Thinking about switching up your career? Finance jobs are in huge continuous demand, with job search sites predicting a phenomenal 10-20% increase in job growth over the coming years across all types of industry roles. But if you’re wondering what the very top jobs in this area of expertise are and which ones pay the most, you can uncover the answers right here.
What companies need finance professionals in 2021?
Finance professionals are in demand in just about any sizeable company. Any business with a finance department will require a team of workers with an array of skills and qualifications. Alternatively, qualified workers could work in government departments, universities, hospitals and specific finance businesses, such as investment groups, banks, financial institutions or even reliable share trading platforms that are surging in popularity among newbie investors.
One of the reasons that job growth is predicted is due to the rapid emergence of new fintech start-ups. These businesses require fresh talent to help them break into an exciting niche.
What finance jobs pay the most?
Anyone who works in this field is going to benefit from above-average remuneration. Even the lower-paid jobs like standard accountants, investment bankers and financial advisers earn between $60,000 – $85,000 (USD) per year on average. But if you’re wondering what roles blow the rest out of the water, these are:
Þ Hedge Fund Managers ($100,000 approx.)
Þ Chief Financial Officers ($130,000 approx.)
Þ Chief Compliance Officers ($135,000 approx.)
These top jobs can be attained through working your way up the ladder in a financial firm rather than obtaining a specific qualification that works as a shortcut. Working these jobs in government roles or for national banks can easily exceed the above figures. Moreover, some top investment bankers can make over a million each year – but this by no means everyone.
How to get a career in finance
To land a lucrative career in finance, you will need to hold a degree in a relevant area. For example, if you want to become an accountant or tax planner, you’ll need to have an accountancy degree. If you wanted to become a financial planner for a business, you’d probably need a degree with a specialization in coding and big data. Most generic finance degrees will allow students to diverge into their area of interest and align courses with their preferred role. Some people may work their way into finance roles from other fields, such as business and MBAs.
In any case, you’ll need to have a strong understanding of mathematics. And in line with fintech advancements, you’ll need to be savvy when it comes to handling data programmes and coding software. If you’re smart, but these don’t interest you, then a finance career might not be the best move. You may prefer a career in medicine instead.
