Stockbroker or securities trader
Average salary: $93,260
Stockbrokers act as brokers or intermediaries for clients seeking to buy or sell securities such as stocks, bonds or options. Sometimes, stockbrokers may also provide financial advice and investment management services.
A stock trader’s job is similar to that of a stockbroker: find, buy and sell securities. However, a trader usually buys and sells securities using the assets of his or her own firm. In addition, traders usually work for large investment management firms or banks and trade under the direction of portfolio managers.
Venture Capitalist
Average salary: $92,228 to $353,321 (estimated based on Salary.com and PayScale data)
Venture capitalists (VCs) identify investment opportunities for their clients by analyzing the growth and risk potential of emerging companies. VCs acquire equity in these early-stage companies in exchange for the capital they provide.
Working at Goldman Sachs
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Average. Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Skills you’ll develop: Cell basics, financial forecasting, cash flow modeling, charting, income statements
Risk Management Careers
Underwriter
Average Salary: $79,940
Underwriters work in a variety of financial industries, but usually involve the banking and insurance industries. Underwriters are responsible for determining the potential risk of a person applying for insurance or a loan, and then deciding whether the person can be approved based on a risk assessment.
Insurance Broker, Agent or Consultant
Average salary: $69,340
An insurance broker or agent is a salesperson who sells insurance products directly to consumers. Brokers usually sell products from multiple insurance companies, while agents usually work for one specific company. They sell products such as life insurance, personal auto insurance and homeowner’s insurance.
A similar role to that of an insurance broker is that of an insurance advisor. These advisors often work as part of a larger financial planning team and help provide insight into other financial products or services, such as investments and estate planning.
Claims Adjuster
Average salary: $70,960
After an accident, an adjuster will look at the details of the insurance claim and determine who is responsible. Adjusters talk to people involved in the claim, interview witnesses, and examine the loss if necessary to determine who has to pay and for what amount.
Actuary
Average salary: $125,300
Actuaries use mathematics, statistics and theory to analyze the costs associated with risk. Actuaries can sometimes be called actuarial analysts, and their analysis helps companies understand the likelihood of successful decisions and how unpredictable catastrophes will affect a business’s finances.
Finance Law Careers
Average salary: $148,030
Becoming a financial lawyer is the same path as any other legal career. Attorneys can focus on a variety of financial aspects, such as tax law, trade finance and debt financing. In addition, many financial institutions hire general counsel for mergers and acquisitions or securities transactions, and with the rise of fintech, there is a high demand for attorneys who understand cryptocurrency compliance laws and virtual assets.
Accountants and Auditors
Average annual salary: $83,980
Accountants and auditors analyze a company’s financial situation and prepare financial documents. In financial institutions, there may be specific positions for junior accountants, senior accountants, auditors and tax accountants.
Junior accountants focus on balancing accounts and preparing reports. Senior accountants, who may require a master’s degree or a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, assist in analyzing and maintaining the financial health of the company in addition to serving as a supervisor for junior accountants.
Auditors are primarily responsible for following up on the accounts and ensuring that they are recorded accurately. Auditors must also prepare financial statements, such as balance sheets and audits, and ensure that all operations and documentation comply with legal and financial regulatory standards.
The tax accountant prepares client tax documents and ensures that all tax returns are in compliance with local, state and federal tax regulations. Preparing tax reports, resolving problems and errors in documentation, and finding areas where (legal) savings can be made are all part of the tax accountant’s role.
>>More: Learn how to choose the right accounting career path for you.
KPMG
KPMG Audit & Assurance
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Average. Duration: 5 hours
Skills you will develop: Excel, analytics, Power BI, trial balance review, control design
Finance Manager and Controller
Average Salary: $153,460
Finance managers work in many different fields and industries, including investment firms, banks, and insurance companies. They deal primarily with the creation of financial reports and the development of long-term financial plans for the organization.
Another type of financial manager is the chief financial officer or comptroller. The controller is the highest ranking person on the accounting team besides the chief financial officer. The controller ensures that the company remains in good financial standing and oversees the work done by the other members of the accounting team.
Financial Analyst
Average salary: $103,020
Financial analysts interpret financial statements and forecast a company’s future financial performance. In addition, analysts compare the current financial situation with the initial plan developed by the financial manager or CFO and help create reports to help the company stay on track with its strategy based on market conditions.
