Finance Career Options - Career Planning and Placement (2024)

Office of Career Planning and Placement

What is finance?

Finance is the management of money which includes investing, borrowing, lending, budgeting, saving and forecasting. There are four main areas of finance: banks, institutions, public accounting and corporate.

Courses within the finance major provide a solid background in many subjects including:

  • Financial markets and intermediaries
  • Measuring the risk and return of investments
  • Financial management in international money and capital markets
  • Functional areas of bank management and related financial institutions
  • Recent developments in futures and options

Review the finance program page.

Traditional career titles

Entry-level titles in finance

Top industries in finance

  • Stockbroker
  • Budget analyst
  • Credit analyst
  • Financial analyst
  • Financial planner
  • Investment banker
  • Financial auditor
  • Financial analyst
  • Personal financial advisor
  • Investment banking analyst
  • Junior tax associate/accountant

What can I do with this major?

Industries

Suggested employers

Corporate and public finance

  • Treasury
  • Budget analysis
  • Financial analysis
  • Investor relations
  • Risk management
  • Financial reporting
  • Investment management
  • Cash and Credit management
  • DOW
  • DTE Energy
  • General Motors
  • Owens Corning
  • Ford Motor Company
  • Stellantis

Banking

  • Mortgage loans
  • Private banking
  • Branch management
  • Commercial lending
  • Corporate credit analysis
  • Ally
  • Comerica Bank
  • Chemical/TDF Bank
  • Huntington National Bank
  • Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans

Insurance

  • Sales
  • Claims analysis
  • Risk management
  • Travelers
  • Comerica Bank
  • Northwestern Mutual

Personal Financial Planning

  • Sales
  • Customer service
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • AXA Advisors
  • Prudential
  • Raymond James Financial

Investment Banking

  • Trading
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Corporate financial analysis
  • JP Morgan
  • AYCO, a Goldman Sachs Co.

Areas of Finance

Banks

Institutions

Public accounting

Corporates

  • Sales and trading
  • Equity research
  • Investment banking
  • Commercial banking
  • Research
  • Private equity
  • Portfolio management
  • Valuations
  • Due diligence
  • Transaction advisory
  • FP & A
  • Treasury
  • Investor relations
  • Corporate development

Career fairs

  • Annual career fairs for Ilitch School students and alumni to meet with employers in various functions for co-ops and internshipsand full-time employment
  • Check Handshake for details

Meet the Accounting Firms career fair

  • Annual career fair held for accounting and finance students and alumni interested in pursuing a CPA or other related certification
  • Engage with employers recruiting for co-ops andinternships and full-time positions in public and private industries
  • Check Handshake for details

Internships and full-time employment

  • Internships occur anytime during the academic year
  • Full-time recruiting occurs during the first three months of the Fall and Winter semester
  • Check Handshake for details

Quick prep tips

  • Apply for jobs, register for Career, Planning and Placementevents, research employers on Handshake
  • Attend meet andgreets, company presentations, career fair prep and mock interviews
  • Attend Ilitch School career fairs
  • Submit resume for review and approval on Handshake or schedule an appointment with a Career, Planning and Placement advisor
  • Prepare for upcoming interviews by meetingwith Career, Planning and Placement staff for one-on-one guidance
  • Research finance companies
  • Purchase business professional attire or borrow attire from theMary Ann Goldsberry Professional Dress Closet located in the Career, Planning and Placement, Suite 229

Get involved

Consider joining one or more of the following student organizations:

Job resources

Finance Career Options - Career Planning and Placement (2024)

FAQs

How to answer why finance question? ›

Express your genuine enthusiasm for the finance industry and how it aligns with your personal and professional interests. Share specific experiences or moments that ignited your passion for finance.

What are the three main areas of career opportunities in finance? ›

In the field of finance, there are three main categories of the industry: public, corporate, and personal. From financial planning to investment banking to insurance, people who pursue careers in finance power the world.

What are the 4 basic areas of finance? ›

Finance is the management of money which includes investing, borrowing, lending, budgeting, saving and forecasting. There are four main areas of finance: banks, institutions, public accounting and corporate.

