Why Pursue A Career In Finance? And What To Consider Before You Start (2024)

By Matt Whittle

Individuals with analytical minds and strong attention to detail make good candidates for in-demand careers in finance. This field offers many roles beyond trading on the stock exchange floor, though many positions still include financial forecasting and investments for businesses and clients.

As the finance and tech worlds overlap more, professionals in these sectors can maximize returns on investments for individuals and organizations. This guide explores whether finance is a good career path, including salary data for finance jobs, projected employment growth rates and answers to frequently asked questions.

The Benefits of Working in Finance

Finance degree jobs can provide relatively high pay, stability, opportunities for advancement and consistent demand projections. Careers in finance may also offer flexibility for employees by allowing them to work remotely or in hybrid environments.

TheU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics(BLS) projects that business and finance jobs will be in demand from 2022 to 2032, with 911,400 openings on average each year. Certain roles within finance, like financial examiner, are expected to grow over six times faster than the rate for all occupations nationwide.

Finance professionals also earn above-average salaries. BLS data indicates that personal financial advisors earned a median annual income of nearly $95,390 as of 2022, more than double the median annual salary for all occupations nationwide. Financial analysts—among the most common careers in finance—earned a median annual salary of $96,220.

In fact, the BLS reported relatively high pay for business and financial occupations overall. These professionals earned a median annual salary of $76,850, or about $30,000 more than the median annual wage for all jobs in the United States.

Cutting-edge developments at the intersection of finance and tech (fintech) allow finance professionals to stay up to date in an evolving field. The need for knowledgeable workers to assess investment opportunities will continue to drive demand for careers in finance.

Finance professionals can also pursue advanced roles in the field to take on more responsibilities and increase their pay. With more education, experience or certification in specific areas of finance, professionals can work infinance degreejobs as portfolio managers, chief financial executives and senior financial analysts.

Read the full article here: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/business-and-marketing/careers-in-finance/

Why Pursue A Career In Finance? And What To Consider Before You Start (2024)

FAQs

Why Pursue A Career In Finance? And What To Consider Before You Start? ›

Finance degree jobs can provide relatively high pay, stability, opportunities for advancement and consistent demand projections. Careers in finance may also offer flexibility for employees by allowing them to work remotely or in hybrid environments.

Why are you considering a career in finance? ›

Why are you interested in a career in finance? I'm interested in a career in finance because it offers a dynamic environment that combines analytical thinking with strategic problem-solving. Finance roles impact businesses fundamentally and globally, providing a platform for continuous learning and growth.

Why do people choose to go into finance? ›

One of the main reasons why candidates choose finance is that this industry offers stable career choices in accounting, auditing, taxation, investment banking, etc. As a continuously evolving industry, the types and numbers of job opportunities keep increasing.

Why are you choosing a career as a financial professional? ›

Mention your passion for helping people

Financial advisors have significant responsibility because they can directly influence their clients' financial future. The passion for interacting with people and helping them with their financial goals is an ideal attribute that many employers seek.

What should I know before studying finance? ›

Understanding money is central to the finance major, so you should be detail-oriented and comfortable working with numbers. At the same time, work in finance also involves a lot of interaction with other people, so communication skills are also important.

Why are you interested in majoring in finance? ›

A finance degree can open doors to a broad range of dynamic professional opportunities — often with high earning potential in diverse industries. Finance majors learn fundamental business skills that can translate to careers in a variety of organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Why do you want a career in financial planning? ›

A purpose-driven profession

At the heart of financial planning lies the noble purpose of transforming lives through informed decisions. A career in financial planning is not about crunching numbers; you're shaping dreams. Guiding clients towards their aspirations provides a rewarding career of making positive impacts.

Why are people passionate about finance? ›

Many accounting and finance professionals love the scope and dynamic aspects of their jobs. They like being able to tap their technological know-how, methodical approaches to problem solving and deep understanding of how businesses work.

Why did you choose to study finance? ›

Master skills that prepare you for real-world job responsibilities. Unlike more general degrees, like business administration, finance teaches you in-demand skills in areas including data analytics, risk management, capital allocation, and investment strategy.

How do you know if finance is right for you? ›

What Traits Should I Possess? When dealing with finances, it is extremely important to be detail-oriented, organized, analytical and a good communicator.

Why did I choose finance specialization? ›

Choosing an MBA in finance provides essential knowledge and skills for aspiring entrepreneurs. Understanding financial management, risk assessment, and strategic planning equips individuals to start and successfully run their businesses, promoting entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency.

Why do I want to work for a financial company? ›

These organizations offer job stability, competitive salaries and benefits, opportunities for growth, job variety, professional development, and community impact. Financial institutions are a smart choice for those who are seeking a stable, challenging, and rewarding career.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in accounting finance? ›

I chose a career in accounting and finance because I have always been fascinated by the way financial decisions impact a company's performance and strategy. My natural aptitude for numbers and detail-oriented analysis, combined with my interest in business operations, drew me towards this field.

What do I need to know about a career in finance? ›

Financial careers often involve high barriers to entry, stiff competition among applicants, and a lot of stress. Still, these jobs offer numerous perks, including a challenging work environment, interaction with highly motivated and intelligent colleagues, opportunities for advancement, and excellent pay.

What is the best career in finance? ›

The top 5 highest paying jobs in finance are investment banking, hedge fund management, CFO roles, private equity, and actuarial positions. These careers typically offer substantial salaries and the potential for significant bonuses.

Is studying finance a good career? ›

A career in finance can be very lucrative. The average salary for a finance major is $101,038. Pursuing a career as a financial advisor or another form of financial sales can go well beyond this number, whereas a career in corporate America or the government typically stays close to it.

Why should we hire you for finance position? ›

A recommended answer to this could be: “Having read the job description and having looked at your company website, the role attracted me as I feel that I have the suitable skills for this role such as working to a deadline, experience with yield management, knowledge in SQL, etc.

Why are you interested in a career in accounting and finance? ›

"What drives me in accounting is the opportunity to directly contribute to the prosperity of businesses. By closely monitoring finances and furnishing valuable insights, I can assist businesses in expanding, optimizing resource management, and navigating a complex economic landscape."

Why are you interested in the finance analyst? ›

One answer to this question might be: “I decided to major in finance because I have long had an interest in understanding how businesses are structured—how they make money and how they're profitable.

How to ace a finance interview? ›

Six expert tips for your next finance interview
  1. Get to the point. ...
  2. Know your finances. ...
  3. Make yourself the added value. ...
  4. Talk confidently about the industry. ...
  5. Engage with the interviewer. ...
  6. Keep learning.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jerrold Considine

Last Updated:

Views: 5590

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jerrold Considine

Birthday: 1993-11-03

Address: Suite 447 3463 Marybelle Circles, New Marlin, AL 20765

Phone: +5816749283868

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Air sports, Sand art, Electronics, LARPing, Baseball, Book restoration, Puzzles

Introduction: My name is Jerrold Considine, I am a combative, cheerful, encouraging, happy, enthusiastic, funny, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.