The Best Entry-Level Finance Jobs
Finance is a highly competitive area. It’s one of the most lucrative industries that pays out up to seven figures in wages and bonuses for those who are at the highest levels. Even those who are on the lowest range can anticipate beginning at a high salary as compared to other professions.
It’s possible that you won’t land your dream job immediately However, the good thing is the fact that financial services is a huge sector, so once you’re there it, you’ll have ample opportunities to develop, move around and discover your specialization. The first step is to must find your way to the entryway.
Women and members of a variety of minorities aren’t represented in the financial professions. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures for 2021 indicate that women comprised 40.2 percent of investment and financial analysts; 13.1% were Black or African American, 20.7% were Asian and 10.7 percent of them were Latino and Hispanic. For personal finance advisors, there were 33.8 percent women, 7.3% Black or African American, 7.5% Asian and 7.7 percent Latino or Hispanic.
A Look At Entry-Level Careers In Finance
Entry-Level Salary
According to the job search site Glassdoor The entry-level compensation for finance averages $94,000 per year, as of December 2021.
Statistics collected from The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) are less than the NACE figures but they still exceed the median. According to their 2022 Salary Survey, Computer Science majors earned the highest starting pay of $75,900 a year (up by 5% over 2021). Engineering graduates will likely receive the second highest salary as they earn an average projected at $74,000 (up 4percent from 2021).
Beginning salaries for majors in the finance, business and accounting, insurance and real estate industries are expected to be an average of $60,695 per year rising by 3 percent from 2021.
Based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to get an idea of what the average annual income of the country is, in the second quarter of 2022, median income was $1,037 a week ($53,924 per year).
The average U.S. household income was $79,900 for financial year 2021, as per the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
According to the BLS estimates that the number of people employed in the fields of finance and business will grow by up to 8% between 2020 and 2030, which is roughly equal to the rate of growth for all professions.
Education Requirements
So , how do you get started? The good thing is you do not have to get to have a Harvard Business School degree. Many years of business or financial work experience is generally preferred prior to obtaining an MBA.
But, a bachelor’s degree is necessary to be employed at nearly every reputable financial institution. While some firms claim that they employ specialists of all sorts however, the ideal academic record should show the ability to comprehend and deal with numbers. This requires an understanding of applied mathematics, economics accounting, business, and computer science.
Incredibly, the NACE study revealed that when the breakdown of financial sector salary by degree sectors, those who specialized in computer science and engineering were more lucrative. In contrast the communications and sales were had lower rankings. If your main focus is in a different area you should consider a minor in finance or a related field.
Internships Are a Steppingstone
Internships are more important. Many companies visit campus to seek applicants for summer internships or host symposia, events, or other networking events. Some examples include such events as the Goldman Sachs Undergraduate Camp and Morgan Stanley’s Career Discovery Day.
They can be just as difficult to obtain as a real job, but they’re extremely valuable. They’re not just a source of connections and experiences and experience, but they often result in a place in the company’s educational program upon graduation or, at the very minimum within the most prestigious circle of thought.
Continuing Financial Education
If you’ve graduated in continuing education, it’s another option to increase your financial intelligence and show your dedication to a financial sector career. Financial-specific qualifications like CFA, chartered financial analyst (CFA) or CPA, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and CFP, the CFP (certified financial planner) (CFP) certifications could enhance your career prospects in accordance with the specific aspect of finance you’re seeking.
Within the United States, professionals who are planning to work with financial investments must be able to pass a series of licensure examinations. It was necessary need to have financial support from a bank to pass one of these exams before. In 2018, however this has changed. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has finalized the new Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) test that can be taken without sponsoring.
The test is open to all individuals aged 18 and over. The 75-question, time of 105 minutes SIE is the perfect way of “demonstrating basic industry knowledge to potential employers,” to refer to the FINRA website.
$81,410
The expected median wage in 2021 (the most recent estimate from April 18 2022) for an analyst in finance with an undergraduate degree in finance.
