Investment banking is one of the esteemed career paths in the finance industry. It’s lucrative in terms of both professional growth and a high salary package. Investment bankers deal with numbers, data and make important decisions to improve business operations. You should be equipped with good analytical skills and knowledge about financial markets and economic trends to become a successful investment banker.
2. Chartered Accountant (CA)A chartered accountant is a professional who has a keen understanding of how organizations navigate through finance. To become a CA, a student has to qualify different stages of CA course, namely, foundation course, intermediate course, articleship and final course. Qualifying as a CA can take up to 5 years, but the course opens up a multitude of career opportunities and avenues for a candidate. From starting your own practice to becoming a partner in audit, tax or consultancy firms, becoming a CA will land you on the crest of the wave. The average salary of chartered accountants ranges from 7 to 30 lakhs per annum. It varies depending on your experience, skills and capabilities.
3. Financial AdvisorIf you have found yourself guiding your peers on money-related matters, then you might have a knack for being a financial advisor. A financial advisor should have interpersonal skills along with extensive knowledge of the financial world. They analyze the client’s financial objectives, assess the market risk and accordingly help their clients utilize their money in a way that maximises the monetary benefits. Legal certifications such as CFA (chartered financial analyst), CFP(certified financial planner) and PFS (personal finance specialist ) will be needed to practice as a financial advisor.
4. AccountantAccounting is a highly regarded career and is a crucial part of every business. Accountants are needed at every stage of business operations. They deal with financial statements, records, reports and inspecting a company’s financial health and giving advice accordingly. In order to become an expert in the field of accounting, you must have skills like mathematical and deductive reasoning, critical thinking, analytical and problem solving, and excellent time management.
As an accountant, you can deal in various specializations like auditing, finance management, tax accounting, and bookkeeping. The average salary ranges between 3 to 6 lakhs based on the specialization that you opt for.
5. Financial AnalystA financial analyst is responsible for evaluating a company’s financial performance to create projections and forecasts with respect to the market conditions. Financial analysts assist the senior management in making various tactical and strategic decisions by performing financial forecasting, reporting, and operational metrics tracking. Besides, they are also expected to analyze financial data, create financial models and periodic performance reports of an organization. With time, more and more companies are realizing the importance of hiring a financial analyst which has led to a spurt in the demand for this profile.
6. StockbrokerA stockbroker is a SEBI-registered representative who operates in securities. Their primary job entails buying and selling stocks on behalf of their clients. Most stockbrokers work for a brokerage firm and deal with the accounts of multiple clients simultaneously. On being registered with a recognized stock exchange, a stockbroker can start advancing their services for which they levy a charge that is either in the form of a commission or a flat fee. Owing to economic growth and liberalization, this career is one of the most sought-after careers in the field of finance after a degree.
7. Financial LawyerFinancial lawyers assist a company with matters such as mergers and acquisitions, compliance with national and foreign laws, restructuring businesses and raising funds. To become a financial lawyer in India, you must be a finance and an LLB graduate from recognized universities in India. Post-degree, you need to clear the bar council examination, enrol in the bar association of a state and earn a professional license before you can practice. Even though becoming a financial lawyer may be a tedious process, being a part of this field can be a life-changing experience for you.
8. FintechFintech represents the integration of technology into the delivery of financial services. It is a disruption of the mainstream banking and finance sector and is considered a robust way to automate financial services. This emerging industry is making some big changes in the world of finance and solving problems that once seemed impossible. This gives rise to not one but many career opportunities in the fintech industry like cloud accounting, risk management and analysis, compliance experts and financial product managers.
ConclusionThe finance world is full of opportunities and high-end salaries, but a bachelor’s degree will not suffice the level of training required to become an expert. Finance careers require constant learning and education to stay acquainted with the new ways of the industry. Pursuing further education such as Masters and MBA in finance should be the foremost priority of a student after getting a bachelor’s degree. Once you have the required training and qualifications, you can go further and apply for one of the aforementioned top careers.