ENTRY LEVEL FINANCE JOBS, TIPS FOR GRADUATES April 5, 2010

There are no doubts, all over the globe, that there exist abundant job opportunities for financial professionals. As  the  economic recession  bites  harder, financial books need to be kept intact, and financial loopholes need to be blocked. A good number of individuals (entrepreneurs, sole proprietors etc. ) need the services of financial experts to help them in their various financial dealings, as well as give them tangible financial advises. Organizations also need professionals to achieve good returns for the business amongst others.

However, for a fresh graduate who just finished from the university to find a  job, and who want to move up in his professional finance career, there is no denying the fact that he will be faced with certain difficulties. It is pertinent for such individual to pick up and choose the right entry level job in the field of finance, so as to gain ascendancy. This is because organizations maintain strict standards for their management positions. Moreover most clients prefer to deal with  professionals who have a relative high level of experience, when it comes to their financial situation. Hence the need to take up an entry level finance job. Aside from the fact that the work place has changed , is now more delicate, and you need to be vastly experienced to attain management positions in various organizations, the fresh graduate should have it at the back of his mind also,  that when he was in school, he was always asking the parents or guardian for anything he needed.  But now, he is in another phase of his life. He has to earn some personal money to offset some stuffs, lest he becomes a liability.
Having said that, and although entry level jobs do not pay much, the graduete should go for it, having considered certain factors. Unlike been employed in a relatively large organization, and enjoying the luxury of making a good salary immediately, entry level jobs in smaller companies will afford him the privilege of close working contact with the executives, and managers, thereby building experience and having the opportunity of rising through the ranks. Another thought he should not forget is that while there exist fewer chances for upward ascendancy in smaller firms because of fewer positions, an excellent fresh graduate can rise to fill local, regional, national, and international positions, in an international organization.These points must be considered.

A professional who wants to help people directly may wish to work as a financial advisor.  Another professional that thinks of finance in terms of larger companies, may desire to make their way as a stockbroker or corporate financial professional, rising through the ranks by networking with prominent clients. All these considerations are important when thinking of the best entry-level finance job for a particular graduate.

Having A Degree in Finance Online April 3, 2010

In many countries of the world, the need for financial experts is on the increase. Businesses  are in want of  engaging the services of people who have Finance degrees. It is not out of place to say that due to economic recession, there have been a consistent growth in the positions of financial analyst and personal financial coaches.

Why Online Finance Degree and it’s Effects ?

It is first and foremost designed for people who reside in distant places, who can not frequent classes, and those who can not go for lectures due to some unavoidable circumstances.

Aside the fact that it covers a large expanse of finance topics, some of the effects include; you are empowered to manage yourself and others in a financial manner, it also embeds in you the skills required to achieve good returns for individuals and companies while maintaining financial and reporting integrity.

A good number of universities run finance degrees online. Find out online, you may also need to visit them personally if what you got from the site is not sufficient. Don’t forget their requirement, it differs from one college to the other.

Upon successful completion of the programme , you can work as a finance manager, auditor, finance analyst, advisor, and so on.   Job opportunities abound in all sectors for finance experts

And in case you like the idea of entrepreneurship. I recommend a degree in Finance. It will equip you on ways of managing  your business, and how to cut your overhead expenses.

Make plans to sign up  for it soonest, it pays.

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Career in Numbers, The Finance Majors March 23, 2010

If you’re good with a pen, go get writing courses. If you’re good with pencils, brushes, or palette, go get arts studies. And when you’re good with numbers, then there are a number of courses you can take in college where you can develop your full potential. College has the sciences but basing on the smugness of your face, it is not what you want. Then this leaves us with another option where mathematically skills are quite necessary: finance majors.

That’s right, a career in the finances is a career that is worth thinking about. Students with special affinity with numbers should think about exploiting their skills and enter a field were numbers will become mostly their life.

We could classify major courses in finance into three big categories: the corporate finance, investments, and banking. When we talk about corporate finance, we’re talking about analyzing a company’s level of profitability. It involves finding out present market values and how the company can remain afloat which means studying debts, company’s equity, present earnings, among other things.

Investments, on the other hand, handle just that: investing money to improve the company’s standing within its industry. Analysis on the capabilities of the company to invest in stocks, bonds, other corporations, on various properties, other businesses, etc. is a process that requires knowledge and skills to interpret present market values and utilize those values to come up with the best decision that would help make more money for the company, stabilize its status in the industry, and ensure a solid future.

Another major category of finance courses would be banking. Knowledge on banking, banking laws, intermediary financials, and other banking elements will be part of your curriculum.

