Pursuing a Master’s in Finance (MiF) can significantly enhance your career prospects. According to the latest GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey, more MiF graduates are hired than graduates of any other business master’s program.
A Masters in Finance also opens up many job opportunities. While many graduates work in finance, they can also find careers in consulting, technology, and other industries, often in high-paying roles.
Investment banker
Investment banking involves buying and selling different financial assets. If you want to work at a top Wall Street bank, a Master in Finance (MiF) is a great starting point.
Many investment banks hire a large number of MiF graduates. For example, at Tsinghua University, 34% of MiF students go into investment banking. This makes sense, given that the average salary for an investment banker in New York is $260k.
Banks like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan often hire MiF graduates. In MIT Sloan’s latest MiF class, over 15% of graduates started in investment banking at companies like Bank of America.
Ferdinand Petra from HEC Paris says that a Master in Finance prepares students well for investment banking. The program provides them with in-depth financial knowledge and a solid understanding of work culture.
Consultant
Consulting is a popular career option for all business school graduates, including finance graduates. At Imperial College Business School, 13% of the latest MiF class joined consulting firms.
These graduates often work at top firms like McKinsey, Bain, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Starting salaries in consulting are around $110k, which can rise to $135k with signing and performance bonuses.
Keith Bevans, global recruitment lead at Bain, says MiF students are attractive to consulting firms because they bring a financial perspective. They:
Can build financial models
Can read financial statements
Understand how finance affects business strategy.
Central banker
Many MiF graduates choose careers in public finance, such as working at global financial institutions or national government banks.
At London Business School, jobs at central banks or in public finance are among the top careers for MiF graduates, with 12% of students taking these roles in 2022. Employers include the Bank of America and the Bank of China.
While these roles may pay less than private finance jobs, they offer valuable global experience and exposure to international finance and diplomacy.
Christian Dummett, director of career development at IMD, says that a diverse MiF class prepares students well for these opportunities.
Asset manager
Investment banking is on the “selling side”, while asset management is on the “buying side”. Asset managers look for financial assets to invest money on behalf of their clients.
Asset management is a popular career for MiF graduates. At MIT Sloan, 9% of the latest MiF class took jobs in this sector, including at top firms like BlackRock and Citadel.
Working in asset management requires curiosity and creative thinking, skills you develop during a Master in Finance.
Salesperson & Trader
Sales and trading is a high-risk, high-reward career and a popular choice for ambitious MiF graduates. Top firms like JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs regularly hire MiF students for these roles.
At MIT Sloan, over 13% of MiF graduates go into sales and trading. In the US, a sales and trading analyst earns about $136,600 per year on average.
Sales and trading is known to be very challenging, high-pressure, and time-intensive. Graduates should be aware of the demands before choosing this career.
ESSEC Business School offers a specialized MiF track in financial markets, sales, and trading, helping students gain expert knowledge and practical work experience in the field.
conclusion
In conclusion, a Master in Finance (MiF) gives you many career options, including investment banking, asset management, consulting, central banking, and sales & trading. MiF graduates gain strong financial knowledge, practical skills, and international experience, making them attractive to top employers worldwide. Whether you want a high-paying job in the private sector or an important role in public finance, an MiF provides the knowledge, experience, and confidence to succeed in the finance world.
