Best Entry-Level Finance Jobs for 2023

The financial industry can be quite competitive that’s way find finance Jobs not easy. After all, it’s a renowned industry for giving out six or seven figures in salary and bonuses to the top performers in the business. So even those starting at the bottom might anticipate a respectable salary compared to other fields.

But the advantage is that finance is a huge sector, so once you’re there, there is plenty of room for you to expand, move about, and discover your niche. Of course, you might not immediately land your dream job in finance, but that’s not the end of the world. But first, you have to open the door for yourself.

In the financial industry, women and people from many other minority groups are underrepresented. According to BLS-Bureau of Labor Statistics data, financial manager jobs accounted for 40.2% of the workforce in 2021; 13.2% were Black or African American, 20.8% were Asian, and 10.6% were Latino or Hispanic. In addition, there were 33.8% women, 7.3% Black or African Americans, 7.5% Asians, and 7.7% Latino or Hispanic personal finance counselors.

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Salary for Entry-Level Finance Job/Positions

The estimated total pay for an entry level finance job, with an average income of $49,664 per year, is $52,850 per year, according to the job-search website Glassdoor. Computer science majors received the highest starting pay, with an annual salary of $75,900, according to the(NACE) National Association of Colleges and Employers 2022 Salary Survey (up 5% from 2021).

The second-highest salaries are predicted to go to engineering graduates, whose average salary is expected to be around $74,000 (up 4% from 2021). Business, insurance, finance, accounting, and real estate majors can anticipate starting salaries of $60,695 yearly, an increase of more than 3% from 2021.

To give you an idea of how high the general average income is, the US BLS reports that in Q2 2022, the median weekly income for an individual was $1,037 ($53,924 yearly). And according to (HUD), the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the median household income in the US was $79,910 for the fiscal year 2021.

According to the BLS, business and finance degree jobs are expected to increase by 8% between 2020 and 2030, roughly as fast as the national average for all occupations.

Education Requirements-Jobs in Finance

So, where do you begin? Having a degree from Harvard Business School is not necessary for the best-paid finance jobs. But still, it is frequently advantageous to have several years of financial or business work experience before earning an MBA.

However, all respected financial institutions demand an undergraduate degree to fill positions. Although employers claim that they recruit majors of various kinds, your academic record should show that you can understand your work. That calls for expertise in business, computer science, applied mathematics, accounting, and economics.

Interestingly, the NACE analysis discovered that those who focused on bachelor of science in engineering sciences earned greater pay when salaries in the banking sector were broken down. Also, those who work in sales and communication were ranked lower simultaneously. So try to minor in a finance-related subject if your basic major is in a different subject.

Internships Are a Starting Point

Internships are very important for entry-level finance jobs. Many businesses host campus workshops, symposiums, or networking events to recruit students for summer internships. Examples include the Morgan Stanley Career Discovery Day, Tapal Summer Internship (SIP), and the Goldman Sachs Undergraduate Camp.

Although they might be as difficult to land as a real job, internships are extremely beneficial. In addition to giving contacts and experience, they frequently open the door to a position in the company’s training program following graduation, or at the very least, the first round of consideration.

Continuing Financial Education

If you have already received your diploma, continuing your education is another way to raise your financial IQ and show that you are dedicated to finance major jobs. Depending on the precise area of finance you are interested in, qualifications in finance, such as the chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified public accountant (CPA), or certified financial planner (CFP) designations, can all improve your work prospects.

Professionals who intend to work with investments and finances in the US must pass a series of licensure exams. In the past, every student needed sponsorship to take the test. However, as of 2018, the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) test was approved by the (FINRA) Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and is now open to everyone.

The 75-question, 105-minute SIE, available to anyone over 18, is perfect for “demonstrating basic industry knowledge to potential employers,” according to the FINRA website.

$81,410

The anticipated median salary for a financial analyst with a bachelor’s in finance in 2021 (the most recent number, as of April 18, 2022).

Limited Diversity In The Financial Sector

Unfortunately, the financial sector lacks diversity, especially in top managerial positions. Businesses are attempting to address and correct this inequality. For instance, the CFP Board reports that the proportion of Black and Latino CFP professionals increased by 12% in 2019—the biggest growth ever. However, the total number of Black and Latino CFP professionals is still 3,259.

There are NGOs and advocacy groups, including the (ABWA) Alliance of Black Women Accountants and (NABA) the National Association of Black Accountants, accessible to support persons of color working or who desire to work in finance. The Greenwood Project, Blackstone: Future Women Leaders Program, and 100 Women in Finance are other resources that assist women and people of color in the workforce.

In business schools, minority students—particularly women—are underrepresented, according to a Bloomberg report. The information shows “half of the Hispanic population in the United States. In addition, 8% of MBA seats went to black students, fewer than the 14% black population. Asian students, the group with the highest representation, outnumbered the proportion of Asian Americans in 62 out of 84 schools.”