Courses in college that revolves around finance include studies in accounting, business economics, and marketing. Graduating from these courses will open the road towards becoming finance career professionals. The knowledge you will gain in studying finance in college will help you learn how to access and process the financial information.

The good thing about becoming finance professionals is that employment opportunities in this field seems to be increasing and according to statistics will continue to increase in the upcoming years. One has the option to enter the field of corporate and financial management or the area of investment services.

Financial graduates will have options to enter corporations or manufacturing industries, health care services, the banking system, as well as insurance and financial intermediary companies. Even organizations and institutions like the academe require the expertise of financial major graduates.

One can also work as financial consultants giving advice on securities, stock strategies, business valuation, economic forecasts, analysis of market trends, and treasury management among other things. Or one can also be a finance manager where the management and strategies involving investment activities will be his main concert and responsibility. Both government and private entities are looking for guys like these.

There are opportunities in the area of corporate finance as well. Corporate finance will see you working in corporations and specifically looks at how the company can get money, harness it, and make it grow to improve the status of the company and plan for its future. Liquidity of assets, flexibility of funds, and the company’s compliance with present laws and obligations will be part of your responsibility as an officer in corporate finance.

There are also opportunities to specialize on a field, like becoming financial trade analysts or credit analysts or money market analysts. There are numerous career paths that one can take when they graduate as finance majors in college.

Banking and Finance Careers

We all use math daily. While many of us just use the basics to keep track of how much money we gave and the change we should get, those who want to purse banking and finance careers do more than that to keep their clients happy.

People who work in banking and finance are paid well for the work that they do. Four of the fields that many professionals get into include accountancy and tax, Insurance, investment banking and retail banking. Let’s talk about each of these.

For people to work in accountancy and tax, you need to graduate and get your CPA or certified public accountancy license. To learn more about what you will be doing, many have to complete an on the job training with a legitimate accountancy firm.

The training period is about three years and afterwards, you can continue on staying with them, working for another firm or going into private practice.

Insurers just like accountants need to be licensed. This varies from state to state so you have to study and then pass the exam. Once you do so, your career may get you to sell property or casually insurance and life or health insurance.

You should also take further classes in the future because although you have your license already, rules change and you have to be aware of them.

Perhaps the biggest challenge selling insurance is deciding whether to work for an insurance company or doing this on your own. There are advantages and disadvantages doing both. When you are employed, you get a basic salary while those who decide to work for themselves can only make money earning commissions when a sale is made.  How well you do is entirely up to you.

Investment banking is different from regular banking because you are there to raise capital for a company by issuing shares or bonds. Later on, you may even work with a team that advises companies regarding mergers and acquisitions.

Also under investment banking is capital markets. Here, the professional is tasked with trading bonds stocks and other financial products to increase the portfolio of the client.

But before you get into that, most entry levels personnel start out doing research first about certain companies and who are their competitors. Their information is then passed on to the account managers who will then advice the client.

Lastly is retail banking which many of us are aware of because these are the people we meet in the bank from the teller to the bank manager when we need to deposit or withdraw cash and apply for a loan.

Unlike accountancy or insurance, you don’t need to get a license to do this kind of work. You just have to be customer oriented with strong interpersonal and communication skills since you will be dealing with people.

Tax and accountancy, insurance, investment banking and retail banking are the four basic types of jobs for anyone that wants to pursue a banking and finance career after graduation from college. Career progression in any of them is excellent and this can only happen with additional training and at times a license.

This can be achieved by part time study so all you have to do now is weigh your options and then go for it.

A College Degree Is the Starting Point of Your Finance Career March 22, 2010

If you want a career in financing, you have to get a college degree. To be more specific, you have to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in math, business, statistics or economics since you will be dealing with numbers and using these skills to make decisions and recommendations.

One study shows that there are currently 230,000 financial analysts and financial advisors in the US. You might think that there is no more vacancy in the market but there are because new businesses are established while old ones are still growing.

With a college degree, one thing you can try is financial consulting. Here, you are tasked on providing advice to business valuation, economic forecasts and analysis, treasury management, strategies for creating shareholder value and securities pricing.

Later on, you may be promoted to finance manager and instead of providing advice to clients, you will have the opportunity to invest their money in order to make a profit. Those who do well here earn somewhere around $73,000 to $145,000 annually and with the amount of money that is given, you better deliver.

Another field is corporate financing in which your job is to manage the client’s assets and if the opportunity presents itself, make acquisitions.

Those who want to serve their country may issue securities, enforce the law, manage assets and offer financial advice to people.

Similar to the finance manager are the money managers because they hold stocks and bonds for clients and at the same time buy stuff off Wall Street. For this job, you need to be proficient in various technologies as well as the latest qualitative methodologies. You will also need to be CFA certified.