What are the 5 main areas of personal finance? ›

The core areas of managing personal finance include income, spending, savings, investments, and protection. Smart personal finance involves developing strategies that include budgeting, creating an emergency fund, paying off debt, using credit cards wisely, saving for retirement, and much more.

Why am I interested in a career in finance? ›

Why Choose Finance: Example Answer 1. I want to work in finance because I enjoy the challenging nature of the industry and how fast-paced it is. I thrive under pressure. I enjoy problem-solving and analyzing data, but also realize that finance is not just about the numbers, it is about the people too.

Why would you want a career in finance? ›

A career in finance is yours to build. With a broad range of opportunities available, whether that's through advisory support, business development, underwriting, customer service, or even marketing, the sector itself caters to a diverse set of skills and interests.

Is finance a hard major? ›

Is Finance a Hard Major? Finance is a somewhat difficult major. The difficulty with finance comes down to its concepts that students would not have experienced before in their lives, the financial lingo in the field, and the concentration of math in the subject.

What is the most common job in finance? ›

Top 10 entry-level jobs in finance
  • Financial analyst. A financial analyst — sometimes called a business analyst — uses financial data to guide business decisions. ...
  • Personal financial adviser. ...
  • Accountant. ...
  • Loan officer. ...
  • Insurance sales agent. ...
  • Budget analyst. ...
  • Auditor. ...
  • Tax specialist.

What is the best field in finance? ›

8 highest paying entry-level finance jobs
  • Financial manager. Financial Managers are one of the top-paying finance jobs out of college, with growing demand. ...
  • Personal finance advisor. ...
  • Management analyst. ...
  • Financial analyst. ...
  • Financial examiner. ...
  • Budget Analyst. ...
  • Accountant. ...
  • Loan officer.

What are the three types of financial management decision? ›

There are three primary types of financial decisions that financial managers must make: investment decisions, financing decisions, and dividend decisions. In this article, we will discuss the different types of financial decisions that are taken in order to manage a business's finances.

What is the goal of financial management? ›

Capital refers to financial resources such as cash, equity, debt, and other investments. Typically, the primary goal of financial management is profit maximization. Profit maximization is the process of assessing and utilizing available resources to their fullest potential to maximize profits.

What are 3 common features most financial institutions offer? ›

Today, most large banks offer deposit accounts, loans, and limited financial advice to both consumers and businesses. Products offered at retail and commercial banks include checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), personal and mortgage loans, credit cards, and business banking accounts.

What are the 7 personal financial planning areas? ›

The following are the seven important components of financial planning.
  • Cash flow and debt management: ...
  • Risk management and insurance planning: ...
  • Tax planning: ...
  • Investment planning: ...
  • Retirement savings and income planning: ...
  • Estate planning: ...
  • Psychology of financial planning:
Oct 24, 2022

What is the #1 rule of personal finance? ›

#1 Don't Spend More Than You Make

When your bank balance is looking healthy after payday, it's easy to overspend and not be as careful. However, there are several issues at play that result in people relying on borrowing money, racking up debt and living way beyond their means.

What are the two key aspects of financial planning? ›

Two key aspects of financial planning are cash planning and profit planning. Cash planning involves the preparation of the cash budget and profit planning involves preparation of pro forma statements. To make cash budget and pro forma statements for a firm, accounting knowledge is needed.

What are the major areas in finance? ›

The four fundamental pillars of finance are Corporate finance, Investments, Financial institutions and International finance. Let's briefly explore each of these areas to better understand their significance and how they contribute to the broader financial landscape.

What are the three parts of a financial plan? ›

The main elements of a financial plan include a retirement strategy, a risk management plan, a long-term investment plan, a tax reduction strategy, and an estate plan.

What career path in finance? ›

Through the Finance major you can look forward to careers paths in financial advising, counselling and planning for investors or community organisations; funds management; management consulting; retail, commercial and investment banking; treasury management; trading and dealing.

What do all finance careers have in common? ›

Which task do all finance careers have in common, and which task is designed mainly for insurance careers? All finance careers advise customers on finances, and insurance careers handle risk management.

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