What Can You Do With a Finance Degree?

Managing money — earning, spending, saving and investing it — is an essential life skill. It can also be fulfilling career path for someone with a finance degree. If you’re an analytical person with good communication skills and an eye for detail, studying or working in the field of finance might be the right fit.

“Finance is all about the management of money for individuals and institutions,” said Kristin Regis, senior associate dean of business programs at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Regis earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from SNHU and brought more than 10 years of corporate and municipal leadership experience into her role with the school. She's been an instructor and administrator at SNHU for over a decade.

Since every organization has financial aspects to it, there are opportunities to pursue this kind of work in the public or private sector. Most finance jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree, with some roles requiring specific licenses or credentials, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).*

Having a master's degree in finance can position you well in the finance field.* According to a Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) 2023 report, 74% of global employers surveyed said they would hire candidates with a master's in finance (GMAC PDF Source).*

Whether you’re going back to school or already have your degree in hand, you might be wondering about what your next step is.

So, What Does Someone Do With a Finance Degree?

A finance degree can help open doors to an accounting or finance career. Some jobs you could pursue include financial analyst, personal financial advisor, financial manager and postsecondary teacher.*

If you're unsure about what type of role you want, some companies offer rotational programs so new employees can experience different areas of the business, according to Regis.

"This can help the employee determine which type of job and compensation model is the best fit," she said.

No matter the path you choose, the endgame is the same: To help your organization or clients manage and improve their financial situation. To do so, you’ll need skills in financial analysis, management, economic modeling and forecasting, all of which you can learn in a finance degree program.

What Are Some Types of Entry-Level Finance Jobs?

You've just earned your associate degree in finance and want to pursue a career in the field, but maybe you're unsure where to start. There are plenty of entry-level opportunities for you to get the ball rolling in this industry and build experience.*

A few potential roles include bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks. According to the BLS, employers may prefer candidates who have completed some college courses in related subjects, such as finance*

As a bookkeeper, accounting or auditing clerk, you would be responsible for creating financial records for a business, BLS reported. You'll also record financial transactions, update statements and check financial records for accuracy.

The role of financial clerk could be right for you if you're interested in helping businesses with administrative work, such as keeping records, helping customers and performing transactions that involve money, according to BLS. Typically, financial clerks need at least a high school diploma to enter the occupation, although some employers, like brokerage clerks, may prefer a candidate who has completed some college, BLS reported. 

Another potential path is that of an entrepreneur. Whether you currently own a business or have your sights set on establishing one, earning a finance degree can be beneficial. The competencies taught in a finance program can help improve your business budgeting, financial planning and strategic decision-making skills.

"(A) finance degree has long been recognized as one of the top degrees when owning a small business," said Dr. Zuzana Buzzell '01MBA '04MS '13PhD, associate dean of business programs at SNHU. "Understanding the financial aspects of a small business operations and smart budgeting is a key to long-term success of small business owners."

Buzzell, who earned her master's in finance, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and doctorate from SNHU, brings her extensive education and experience to her role. With nearly two decades at SNHU and a background working as a fund accountant and senior business analyst, she offers a wealth of knowledge and expertise to learners.

What Are 4 Types of Finance Jobs?

Here are four different careers that you could consider with a finance degree:

1. Financial Analysts 

Financial analysts analyze and evaluate financial data for reporting, modeling, forecasting and investing purposes, according to BLS. As an analyst, you'll use soft skills, including communication, to build relationships with clients and explain your findings clearly, BLS reported.

“A good analyst can forecast, identify trends or variances to address and make recommendations,” Regis said.

In 2022, there were about 317,000 financial analysts, according to BLS.* And, BLS reported, the largest employers in this field were:

• Businesses dealing with securities, commodity contracts and financial investments
• Companies involved in credit intermediation
• Firms offering professional, scientific and technical services
• Insurance carriers
• Organizations focused on the management of companies and enterprises

If you're interested in becoming a financial analyst, a bachelor's degree is typically required for entry-level positions, as reported by BLS. Although, some employers also recommend a master's, too.*

2. Personal Financial Advisors 

Whether you're working on behalf of organizations or individuals, personal financial advisors offer guidance to clients on investments, insurance, mortgages, estate planning, taxes and retirement, according to BLS.

