The finance industry offers several lucrative job opportunities. These jobs are often in high demand as potential recruiters look for the most skilled workers to take on board. However, this also makes the job market highly competitive.
Finance is a broad field, meaning you can work in any area of your interest. And in each of these, you can find several types of jobs in various work settings, depending on your skills and expertise. Besides getting a chance to earn well-paid salaries, a career in finance also allows you to grow personally and professionally. Other perks like a challenging work environment, advancing opportunities, and working with qualified professionals are also a part of this career path. Additionally, it’s one of the few sectors most likely to rise in the upcoming years. While an unstable economy and big recessions may affect other professions, those with good financial skills generally enjoy better job security.
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But while you may know you want to build a career in finance, knowing precisely what role you want to work in can be confusing. So, to help you choose, here’s a list of 8 high-paying jobs in the industry, along with their average salaries and core responsibilities.
- Financial analyst
One of the most coveted positions in the finance industry is that of a financial analyst. Their primary responsibility is critically analyzing datasets and assessing market trends to help businesses make better-informed decisions. While a degree in accounting or economics can land you a job as a financial analyst, you’ll have a broader scope and better salary with an advanced degree. For example, those with a masters in applied statistics often get higher remuneration because of their data analysis skills.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for a financial analyst is $81,410 annually.
- Actuary
An actuary uses arithmetic equations and tools to conduct a risk-based analysis for its clients. By estimating the financial impact of each approach, they weigh the pros and cons of all business opportunities. They have strong mathematical skills that can help measure the probability of potential revenues. Using this data, companies prioritize business strategies to generate maximum profits and minimize losses. They also predict the timings of unlikely events so companies can prepare for them accordingly.
The BLS estimates an average actuary salary to be around $105,900 annually. Depending on your experience and skills, you can earn even higher.
- Financial advisor
While everyone needs to make crucial economic decisions, not everyone can be an expert in understanding finances. And so, to solve this problem, financial advisors assist their clients in building strategies that can help them achieve their financial goals.
Due to your knowledge’s high value, there will always be a place for you in the industry. This job provides opportunities in several work settings. For example, corporate offices and public sectors both require a financial advisor. Additionally, you can open your firm and choose clients as you wish.
The annual median pay for a financial advisor is $94,170.
- Investment banker
Companies and organizations hire investment bankers to raise capital for their businesses by selling equity or issuing debt. Their knowledge and expertise enable them to conduct thorough research to ensure the absence of any underlying issues in a company’s operations. They’re also responsible for overseeing mergers and preparing any legal or financial documents required by the corporation.
Investment banking is a high-risk, high-reward career path in the finance industry. It provides continuous opportunities for learning and developing skills that can help you advance professionally.
Investment bankers can easily make $131,378 on average in a year. Additionally to this salary, they also get bonuses and other perks, making it quite a lucrative job.
- Hedge fund manager
Hedge funds refer to financial partnerships that typically invest pooled funds and employ various strategies to earn profits for their investors. The person handling all these investments is known as a hedge fund manager. They are free to make decisions on their client’s behalf to ensure they get a good return on investment.
Unlike traditional investments, those handled by a hedge fund manager generate a greater return. Theoretical and practical knowledge of finance, economics, and accounting can help you develop investment strategies to generate profitable revenue. And these strategies are the core difference between hedge funds and ordinary funds.
Hedge fund managers, on average, get paid close to $122,902 annually.
- Private equity associate
Private equity associates are professionals who mainly work in equity firms to study data and identify potential investment opportunities. They’re also responsible for sourcing funds for the organization and maintaining or growing its capital. They often work closely with a company’s senior executives like Vice Presidents, Partners, Senior Associates, and Directors.
Although hedge fund managers and private equity associates have similar job roles, they’re not the same. While hedge fund managers have minimal stakes in an investment, a private equity associate usually acquires entire businesses through debt and equity.
The average salary of a private equity associate is $102,884 annually.
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- Auditor
The primary responsibility of an auditor is to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and work quality of a company’s operations. They pore through documents and software reports to identify errors that may compromise a business. They also work with managers and company heads to develop policies and standard procedures that comply with specific legislation. This ensures all employees, including those in managerial positions, abide by the company’s rules.
Financial expertise is a big part of this job as auditors occasionally track invoices, receipts, and other records to measure assets and liabilities. Auditors are often the first ones to catch any suspicious or fraudulent activity that may be going on in a business’s operations.
The annual median pay of auditors is $77,250.
- Financial software developer
Financial software developers design programs to help clients or businesses run complex economic systems. Therefore, they must have extensive knowledge of both finance and programming techniques. Since different organizations have varying requirements, these developers may work with a broad range of clients to build a customized program.
This career is one of the most demanding and leading careers in finance today. With all business operations becoming rapidly digitalized, companies are looking to hire professionals who can develop software to represent their desired information accurately.
Software developers receive a median pay of $110,140 annually.
Conclusion
Building a career in the finance industry is an excellent decision. Besides promoting professional advancement, it offers lucrative salaries and several bonuses. So, pick a job position that best aligns with your interests, and watch yourself exponentially grow.