Lack of Diversity in the Financial Industry
There is the absence of diversity in the financial sector, specifically at the top of the management ladder. Companies are working to combat and correct this inequality. For instance, according to CFP Board there were more Black as well as Latino CFP professional fiances increased by to 12% (the most significant increase) in the year 2019. But, there are just 3.259 Black as well as Latino CFP professionals total.
There are advocacy and non-profit groups, such as those of the Alliance of Black Women Accountants and the National Association of Black Accountants that can assist individuals of color in the workforce or who wish to work in finance. Additionally, 100 Women in Finance and The Greenwood Project, and Blackstone: Future Women Leaders Program provide support for people of color as well as women working in the workplace.
According to a report by Bloomberg the study found that minority students particularly women, aren’t represented in the business schools. According to the study, “half the Hispanic share of the U.S. population. Black students had 8% of MBA seats, less than the 14% Black share of the population. Asian students, the best-represented group, exceeded the Asian share of the U.S. population at 62 of 84 schools.”
Students who are BIPOC and women in particular are advised to look into grants and scholarships that are designed to aid finance majors to earn their degrees in order to increase these statistics. Some of them include:
National Association of Black Accountants National Scholarship
Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Scholarship Award for Minority Accounting Students
The Tang Scholarship
The most important thing is to determine the most lucrative entry-level positions in terms of pay as well as future career opportunities, and consider which one might be the best match to your skills and preferences. Once you’ve narrowed down what you are most interested in and you are ready to start your search.
In addition to your network of family and friends Online job websites are an ideal source for searching for entry-level finance jobs. LinkedIn as well as Indeed and Monster are excellent sites. But, it’s more effective to look through websites that are specialized in finance industry employment or resources, like FinancialCareers.com, BrokerHunter, or 10X EBITDA (for investment banking).
Financial Analyst
Financial analysts are employed by insurance companies, investment companies consultants, companies, as well as other corporate bodies. Responsible for analyzing and consolidating budgets and projections of income statements. They create reports, conduct studies on business and create forecast models. Financial analysts analyze market trends, economic conditions and the company’s fundamentals.
They may also suggest the best course of action for investing, reducing costs and enhancing the financial performance. Alongside a bachelor’s level degree in accounting, finance or economics you must be able to demonstrate strong IT (IT) capabilities for a job as an analyst.
The BLS estimated around 492,100 financial analyst jobs throughout the American economy in the year 2020. The BLS also forecast a growth rate of 6% to 2030 for these jobs. As per the BLS Financial analysts made the median of $83,660 in the year 2020.
Financial careers are typically discovered and thrive in the major financial hubs and cities such as New York, Chicago, London and Tokyo. Looking for college internships at the major financial companies which have headquarters can allow you to advance when you start applying for entry-level jobs.
Investment Banking Analyst
Investment banking is among the most highly regarded areas of the financial industry. Investment banking professionals aid companies, individuals and venture capital companies, as well as governments in their needs related to capital. Investment banks provide new debt and equity securities for all kinds of businesses, help in the sale of securities, take companies public, and assist with restructuring, mergers and acquisitions and broker trades for private and institutional investors.
Analysts typically fill an entry-level job in an investment bank hedge fund or venture capital company. The most frequent tasks they perform are creating deal-related material, conducting analysis of financial and industry research, as well as an analysis of company performance, as well as gathering information to perform due diligence. The analysis of financial data frequently can be used to determine whether certain transactions or activities can be made.
The average investment banking analyst’s starting salary was $70,168 in December 2021, according to Payscale, a compensation-analysis site.
Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in finance, economics or management, however this is a job that requires a master’s degree in these areas is beneficial as well.
Junior Tax Associate/Accountant
Certain financial services are constantly in demand, particularly ones related to taxation, the necessity to be in compliance with the changing Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations as well as state and local laws. They implement policies and measures related to taxes, such as the calculation and estimation of payments as well as conducting research, reviewing Internal fiscal structures, creating tax returns and other documents related to taxes as well as cooperating with auditing firms.
This may sound like a tangled web and complicated, but tax-related work are often the basis for managerial positions like Controller (or comptroller) or accounting supervisor, director of budget as well as treasurer, or chief financial officer (CFO). To be able to work in this type of position applicants must have an undergraduate qualification in the field of accounting (or at a minimum, accounting proficiency) as well as an CPA license in order to move up the ladder. In some cases, employers offer the possibility of obtaining one while working.