Budget Analyst
Average salary: $84,240
A budget analyst, sometimes called a cost analyst, is responsible for looking at a company’s budget and determining ways to develop or keep it effective. Budget analysts also help maintain records and determine if funds need to be allocated differently.
Chief Financial Officer
Average salary: $213,020
The chief financial officer (CFO) is the highest ranked person in the company in terms of organizational finance. The CFO has two main responsibilities: overseeing all financial activities within the company and members of the accounting team, and serving as an advisor to other senior executives.
Recommended Careers in Finance
Financial Advisor
Average salary: $119,960
Financial advisors, also known as financial consultants or financial planners, are a wide range of positions in the personal, corporate and public sectors.
Financial advisors help their clients understand what services and tools they can use to manage and optimize their wealth. Advisors also advise on what decisions to make based on individual clients’ goals and financial situations.
Personal financial advisors perform the same type of work as any other financial advisor, just on a smaller scale. Their clients are those who want to learn how to better manage their money, as well as those who want advice on investments, college funds, taxes or estate planning.
Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) must be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Investment advisors guide clients through the investment process by assessing their needs and goals and analyzing current market conditions.
A Chartered Retirement Planning Consultant (CRPC) is a financial planner or advisor who specializes in helping clients plan for retirement.A CRPC is a certification and designation in which the CRPC works with clients to develop a plan that meets their lifestyle preferences and financial capacity.
>>More: JPMorgan Asset Management Virtual Experience Program
Portfolio Manager
Average Salary: $153,460
Like investment-focused financial managers, portfolio managers work with clients to identify suitable investment opportunities and maintain profitable portfolios. Portfolio managers also guide clients through their investments and explain market conditions and economic trends that may affect their investments.
Financial Technology (FinTech) Careers
Financial Software Developer
Average salary: $120,990
The primary responsibility of a financial software developer is to design, develop and improve software used in the financial industry. Financial software developers work with financial and banking companies to develop everything from educational tools to credit card software.
Some software developers specialize in certain areas, such as blockchain. Blockchain developers work with a variety of organizations to create programs that facilitate secure digital transactions and enable the secure storage of blockchain data. Blockchain developers also use blockchain technology to produce applications and interfaces to help secure company data.
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JPMorgan Chase Software Engineering
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Average. Duration: 5 hours
Skills you’ll develop: Basic programming, Python, Git, financial analysis, technical communication
Compliance Specialist
Average Salary: $96,180
Compliance specialists are sometimes referred to as financial examiners or regulatory compliance specialists. While compliance specialists work in many aspects of the financial industry, they are critical to fintech because of the strict regulations that govern digital transactions – compliance specialists ensure that everything is in compliance with state, local and federal laws, regulations and policies.
Data Scientist
Average salary: $108,660
Regardless of the industry, a data scientist’s responsibilities include analyzing data sets to find meaningful insights and communicate their findings. In the financial industry, for example, data scientists play a critical role in making predictions based on data, identifying trends, detecting fraud, and creating programs to help companies better serve their customers.
Quantitative Analyst
Average salary: $103,020
Quantitative analysts are financial analysts who use statistical techniques to solve risk management, valuation, market regulation and trading problems. In addition, quantitative analysts may develop tools to improve the way firms create models and analyze strategies.
Cybersecurity Specialist
Average salary: $113,270
Cybersecurity specialists or information security analysts help ensure that the systems used by these companies are protected from malware, viruses and hackers. Fintech is all about digital information, so cybersecurity specialists also focus on data encryption to make corporate customers feel more secure when using technology to access their financial information.
Investing in the financial business
Investment Banker
Average salary: $103,020
Investment bankers typically start their careers as financial analysts, but investment bankers can take on the following specific roles:
Investment bankers focus on raising capital for their clients by selling stocks and issuing bonds. Investment bankers also assist with mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and create financial models to forecast financial performance.
Investment strategists analyze economic trends to inform clients or portfolio managers about how to address potential risks through strategic transactions and asset allocation.
Private Equity Partners are investment bankers with additional experience in overseeing the transaction process from sourcing to closing. Private Equity Partners focus on raising capital as well as acquiring, improving and selling companies.
