If you are thinking about earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA), you probably know that MBA graduates are in demand. GMAC’s 2022 Corporate Recruiters Survey found that 92% of corporate recruiters plan to hire new MBA grads. As an incentive, new MBAs earn a median starting salary of $115,000, with a median bonus of $10,500.
Many MBA students choose a specialization, and finance is one of the most popular. One reason is that every organization needs financial management professionals to grow. For instance, the online MBA with an emphasis in Finance program from the University of West Florida (UWF) prepares graduates with foundational business management skills and advanced expertise in finance.
What Are the 4 Top Jobs for MBA – Finance Grads?
An online search for finance jobs reveals abundant opportunities spanning wide-ranging industries. For MBA graduates, the world may be your oyster. An overview of four in-demand jobs for candidates with an MBA – Finance follows. Salaries may vary based on factors such as education, experience and geographic location. The job figures below were last updated in May 2021.
- Financial Manager
This job takes the #2 spot in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Business Jobs 2022. The three main reasons are salary, the likelihood of landing a job and opportunities for advancement.
Financial managers oversee the financial health of their organization. Typical activities include:
- Preparing financial reports
- Managing budgets
- Directing investment activities
- Identifying cost-savings and growth strategies
- Reducing risks, which includes ensuring compliance with legal requirements
UWF’s online MBA – Finance program prepares graduates with an understanding of national and international markets. According to U.S. News & World Report, the ability to handle international markets may give candidates an edge in landing a job as a financial manager.
Median Salary: $131,710, with the top 10% earning more than $208,000
Projected Job Growth: 17%, much faster than average
- Financial Analyst
Investopedia describes the job of a financial analyst as one of the “more rigorous, yet rewarding” careers in the financial sector. Financial analysts evaluate data and current market and economic developments to inform a company’s investment decisions. If you thrive on big data and the latest market news, this career path may be a perfect fit.
UWF’s online MBA – Finance program equips graduates with relevant skills for this position, including expertise in analyzing financial statements and interpreting accounting data, as well as an understanding of securities analysis and portfolio management.
Median Salary: $91,580 per year, with the top 10% earning more than $166,560
Projected Job Growth: 9%, faster than average
- Personal Financial Advisor
Financial advisors guide clients of varying income levels on wide-ranging financial needs, such as building retirement plans. With certain licenses, they may also sell investment products.
Wealth managers are a specific type of financial advisor. An interesting aspect of wealth management is the opportunity to assist clients in developing strategies for charitable giving.
Financial certifications can give financial advisors a competitive edge. UWF’s online MBA – Finance program prepares graduates to pursue two leading industry certifications: Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP).
Median Salary: $94,170 per year, with the top 10% earning more than $208,000
Projected Job Growth: 15%, much faster than average
- Management Analysts
One appeal of pursuing a career as a management analyst is the ability to work as a consultant. For example, a corporation might contract with a consulting firm to make recommendations for improving efficiency and increasing revenue. Management analysts often specialize in particular areas and industries.
UWF’s coursework includes many relevant topics to support a management analyst career, such as financial and managerial concepts, revenue and cost analysis, forecasting techniques and business analytics.
Median Salary: $93,000 per year, with the top 10% earning more than $163,760
Projected Job Growth: 11%, much faster than average
The four career paths profiled here are just a few opportunities available to MBA – Finance program graduates. Not surprisingly, an MBA can also provide a faster path to top executive management roles such as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
According to the GMAC survey referenced earlier, 87% of corporate recruiters in the U.S. are confident or highly confident that an MBA prepares graduates for success. UWF’s online MBA – Finance program includes the added benefit of the experiential application. Students gain real-world experience while building an industry-specific portfolio to support promotions and prepare for new opportunities.
Learn more about UWF’s online MBA with an emphasis in Finance program.
