Careers in Finance

Job Responsibilities

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

Roles & Positions

Analysts advise executives on compliance, budget, and other financial matters. Treasury roles focus on evaluating financing options, capital management, and risk. Corporate development may involve mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and new business analysis.
 

Employment Outlook

Corporate finance is a popular career path, and the sector is expected to grow. Recruiters actively seek out Simon students for their expertise in economics and analytics. MBAs typically start as associates, and many take advantage of corporate rotational programs to advance their careers.
 

Career Opportunities

Larger corporations often have in-house development programs, allowing emerging finance talent to gain cross-functional experience in different specialties: treasury, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), M&A, and tax. These programs usually last 18 months to three years and are designed to prepare associates for leadership opportunities and facilitate career specialization.
 

Sample Job Titles

• Financial Analyst or Financial Associate
• Financial Manager
• Vice President, Finance
• Director of Finance
   

Job Responsibilities

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

Roles

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 M&A, the buying and selling entities often seek council from investment bankers.
 

Positions

Throughout your career, you may be a generalist or 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 & Career Opportunities

Investment banking has traditionally offered excellent salaries and benefits to candidates who can excel in a rigorous, fast-paced environment. MBAs often begin 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

• 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.
 

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

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

Fixed-Income Research Job Titles

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.