What kind of jobs are in Corporate Finance?
Corporate Finance roles are providing increasing opportunities for movement up the corporate ladder. Historically known as more of a non-operational role, the financing needs and financial decisions of companies have grown in importance such that successful professionals may be tapped for top corporate roles. Soft skills, ability to work in and lead teams, and communications skills are increasingly important to corporate finance professionals. Roles in corporate finance move across a spectrum from heavy accounting roles to a focus on investment issues, with a variety of opportunities throughout.
Internal Audit/Accounting/Tax
Although these roles can hire master’s graduates, candidates typically need a strong accounting background.
Treasury/Cash Management
Managing the day-to-day financing needs of an organization. This includes everything from establishing credit lines with banks, managing short-term credit needs, and issues dealing with credit for clients. An accounting background is also helpful for these roles.
Risk Management
These roles are newer to the world of finance and may not be as developed and clearly defined as others. This role can include analyzing a variety of things, from business risks to financial risks within an organization. Strong analytical skills are necessary, along with the ability to communicate issues in a clear, effective way so that senior management will understand the critical issues.
Financial Analyst/Corporate Development
Financial Analysts and Corporate Development are the traditional roles when thinking of corporate finance. The broad array of functions includes analyzing capital budgeting projects, analyzing competition and the industry, developing, and implementing financial plans and budgets, long term financial planning, optimizing expenses, and analyzing all things relating to the bottom line. A strong analytical expertise is necessary but understanding the company from a marketing perspective is a plus.
Again, communication and teamwork aptitudes are increasingly important for these roles.
Investor Relations
This role is the liaison between Wall Street and management of public companies. You work closely with senior management to create the proper messaging to be delivered to Wall Street, which means access to and travel with senior management is frequent. You also are in constant contact with analysts at investment firms and the Street, so relationship building with shareholders is a critical element of this role. A background in journalism or PR can be a plus, but strong communication skills are a necessity.
Benefits Manager
This role is an internal investment consultant, working with retirement plans for employees. Understanding investment options and structure as well as communicating with employees is important in this role.
Real Estate
Particularly with retail companies, real estate is a critical component of the business. These organizations have internal operations for acquisition and disposal of real estate properties.
Corporate Development
This role is an internal investment banking role, working with management to determine long-term capital structure, as well as acquisition and disposition strategies and implementations. Although this role is more aligned with the investment side, it can be housed in a Treasury of Financial Analysis role, so pay attention to the job descriptions.
Insight from the Departments
Finance
Finance professionals deal with constant change – daily movements in financial markets, new financial instruments, new regulations, and new ways of interacting with customers.
Finance is a career for professionals who are fascinated by global financial markets and global financial trends. They are analytical, enjoy working with numbers and are confident using spread sheets and other software applications. They are individuals with an elevated level of curiosity who like to ask questions such as “What If?” or “What is the impact?” They enjoy absorbing copious amounts of information, distilling it down into choices and evaluating the best options.
The field of finance offers a wide range of roles – financial planning, treasury, risk management, new product development, asset management, consumer banking and many others.
These positions are found in a wide range of firms, including large global corporations, high growth companies, start-ups, asset managers, consulting firms and others.
Business Analytics
Are you a problem solver, influencer, and a storyteller? Are you someone who wants to inform strategic and operational decisions, influence sales strategies and improve organizational efficiencies though the use of data?
If you answered yes, then you should consider a career in business analytics. Being successful takes a clear understanding of the business environment you are operating in and knowledge of the company’s competencies, vision, and strategy.
Identifying valuable insights is only part of the solution. You must then be able to frame solutions and communicate to leadership and team members in a way that demonstrates your insights are valid and actionable.
The ideal candidate for these career paths is an individual who has a breadth of business acumen and interpersonal skills combined with a depth of analytical analysis. But do not forget, you cannot be afraid of change. Your job is change.