Business Management vs Finance: Which Degree is Right For You?

As can be expected, careers in both management and finance come with a terrific salary potential and good job security. While uncertainty in other industries is accelerating, business and finance jobs are expected to grow by 10 percent over the next decade, with 773,800 new predicted jobs in the US by 2026, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A finance degree would be advantageous in areas like corporate financing, commercial banking, money managing, investment banking, and financial planning. Possible job roles could include:

• Financial analyst (with an average salary of $58,343)
• Personal financial advisor (with an average salary of $59,869)
• Financial manager (with an average salary of $69,606)

Career options after a management degree are broad: your knowledge of business, finance, economics and marketing will be highly sought after by recruiters and for graduate schemes.

You could work as a:

• Management consultant (with an average salary of  $86,222)
• Production manager (with an average salary of $67,157)
• Risk manager (with an average salary of $83,763)

Of course, whatever you decide, a degree in finance or management would not necessarily shackle you to a career in banking or business. If you eventually decide to take your expertise elsewhere, you’ll have gained a unique set of skills including negotiation, numeracy, pitching, teamwork and networking, which are highly valued by employers in many other sectors.

There are many amazing business schools that offer outstanding management and finance courses, and whittling down your list of programs can be challenging. Start a list with all of your leads and throw a few wild-cards in there, schools that are based abroad or that are slightly left-field. Compare brochures and cross out any schools that don’t meet your criteria.

Based in Madrid, IE Business School offers outstanding bachelor’s degrees, master’s programs, PhDs and executive education.

Their Master in Management is a full-time 10 month program fully taught in English or Spanish, with five different specializations and the possibility to spend a semester at a partner institution abroad or pursue a second specialization.  

Their Master in Finance is a full-time 10-month program fully taught in English designed to prepare students for the CFA level I exam and careers at leading financial institutions.  

All salary estimates were taken from PayScale.