Careers in Finance

Corporate Finance 

Corporate Finance responsibilities often include financial planning and analysis, with professionals forecasting company revenue and expenses.

Roles & Positions

Analysts often partner with key executives in different functions and divisions to advise them on compliance, budget, head count, investment, and other financial matters. For treasury roles, the work may include evaluating financing options and collaborating with banks to raise and invest capital. The treasury department could also be entrusted with managing risk for currency and commodity exposure. Corporate development responsibilities for finance professionals may include mergers and acquisitions, as well as new-business opportunity analysis.

Simon MBAs often find professional opportunities in the finance fields discussed above. In larger companies and banks, MBA talent may join rotational programs that allow them to work within different finance and accounting functions to develop skill sets in a variety of areas.

Employment Outlook and Career Opportunities

Corporate finance is the most popular career path for Simon MBA talent. This sector is expected to grow, with recruiters actively seeking out Simon students due to our intense focus on economics and analytics. MBAs typically start as associates, and many take advantage of corporate rotational programs to advance their careers.

Most large firms and corporations have in-house development programs that allow emerging finance talent to gain cross-functional experience in different specialties including, but not limited to: treasury, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and tax. These training programs usually last 18 months to three years. They are designed to prepare associates for leadership opportunities and can facilitate career specialization.

Job Titles

Sample titles for corporate finance include:

• Financial Analyst or Financial Associate
• Financial Manager
• Vice President, Finance
• Director of Finance
• Treasurer
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

In-Demand Skills and Character Traits

Recruiters look for candidates with an aptitude for analytics, as well as qualitative and strong communication skills. The ability to understand internal and external audiences is also helpful in the corporate finance field.

Corporate Finance Career Preparation at Simon

As you pursue your MBA, you are encouraged to explore the Finance and Corporate Accounting concentrations to prepare for your career.

Co-Curricular Opportunities

MBA students pursuing careers in corporate finance should consider joining the Simon Finance & Investment Club (SFIC), which provides members with a one-stop resource to learn about careers in finance and investment-related fields. SFIC gives students a forum to ask questions and receive mentorship and guidance, with an overarching goal of preparing its members to secure summer and full-time roles. Through Simon alumni and the Career Management Center’s recruiting connections, the club seeks to foster and maintain strong relationships with corporations in order to provide members with as many opportunities to enter the finance-related fields as possible.

Investment Banking

The primary roles of investment banking are raising capital and providing advisory services for financial activities that often involve mergers and acquisitions (M&A) or restructuring. 

Roles & Positions

As an investment banker, you may perform company valuations, work alongside corporate lawyers to prepare prospectuses, and assist with marketing the company to investors. During mergers and acquisitions, the buying and selling entities often seek council from investment bankers.

Throughout your career, you may be a generalist or have the opportunity to specialize in a particular industry. Technology, media, and telecom (TMT), consumer product, healthcare, industrial, and energy sectors all rely on investment bankers for capital and financial services.

Employment Outlook and Career Opportunities

Investment banking has traditionally offered excellent salaries and benefits to candidates who can excel in a rigorous, fast-paced environment. MBA talent often begin their careers as associates, unlike undergraduate candidates who usually start as analysts. Typically, it takes an associate eight to 10 years to become a managing director.

Job Titles

Sample titles for investment banking functions include:

• Banking Associate
• Director
• Managing Director

In-Demand Skills and Character Traits

The investment banking sector demands advanced qualitative and analytical skills, often developed in accounting, finance, and financial modeling graduate courses. Bankers may present data to investors, therefore strong presentation, oral, and written communication skills are highly desired. Accuracy, attention to detail, poise, and energy are attributes shared by most successful investment bankers.

Investment Banking Career Preparation at Simon

As you pursue your MBA, you are encouraged to explore the Finance concentration to prepare for your career.

Co-Curricular Opportunities

Students entering the investment-banking field are strongly encouraged to join the Simon Finance & Investment Club (SFIC), which provides members with a one-stop resource to learn about careers in finance and investment-related fields. SFIC gives students a forum to ask questions and receive mentorship and guidance, with an overarching goal of preparing its members to secure summer and full-time roles. Through Simon alumni and the Career Management Center’s recruiting connections, the club seeks to foster and maintain strong relationships with corporations in order to provide members with as many opportunities to enter the finance-related fields as possible.

Equity & Fixed-Income Research

Financial research can be broken down into two major categories—equity and fixed income. 

Roles & Positions

Equity research deals with sell-side and buy-side analysis. Researchers on each side are charged with gathering and analyzing data. On the sell-side, analysts conduct macro-level research on specific industries and the stocks offered therein. They do this to provide investors with valuation of a given company.

Buy-side analysts also gather industry- and company-specific data. They do so in order to offer counsel on organizational investment strategies. Fixed-income analysts specialize in an asset class within debt securities, often investment-grade, convertible, and high-yield bonds or distressed securities.

Equity Research Job Titles

Sample titles for equity research functions include (analyst is a senior position in equity research):

• Research Associate
• Equity Analyst
• Vice President
• Director
• Managing Director/Senior Analyst

Fixed-Income Research Job Titles

Sample titles for fixed-income research functions include:

• Fixed-Income Research Associate
• Vice President
• Director
• Managing Director

In-Demand Skills and Character Traits

As with most finance opportunities, research functions place high emphasis on qualitative and data-analysis skills. Since analysts often present investor-facing reports, strong oral and written communication skills are imperative. Working hours may be long and organizations depend on researchers to make business-related decisions, therefore energy and attention to detail are qualities that appeal to recruiters.

Equity and Fixed-Income Research Career Preparation at Simon

As you pursue your MBA, you are encouraged to explore the Accounting and Finance concentrations to prepare for your career.

Co-Curricular Opportunities

Hiring processes for equity and fixed-income research positions are not as structured as those of the investment-banking sector. As a result, networking is critical for students looking to enter the profession. The Simon Investment Club and career-related events are highly recommended.

The club has targeted networking plans for research candidates, and builds real-world experience by assembling a team of student analysts to manage a funded portfolio. Seminars, group discussions, and research reports help MBAs gain extensive industry knowledge.