What can you do with a degree in finance? 

Aspiring financial professionals have plenty of options for types of finance degrees and certificates. In fact, some financial professionals may not get a finance degree at all, opting instead for a bachelor’s degree in business or accounting. That said, accounting degrees concentrate on the technical aspects of auditing and financial reporting while a finance-oriented degree is different. For the purposes of this article, a finance degree refers to a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Technology, which is what University of Phoenix offers.

Finance degree programs cover a range of business and money-related topics. Their goal is to provide a solid knowledge base on which to grow a career in business, investment or a related field.

Students learn about credit, debt, financial analysis, investment decisions and concepts used in banking and capital management. Programs also cover economics, the principles of risk management and the basics of budgeting.

Entry-level finance jobs typically require a bachelor’s degree. Depending on the industry, qualifications for finance professionals may vary greatly. With a large range of entry-level finance jobs come equally diverse opportunities for people with specialized degrees, experience and even niche interests and goals within business and finance.

Degrees in business and financial fields can provide fundamental knowledge and skills that support your daily job responsibilities in finance.

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the general requirements and day-to-day responsibilities of any finance role you’re interested in pursuing, both before beginning a business finance degree program and after completing a degree in finance, as requirements may change over time. This way, you can specialize in a path you’re interested in or even consider seeking a broader education that may qualify you for more than one potential career route.

For many finance careers, earning a professional certification or taking continuing education classes is one way to add skills toward a finance specialization. 

For example, you can become a Certified Financial Planner (CFP)* if you want to work as a financial advisor or planner for individuals or companies. Another option is to become a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)*, a popular requirement for any financial advisor and analyst position involving investment decisions. 

*University of Phoenix does not prepare students for these specific certifications.

While most people may think only of careers like accounting or financial advisement within the industry, there are various job opportunities for those interested in working within the finance field or related areas. What’s more, many of these positions exist in different settings, from insurance companies to financial service providers.

Finance jobs range from entry-level to more specialized roles and may require a variety of skills or professional certifications to qualify. Here are some careers for finance majors or those with a degree in finance.

Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of University of Phoenix. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. University of Phoenix does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based.

BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2022-2032 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.

Financial analysts can fill several positions within companies, banks, investment firms and other corporations that need detail-oriented eyes on their finances. These employees assess an organization’s financial performance, such as investment and stock performance, to determine its value and make recommendations.  

According to BLS, a comparable job title to “financial analyst” is “financial manager.” Financial analysts typically need a bachelor’s degree for entry-level roles. As of May 2023, financial analysts reportedly earned an annual wage between $60,830 and $175,840, with a median of $99,010, according to BLS. The BLS projected these roles to grow by 8% between 2022 and 2032, which is roughly 27,400 openings a year.

Maintaining the financial health of an organization is the key responsibility of a financial manager. These professionals often create financial reports, forecasts and budget plans to maximize profits. Because of the high level of responsibility in this role, BLS reports that financial managers typically need a bachelor’s degree and at least five years of experience in a similar profession, such as accounting or financial analysis.

As of May 2023, financial managers earned between $82,870 and $239,200, with a median wage of $156,100, according to BLS. Jobs are projected to grow by 16% between 2022 and 2032, which is about 69,600 jobs annually.

Financial advisors, like tax examiners, can work with individuals or organizations and are responsible for making recommendations or providing advice on financial investments, such as retirement planning, tax laws, insurance and more. Sometimes referred to as financial planners, these professionals can support a wide range of topics or specialize in areas like insurance and risk management, investment and estate planning.

According to BLS, financial advisors typically need a bachelor’s degree. Certain professional certifications or a master’s degree can enhance a financial advisor’s knowledge and prepare them for new opportunities As of May 2023, financial advisors earned between $48,730 and $239,200, with a median wage of $99,580, according to BLS. Experts projected employment of financial advisors to grow by 13% from 2022 to 2032, or an estimated 25,600 open roles each year.

Financial planners provide advice for individuals. Unlike personal financial advisors, they often work with businesses, corporations and organizations. In addition to guidance on capital management, they can offer insights about other investments, taxes, budgeting, insurance coverage and savings. 

Business students can earn a certificate in financial planning to specialize in this area. BLS does not distinguish between personal financial advisors and planners. The estimated salary range is $48,730 to $239,200, with a median wage of $99,580, as of May 2023.

The skills necessary for a career in finance vary by industry and specialty. One helpful skill to showcase is financial literacy. However, specific technical and soft skills you learn during a degree or certificate program will help in any finance job.

The BLS lists similar in-demand skill requirements for finance degree jobs like financial analyst, financial advisor and budget analyst:

• Analytical skills are essential to every finance career because of the need to evaluate profit potential, risks, performance and other factors. 
• Math abilities are vital for translating financial data and accounting reports into useful insights. This skill set often requires knowledge of analytics or accounting software.
• Decision-making skills are necessary because the choices you make in any finance-related career will affect your client’s or employer’s bottom line, and poor decisions could lead to financial losses. 
• An understanding of economic principles is necessary to comprehend the financial environment in which your company or client operates. 
• Knowledge of financial markets and investment instruments is necessary for many finance careers. Even in non-investment banking careers, being familiar with how company shares, debt instruments and the stock market can affect your employer’s profit potential is vital. 
• Accounting and budgeting specialists handle bookkeeping and reporting in most corporations. However, all finance professionals need a grasp of these fundamentals to provide a framework for many of their tasks.

Today’s finance industry uses analytics, market analysis and forecasting software. Employers will expect their workers to be familiar with these tools.

Developing skills to pursue a finance career can open the door to rewarding possibilities in the private sector. A degree in finance or accounting, or a certificate, including those from University of Phoenix, offers rigorous yet flexible online learning options for aspiring finance professionals. University of Phoenix offers several pathways toward a career in finance, and these are rooted in its online business degrees. Specific programs and certificates include the following:

• Bachelor of Science in Finance and Technology
• Bachelor of Science in Accounting
• Graduate Accounting Certificate

If you want to pursue a career in finance, request information about the available programs or apply for the next session today.

A: While the market is competitive, a finance degree can help prepare applicants with useful skills, provided you have a strong academic background and relevant experience.

The finance sector’s a broad one that encompasses many areas, from investment banking and financial planning to corporate finance and asset management. Organizations value graduates with finance degrees because they often have strong analytical skills and understand financial markets.

Enhancing your degree with internships, industry certifications and networking can help improve your job prospects.

A: It depends. A degree in finance can hold value to individuals for several reasons. It can prepare graduates for a number of career opportunities in several industries (like banking, investment and corporate finance), and these roles often offer benefits such as health insurance. However, it’s also the responsibility of the degree holder to make efforts to implement helpful habits such as networking or reaching out to their university career services center.

In addition, a finance degree can help inform your personal financial planning. That said, always weigh the costs of a degree against your individual career goals and potential outcomes.

A: Finance degrees focus on investment strategies to manage and grow money, financial analysis and market dynamics. Accounting degrees center on recording, analyzing and reporting financial transactions for accuracy and regulatory compliance.