Finance Careers: Exploring Opportunities in a Dynamic Industry

When exploring a career in finance, consider both the functional role and industry. Finance roles range from client-facing positions to data-driven analytical jobs. Ask yourself: Do you enjoy client interaction, or do you prefer working with numbers and trends?

Finance professionals are essential across numerous industries. Whether you aspire to work in a traditional financial services firm or within a finance function at a non-financial company, there are ample opportunities:

• Asset management & insurance
• Brokering and research
• Commercial and investment banking
• Hedge funds and private equity
• Venture capital and wealth management
• Fintech and digital payments
• Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing
• Real estate development and investment
• Technology and artificial intelligence
• Cryptocurrency and blockchain finance

• Consumer products and retail
• Government and policy
  
• Health care and biotechnology
• Hospitality and tourism
  
• Manufacturing and supply chain
  
• Nonprofits and foundations

Finance roles can be found in every industry.

• Information on Finance Careers
• Industry News and Network
• Job Search Resources

• Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management: Global financial regulations continue to evolve, increasing the need for compliance officers and risk analysts.
• Fintech and Digital Banking: The rise of financial technology has created roles in blockchain development, digital payments and robo-advisory services.
• Sustainable and ESG Investing: Increasing focus on responsible investing is leading to demand for professionals skilled in ESG analysis and impact investing.
• AI and Machine Learning in Finance: Algorithmic trading, risk modeling and automated financial services require expertise in data science and finance analytics.

Use these resources to research specific finance career paths and companies:

• Mergers and Inquisitions: A popular blog dedicated to investment banking and finance careers.
  
• Street of Walls: Learn about careers in investment banking, hedge funds and private equity. 
  
• Corporate Finance Institute (CFI): Provides some free online training and education for finance and investment professionals in financial modeling, valuation and other corporate finance topics. (Additional courses available at a cost)
• Wall Street Prep: Free online finance courses and finance career training in investment banking, private equity, financial modeling, Excel functions, accounting, valuation, corporate finance, venture capital and interview preparation.
  
• Wall Street Oasis: An online finance community, which includes online forums, courses, talent search, résumé review and mentorship. (Some free content, some paid)
• Investopedia: A financial media website that provides market news, advice, investment dictionaries, reviews, ratings, and comparisons of financial products.
  
• Glassdoor: An online platform that provides information about companies, interviews and salary data.
• Mergent Intellect: Company and industry research (through the UB Libraries)
  

In addition to the two UB career management systems, BizLink and Bullseye powered by Handshake, use the following resources to search for additional finance opportunities:

• eFinancialCareers: Create a profile to gain access to industry insights and newsletters as well as finance roles from leading brands and niche boutiques.
• LinkedIn Jobs 
• Indeed: Search for jobs in one place accessing thousands of websites.

• Careerbuilder: A recruitment resource where you can search for a job by job type or industry. CareerBuilder also has international jobs. 
• Financial Job Bank
  
• Financial Job Network
• The Chicago Quant Alliance

Get to know professionals in your area of interest:

• LinkedIn Groups: Banking Careers, Enterprise Risk Management
• Association for Financial Professionals
• American Banking Association
• American Finance Association
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board of Standards, Inc.
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Society of Buffalo
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute - National site
• Financial Management Association UB Chapter (student clubs)
  
• International Swaps and Derivatives Association
• International Association for Quantitative Finance (previously IAFE)
• National Venture Capital Association
• The Q-Group
• Venture Capital Institute
• Treasury Management Association of New York

Stay up-to-date on what’s happening in the finance industry: 

• The American Banker
• Asset Securitization Report
• Bloomberg
• CFO Magazine
• Dow Jones News
• Financial Times
• Institutional Investor
  
• IPO Monitor
• Morningstar
• Wall Street Journal

Learn about working in finance from our alumni and partners participating in Power Chats. In these brief videos executives speak candidly about their experiences and provide valuable advice to current finance students. Access Power Chat videos in BizLink – Document Library.