To increase these numbers, more BIPOC students should look into grants and scholarships to support women and women of color majoring in finance. Some of them are

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Government Scholarship
Government Finance Scholarship for minorities
The Tang Scholarship
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Scholarship Award for Minority Accounting Students

Looking for Finance Jobs: Best Paying Jobs in Finance

The objective is to find the most rewarding entry-level employment in terms of compensation and future career opportunities and think about which would best fit your abilities and interests. You may begin your search when you have narrowed down your interests.

Aside from your network of family and friends, online job sites are a sensible location to seek entry-level financial roles. LinkedIn, Indeed, and Monster are good sites. Still, it might be more effective to scour sites specializing in finance-industry employment or resources, such as 10X EBITDA (for investment banking), efinancial Careers, or Broker Hunter.

Financial Analyst-Find Financial Analyst Jobs with great pay and benefits

Finance analysts work for insurance companies, investment companies, consulting organizations, and other corporate institutions. They also typically recommend a course of action for investments, decreasing costs and boosting financial performance. With a bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, or accounting, you should have sufficient information technology (IT) abilities for an analyst function.

The BLS predicted that there would be roughly 492,110 financial analyst jobs in the US economy in 2020 and projected an approximate growth rate of 6.0% through 2030 for them. According to the BLS, financial analysts earned an average salary of $83,661 in 2020.

Financial careers are found and flourish in large financial cities like New York, London, Chicago, and Tokyo. Seeking college internships at large financial businesses’ headquarters will help you go ahead when seeking entry-level work.

Investment Banking Analyst

Investment banking is among the most prestigious sections of the financial sector; banking experts assist individuals, organizations, venture capital firms, and even governments with their requirements linked to money. banks underwrite new loans and equity for all types of enterprises. They also aid in selling securities and arrange acquisitions and mergers, broker trades, and reorganizations for institutions and private investors.

An analyst usually occupies an entry-level function at an investment bank, venture capital firm, or hedge fund. Their most common duties include preparing deal-related paperwork, undertaking industry research and financial analysis of firm performance, and collecting materials for due diligence. In addition, recommendations based on the assessment of financial data often play a role in evaluating whether specific activities or arrangements are possible.

According to Payscale, a compensation-analysis service, the approx investment banking analyst’s starting salary was $70,169 in December 2021. Candidates have a bachelor’s degree in finance, management, or economics, while this is one profession for which a master’s degree in these fields helps too.

Junior Tax Associate/Accountant

Some finance services remain in constant demand, especially those linked with taxation—the requirement to comply with changing Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations and state and local legislation. These professionals administer procedures and formulate tax policies, including calculating and estimating payments, research, analyzing internal fiscal systems, producing returns and other tax-related documentation, and working with auditors.

These roles may appear arcane, but tax-related employment can lead to corporate positions such as budget director, controller (or comptroller), accounting manager, and even chief financial or treasure officer (CFO) (CFO). For this profession, candidates require a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a CPA license if they want to advance. However, organizations regularly give the possibility to obtain one while on the job.

Keeping that in mind, a junior tax associate’s function is suitable for fresh graduates seeking work experience in finance. According to the BLS, the yearly median wage was $55,640 in 2020, yet this field can witness a 4% reduction in jobs by 2030. Finance occupations frequently come with high salaries and prestige, but they are also one of the most stressful, and early career burnout is common.

Personal Financial Advisor

Personal financial counselors examine the monetary needs of individuals and assist them in making decisions about investing, budgeting, and saving. In addition, advisors assist clients’ strategies for short- or long-term financial goals, from tax preparation to estate planning to retirement.

Besides providing financial advice, many advisors sell insurance or tax services. In addition, they might sell financial products such as mutual funds, even directly handle investments, or function. As liaison between an asset manager and the individual.

The BLS estimates the average annual salary in 2021 for personal financial advisors was $94,171 but anticipates a slower-than-average rise of 5% through 2030. The BLS cites demographic factors such as the baby boomer generation’s retirement, the expanding numbers of self-employed people, and the diminishing private-sector employer pension plans as generating a need for advisory services.

The occupation doesn’t require any specialized bachelor’s degree. However, financial counselors might profit from the study of economics, math, and finance. They must also be strong communicators because they must interpret and explain complex issues to laypeople. Thus, the critical thinking, analytical, and writing abilities gained in liberal arts degrees can be important too.

Financial advisors who directly sell or buy stocks, bonds, or insurance policies must pass several licensure examinations. This is done at work because you have to be sponsored or employed by an investment firm to take them. But keep in mind that anyone can take the SIE basic exam. In addition, many advisers also pursue industry certifications, such as CFP, to boost their prestige and networking prospects.

FAQs

What’s your Finance Job?

If you work in finance, you may invest money, manage it, protect it, or do a variety of other things while interacting with individual clients, business clients, shareholders, investors, and coworkers.