This role is on the rise as BLS projects personal financial advising jobs to grow 13% through 2032.* This can be attributed, in part, to an aging baby boomer population in the U.S.

"There are many baby boomers working in finance, and, as they retire, finance jobs become available," Regis said.*

Those with a finance certification or are on the path to certification often have an advantage in the financial job market, according to Regis.* For example, earning the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® credential indicates that you've met strict education, examination and experience requirements.

At SNHU, you can earn a bachelor's in finance with a concentration in financial planning that will help you prepare to take the CFP^® certification exam.

According to the CFP^® certification website, board-registered programs of study address financial topics, such as:

• General principles of financial planning
• Investment planning
• Professional conduct and regulation
• Retirement savings and income planning
• Risk management and insurance planning
• Tax planning

In addition to the educational foundation, good communication and relationship-building skills are imperative.

“With personal financial advising, you need to be able to speak in layman’s terms to ensure your clients understand the questions they are being asked during the information-gathering stage as well as the financial plan itself,” Regis said.

3. Financial Managers

Financial managers are responsible for an organization's economic well-being, according to BLS. They create financial reports, direct investment activities and develop plans for the long-term financial goals of an organization, BLS reported.

In 2022, BLS reported there were about 792,000 financial managers.* Many financial managers, according to BLS, worked in these fields:

• Finance and insurance
• Government
• Manufacturing
• Professional, scientific and technical services

In addition to a bachelor's degree, you'll likely need at least five years of experience in another business or financial occupation to become a financial manager, according to BLS.* 

But in managerial roles, they must combine that previous experience with leadership skills. In higher-level and executive positions, said Regis, "they need to be able to work with others while effectively explaining their recommendations or decisions to their non-finance colleagues and stakeholders."

Along with professional experience, most upper-management positions in finance require an advanced degree and additional certifications, according to BLS.*

“A graduate degree in finance lets you learn more about some of the more specific or challenging finance topics, such as options, futures and other derivatives, which can then help you advance in those areas,” Regis said.*

4. Postsecondary Teachers

Postsecondary teachers instruct students beyond the high school level. According to BLS, they may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.

As a finance postsecondary teacher, BLS reported you may:

• Assess students' progress through grading and examination
• Develop an instructional plan
• Stay informed about news and innovations in the finance field
• Teach finance-related courses

There were over 1.3 million postsecondary teachers in 2022, according to BLS, with over 99,000 working as business teachers, which is what finance instructors are.*

Keep in mind that in order to teach finance at the postsecondary level, you’ll generally need a terminal degree in your field, according to BLS.* A terminal degree is typically the highest level of education you can achieve in a specific field of study.

How Do You Get Started in the Finance Field?

First, identify your goals to determine the right education and career path. Ask yourself these questions to help focus on what's important to you:

• Do you want to work directly in finance or in a field that is closely related?
• What level of education or credentialing are you interested in pursuing?
• Would you like to start your own business and manage its finances?
• Would you prefer helping individuals realize their long-term financial goals or assisting organizations to increase value for their shareholders?

When it comes to the actual job hunt, Regis suggested starting with your school’s resources.

For example, SNHU has a career services team that offers resources like career fairs, webinars and other networking events with employers and industry experts.

Consider what you might learn from financial professional associations, such as:

• CFA Institute Societies
• Financial Planning Association (FPA)
• National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA)
• National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)
• National Financial Educators Council (NFEC)

Learning more about the resources and associations available can help you build and grow your network as you look to start or advance your career in finance.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Nicholas Patterson ’22 is a writer and alumnus of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), where he earned his bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing. He is currently honing his craft further as he pursues an MFA in Creative Writing from SNHU. Connect with him on LinkedIn.