In this regard, the role of a junior tax agent is a great option for college graduates looking to gain in the financial industry. As per the BLS the median annual salary for tax associates was $55,640 by 2020. However, this area could experience an increase of 4% in employment until 2030.
While financial careers are typically associated with high salaries and prestige however, they are also one of the most stressful jobs as early burnout isn’t unusual.
Personal Financial Advisor
Personal financial advisors assess the financial needs of people and assist them in making decisions regarding investing, budgeting and saving. They assist clients with planning for both long- and short-term financial goals, ranging from tax planning , retirement plans to estate planning. Many advisors provide tax assistance or offer insurance, and provide financial guidance. They may also offer financial products like mutual funds, or even directly manage investments, or act as a link between an person and the asset manager.
The BLS estimates that the median salary for 2021 private financial planners, which was at $94,170, but expects a lower-than-average increase of 5% to 2030.
The BLS mentions demographic trends such as the aging of the baby boomer generation, the rising number of self-employed individuals as well as the declining number of employer pension plans in the private sector as the main reason for the need of advisory service.
The job doesn’t require a specific degree or degree in the field of finance. However, financial advisors may benefit from studying math, economics and finance. They also require competent communicators since they need to communicate complex concepts to people who are not experts, so critical thinking, analytical and writing skills developed in liberal arts disciplines can also be beneficial.
Financial advisors who direct purchase or sell shares bonds, stocks, or insurance policies, or offer specific investment advice have to take a variety of licensing examinations. But, this can only be carried out on the job as you need to be sponsored or employed by an investment or securities firm to be able to take these tests. Keep in mind, however you can take the fundamental SIE test. A lot of advisors also have industry certifications for example, becoming a CFP to increase their standing and network opportunities.
How Many Jobs Are Available in Finance?
The number of positions open in the lucrative financial industry, from executive assistants to CEOs, and accountants to an accredited financial advisor. It’s all dependent on the field you’re looking for work in, for instance in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that there are 41,000 financial analyst positions each year.
What Jobs Can You Get With a Finance Degree?
There are many entry-level jobs you could get having a finance education, according to your field of study, the type of degree, and previous experience. Stockbroker, junior tax accountant Personal Finance Advisor, bank assistant Financial analyst and banking assistant are just a number of options for entry-level positions. There are a variety of opportunities for MBA graduates, such as accountants, financial analysts tax advisors certified financial advisors and/or a job with an investment firm or in the market for securities. All of these jobs are available to those who are an MBA graduate.
What Are the Highest Paying Finance Jobs?
Some of the most lucrative jobs in finance are private equity associate chief financial officer chief compliance officer as well as hedge fund managers.
What Is the Entry-Level Salary for a Finance Job?
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) offers the anticipated average first-year earnings of $60,000 for finance and business-related majors in 2022.
The jobs and compensation-tracking website Glassdoor indicates that for 2022, the average entry-level finance position is paid a base salary of around $46,000 plus bonuses and additional compensation of $48,000, for a total of $94,000.
Where Do I Look to Find a Finance Job?
Internet-based websites are a great source. LinkedIn, Monster, and Indeed are all great job search websites, but you shouldn’t overlook the ones that are specialized in finance-related jobs or other websites that offer resources. They comprise eFinancialCareers, BrokerHunter, and 10X EBITDA (for investment banking). Of of course personal connections are usually the best, and it is impossible to beat the benefits of a network of family and friends in the event that you are fortunate enough to have one.
In Conclusion
To get your foot in the financial world requires a lot of planning and dedication. The finance industry is highly competitive. field and you should treat it as a task in itself and leave no step unfinished, and remain current with the most recent finance information. Expand your knowledge, take additional education, if necessary and be as active as you can, and try to remain positive.
The world of finance is possible if make the right choices when you search. Don’t be concerned that your first job may not be the one you’ve always wanted to be. It’s about finding the way to get inside that secured fortress. Then you can tackle the rest of it from there.
