5 Amazing Careers You Can Do With a Master’s in Finance

Sponsored by IE Business School

Master’s degrees are fast becoming a major asset within the finance industry and can open many doors for graduates who are looking to kick-start their careers in finance. There are plenty of potential career paths out there so a career in banking doesn’t have to be the only option.

The US Bureau of Labor reports that employment opportunities in the finance and business sector will increase by 10 percent by 2026 and as the rules and regulations of finance are practically universal, having a master’s in finance can offer itself as a passport for worldwide career opportunities.

A considerable 64 percent of master’s in finance graduates from the IE Business School Report 2017 found work within the investment banking industry just three months after graduation, with 18 percent working in consulting. A further seven percent have secured work within asset management, four percent in sales and trading, four percent in VC (venture capital) and PE (private equity), two percent in Fintech (financial technology) and a further two percent in industry, demonstrating that the job market for graduates with a master’s in finance has a lot to offer.

Using data collected from PayScale, read on to discover just some of the amazing careers you can do with your master’s in finance.

Average salary: $96,476 in the US

Having a keen interest in finance with the ability to understand how money is made and invested are the main traits of a corporate investment banker. Corporate investment bankers carry out financial research to develop financial solutions, achieve financial goals and provide strategic advice by identifying and securing financial deals for their clients by implementing both short-term and long-term plans. Clients can be a company, institution or government.

As a corporate investment banker, you must be equipped with strong numerical and analytical skills with the ability to communicate technical information in a simple format to your clients. Like many other financial careers, as a corporate investment banker you will need to be resilient, have the ability to work well under pressure and cope with stressful situations.

Average salary: $59,026 in the US

As a financial analyst you will combine your knowledge, skills and interests to evaluate investment opportunities for your employer and provide guidance and recommendations for the best course of action for your employer’s investment decision. You should be aware of current market trends as well as investment opportunities within your specialist area. Financial analysts’ employers can be non-profit organizations, government, other business or an individual. As a financial analyst you can also work in banks, pension funds and insurance firms.