Job Options With an MBA in Finance

Earning an MBA in Finance can open up many career paths. Whether you specialize in Corporate Finance, Investment Management, or Banking, career options abound. Job options for Finance MBA graduates include:

1. Financial Analyst - Part mathematician and part investigator, Financial Analysts crunch financial ratios, comb through company financial statements and evaluate market conditions in order to recommend the financing of projects, investments, asset allocation, or financial strategies. Financial Analysts may work internally for a company, for an investment bank, for a consulting firm or for an investment fund.

2. Corporate Controller - Corporate Controllers (also known as Comptrollers) supervise the accounting staff. Though they do not have to have an accounting background, Controllers have to have an understanding of accounting information. Controllers compile data from a variety of sources to create the income statements and balance sheets. They also help create financial forecasts.

3. Fund Manager - Fund Managers decide how to allocate funds among various investments, which include stocks, bonds, currency, options, futures, real estate, derivatives and more. Fund Managers may work for a mutual fund, pension fund, endowement fund, trust or be a private investment manager.

4. Hedge Fund Manager - These Fund Managers are the rock stars of the Fund Management world and oversee the pooled finances of wealthy clients. Hedge Funds are generally not limited to one type of investment focus and may invest in any type of financial instrument in any part of the world.

5. Investment Sales Manager - Also known as stock brokers or financial planners, these specialists help businesses or individual investors make sound investment decisions. By analyzing market conditions and evaluating potential acquisitions, they recommend investments based upon a clients aversion to risk. They help meet a client's investment goals by customizing asset portfolios to meet their clients' needs.

6. Risk Officer - Risk Officers take a structured approach to managing uncertainty by evaluating the environment in which a company operates and taking measures to minimize or eliminate risk. Risk Managers buy financial instruments, such as options or futures, to help minimize credit risk and market risk. Risks include inflation, exchange rate risk, volatility and more.

7. Credit Managers - Credit Managers are financial experts who manage the lines of credit a corporation extends to its customers and partners. They analyze credit risk and set credit limits to protect company funds.

8. Corporate Treasurer - Treasurers manage cash holdings, issue debt, and oversee corporate investments including pension investments and foreign holdings. Treasurers also manage stock issuance and have the power to buy stock back from the public.

9. Investment Banker - These highly specialized financial experts help corporate entities raise operating funds from investors. This can be accomplished through the issuance of securities (stocks) or debt (bonds) or by obtaining loans from financial institutions. In each situation the Investment Banker is responsible for structuring the deal.

10. Chief Financial Officers - Chief Financial Officers typically manage all of finances of a corporation. Along with the COO and CEO, the CFO is one of the top executives in a company. Many CFOs go on to assume the CEO position in companies.