What Can You Do With a Finance Degree?
Are you thinking about pursuing a finance degree but not quite sure about your career options? There are plenty of career pathways that involve financial knowledge and decision-making. It is important to note that some careers may require additional credentials beyond a bachelor’s degree, such as additional training programs and certifications.
So, what can you do with a finance degree? Take a look below.
In This Article:
- What Jobs Can You Get With a Finance Degree?
- Additional Jobs for Finance Majors To Consider
- Earn Your BS in Finance From GCU
What Jobs Can You Get With a Finance Degree?
What jobs can you get with a finance degree? is a reasonable question to ask. Fortunately, with a growing number of jobs and a wide range of job sectors, recent finance grads have many options to consider.1
It's important to look into the variety of financial jobs and resources available for graduates to help you select a job for which you are qualified and may enjoy. Here are a few to keep in mind:
Financial Analysts
With a finance degree, you might consider exploring a career as a financial analyst.2 Financial analysts typically assess the performance of various investment vehicles, such as stocks and bonds, and use that information to guide individuals’ and business’ investments. Some financial analysts specialize in working with companies that wish to invest their money profitably, while others specialize in working with financial services sales agents who wish to sell investments.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates job growth for financial analysts to be 8% from 2022 to 2032, faster than average. This indicates that employers expect to hire about 29,000 new financial analysts during this time period.1
Financial Advisors
If working directly with individuals and families is something you are interested in, becoming a personal financial advisor could be a great job for you after graduating with a finance degree.2 Financial advisors, also called financial planners, advise clients about managing their money. They can give advice about everything from mortgages to college savings to investments to retirement.
The BLS estimates job growth for personal financial advisors to be 13% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than average. This indicates that about 42,000 new jobs are expected open up in this profession.3
Financial Examiner
If you like enforcing rules and regulations, consider becoming a financial examiner after earning a finance degree. Financial examiners are responsible for ensuring that companies and other organizations are in full compliance with all applicable governmental laws and regulations.4
According to the BLS, job growth for financial examiners is estimated to be 20% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than average. At this rate of job growth, employers expect to hire about 12,800 new financial examiners during this time period.4
Loan Officer
Other finance careers are found within financial institutions like banks and credit unions. For example, you might consider pursuing a career as a loan officer after graduating with a finance degree. This can be a particularly good choice for graduates who excel at communications and have a sales-oriented mindset.5
Loan officers evaluate, authorize and recommend approval of loan applications for people and businesses. According to the BLS, job growth for loan officers is estimated to be 3% from 2022 to 2032. At this rate of job growth, employers expect to hire about 10,400 new loan officers during this time period.6
Commercial Banker
You’ll find many jobs for finance majors available within financial institutions. Another possibility you may wish to consider after graduation is a role in commercial banking.7 Rather than working with individuals who are clients, commercial bankers work with businesses. Some commercial bankers are focused primarily on sales, while others serve as information and guidance resources for clients.
All types of businesses need access to liquid capital in order to accomplish goals, such as expanding the company, purchasing new equipment or opening up new locations. Commercial bankers connect these businesses to commercial loan opportunities. They serve as negotiators and loan closers, and they may also work with other types of credit products beyond loans, such as revolving lines of credit.
Auditor
A job as an auditor can be a particularly good choice for a finance degree graduate who wants various workplace options. Auditors may work for government agencies (where they focus on compliance and identifying fraud) or they may work for private companies or even for their own finance firm.5
The main job of a financial auditor is to scrutinize financial records to ensure they are free of errors. They also look to identify that all transactions were recorded in compliance with the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and that the organization is in compliance with both laws and regulations, and with the company’s internal policies and procedures. An auditor may also report any findings of potential financial risks.
The BLS estimates that approximately 67,400 new jobs for accountants and auditors will be available between 2022 and 2032.8
Commercial Real Estate Agent
There are also finance careers in real estate. If you like the idea of working closely with companies to help them grow their business but aren’t quite sure that you want to become a commercial banker, you might consider a career as a commercial real estate agent. A degree in finance can be quite helpful for this type of professional.5
Location can be a significant factor in the success of a business venture, and it’s the responsibility of the commercial real estate agent to help businesses find exactly the right premises. A commercial real estate agent may help businesses with selling, purchasing or leasing commercial real estate.
In order to make a transaction-related decision, businesses need extensive information about the property. A commercial real estate agent may assist their clients with information on nearby businesses and the demographics of the area. They may also advise businesses about average property maintenance costs, financing arrangements and similar matters.
Investment Banking Analyst
The job of an investment banking analyst could be an ideal entry-level career for a finance degree graduate. These professionals typically work at hedge funds, investment banks and venture capital firms.2 They are responsible for taking a deep dive into industry research and financial analysis. An investment banking analyst explores whether a particular transaction or deal might be profitable, considering what risks may be involved.
Additional Jobs for Finance Majors To Consider
There are many other finance-related job options to explore. For example, professionals with a strong background in finance may pursue a career as a:2
- Credit counselor: Credit counselors are debt specialists. They help clients by creating debt management plans and by providing guidance on loans, debt restructuring and debt repayment.
- Insurance sales agents: Insurance agents are responsible for selling various types of insurance plans to consumers. It’s not unusual to specialize in a specific type of insurance, such as vehicle or life insurance.
- Financial clerks: This entry-level role involves maintaining financial records and evaluating records for accuracy.
Earn Your BS in Finance From GCU
If you’re fascinated by all the possible jobs for finance majors, you can explore relevant finance degree programs at Grand Canyon University. The Bachelor of Science in Finance degree program, offered by the Colangelo College of Business, is ideally designed for those who would like to examine a diverse range of finance topics — from wealth management to real estate. Fill out the form on this page to learn more.
1 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Financial Analyst, retrieved in May 2024.
2 Segal, T. (2024, March 29). Best entry-level finance jobs. Investopedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
3 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Personal Financial Advisor, retrieved in May 2024.
4 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Financial Examiners, retrieved in May 2024.
5 Sarkar, J. (2024, April 18). What jobs can you do with a finance degree? (15 career paths). Indeed. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
6 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Loan Officers, retrieved in May 2024.
7 Coursera Staff. (2024, Jan. 17). What can you do with a finance degree? 7 career paths for 2024. Retrieved on May 9, 2024.
8 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Accountants and Auditors, retrieved in May 2024.
Approved by the Academic Program Manager of the Colangelo College of Business on June 13, 2024.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
