework for finance officers includes topic areas taught in MBA programs such as business, finance, management, and risk analysis.

 

 

Job overview: Investment bankers raise capital for corporations by structuring the issuance of securities such as stocks and bonds. They also help corporations make decisions regarding mergers and acquisitions.

Schedule: Investment banking has a reputation for long hours and lots of international travel. Junior associates are on call 24/7 during their first few years on the job.

Salary: Investing banking is also known for its generous compensation packages, which can allow you to build a fortune in a short period of time.

How an MBA Helps: An MBA helps you get the strong quantative skills, as well as the sales skills and confidence needed for investment banking.