Finance

Finance is the management, creation and study of money, banking, credit, investments, assets and liabilities. While three distinct categories exist, namely, corporate, personal and public finance, there are a variety of different roles, areas and industries in which finance professionals work.

Careers in Finance (video)

Next Steps - Careers in Finance (video)

Finance Jobs

People - Financial Advisor and Financial Sales Representative. 50-50 - Business Analyst, Management Development Trainee, Internal/External Audit, Brand Analyst, Strategy Associate. Data - Financial Analyst, Credit Risk Analyst, Treasury Analyst, Pricing Analyst.

It is helpful to think of your career path decision in two buckets: functional role and industry. As you assess these choices, think about what really interests you!

Finance roles occupy space along a spectrum, from more “people-focused” to “data-focused.” Do you like the idea of client interaction? Or, do you prefer analytics?

Keep in mind that the general titles below are illustrative and can certainly vary by industry and company.

Zoom image: Another framework for thinking about your functional path has been provided by Michael G. Katz, Director MBA Career Advising at University of California Haas School of Business. Are you interested in work that is transactional in nature or focused on managing a business?

Chart of Client Focus versus Transaction Frequency.

Another framework for thinking about your functional path has been provided by Michael G. Katz, Director MBA Career Advising at University of California Haas School of Business. Are you interested in work that is transactional in nature or focused on managing a business?

Industries Where Finance Professionals Work

Lastly, finance professionals work in a myriad of industries and businesses. It’s important to think about what interests you in terms of products and services. Do you want to do finance at a bank? Or, are you interested in becoming a finance professional within a non-financial industry? Here are some areas where finance professionals work:

Financial Industries

Asset management and insurance
Brokering and research
Commercial banks
Hedge funds
Investment banks
Investment Institutions
Venture capital firms
Wealth management firms

Other Industries

Consumer products and retail
Government
Health care
Hospitality
Manufacturing
Non profits
Real estate
Technology

Finance roles can be found in every industry.

Information on Finance Careers

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)

Finance Job Search Resources

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:

Additional Job Search Resources

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

Industry Network

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

Industry News

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

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.

Academics

To learn more about the Finance areas and courses included within the concentration or program, please refer to the academic curriculum.