Working for an insurance company is also a viable option. Here, you help prepare clients deal with catastrophes before they happen. It is a trillion dollar industry that is still growing so you can still get in the game.

Among the various opportunities, many find their way to commercial banking. You could be a bank manager, teller, the one in charge of approving loans or looking for new accounts. This accounts for the majority of those employed in the financial services industry.

In any of the positions mentioned, you must be good with numbers and have excellent interpersonal skills. Why? Because you are dealing with people and if the client doesn’t like your personality, chances are they will bring their business elsewhere.

After working for a few years, you can work for another company or be daring and start up your own company.

Aside from banking, the real estate industry is also looking out for finance graduates. This is because their training is useful when it comes to property management, real estate appraisal, brokerage and leasing, construction and real estate development. On one end, they sell property while on the other find ways to make it possible for the customer to invest depending on their budget.

A college degree is the starting point of your finance career because no company out there will hire someone who just graduated from secondary school or does not have the proper training when you are dealing with other people’s money.

So, if you are still considering what to take up in college or lost in your current course, shift over because this is very rewarding.

A Career in Consumer Financing March 21, 2010

What is consumer financing? Basically, this enables the customer to buy certain items either through their credit card or a loan. Some examples of these include purchasing a house, a car, college tuition or home improvement and given that these are necessities, you may have a career in consumer financing.

Your career will start by being a sales agent and offering credit cards to customers. Unlike debit cards that are provided by banks, the consumer can only spend a certain limit monthly and then pay these back when the bill comes.

Some of the people that are interested have never had a credit card before while others are getting another one.

If you know the features and benefits of the card you are selling very well, you may even persuade others to transfer their existing balance thus increasing the number of clients that your company is serving. This is better known as debt consolidation.

Other products that companies are offering these days include financing campaigns, interest free loans, installment loans and revolving credit.

Those who do well selling credit cards, your boss might let you handle something else like approve loans to card holders. This is financial institutions allow you to do more than just buy items from the store. You can use your credit card to pay for home improvement, tuition or buy a car.

The terms for these purchases vary and it is the responsibility of the person to pay the amount otherwise these will be repossessed when it is impossible to pay these back with the amount of interest that has been incurred.

But not everyone will be out in the field selling credit cards. There are those who work in the head office who analyze the behavior of the customer. If there was a sudden large purchase, that person is tasked to call the card holder and ask if a transaction was made or not given that identify theft is on the rise.

Some will be tasked to approve or disapprove the application of the customer for a credit card or a loan. The basis will be that person’s credit history. If it is good, then there won’t be any problems but if there is red flag, chances are this will not disapproved as the individual is a high risk individual.

For those who have been in the consumer financing industry long and want a new change of atmosphere, they can join organizations that help people get a good rating once again. They are tasked in counseling individuals who have spent beyond their means by helping them pay back the debt. This is better known as consumer credit counseling so that person will always have financial stability.

In fact, the information provided by such companies also used as basis whether or not to approve a customer’s loan. If everything is in good order, then there shouldn’t be any problems.

Consumer financing is expected to grow given that people don’t always have the cash on hand to buy whatever they want. Some of the companies that you can apply to if you want to start a career in consumer financing include American General Finance Inc, CitiFinancial, General Electric Finance, HSBC and Wells Fargo Financial.

You just have to apply for the position and hopefully be hired.

About Considering a Career in Finance March 20, 2010

A career in finance is an honorable undertaking. There are a ton of accounting and finance careers to choose from, but each path must be examined before it is pursued. Studying college courses and online course both cost time and dollars. Knowing the careers awaiting a finance major right after earning his degree is never a bad thing.

Here are well-known examples of careers in finance that are quality positions with good pay. Take note for each position is different from the other, from the skills required to the tasks faced, and not all are entry-level positions.

Accounts Assistant. A multi-faceted entry-level position, being an accounts assistant can offer ideal opportunities in gaining experience and letting you decide on what particular field to specialize in. You can learn a lot, including about car career finance insurance rate.

Payroll. Needless to say, the most important department of any company as it is responsible for salaries and wages. Difficulty rises in proportion to the complexity and size of a company’s structure. Substantial knowledge in payments and taxes is vital for anyone looking to work in this field.

Banking. One of the most popular choices, you can work either along the frontlines or in the background. This field offers a whole lot of options for any prospective financial employee. Big banking companies offer more reliable job security than those in other fields.

Credit Controller. Working with accounts receivable, credit controllers basically ensure the regular periodic payments of invoices by the company. Aside from this, the role may vary in different companies.

Underwriter. Insurance is a complicated field and underwriters are one of the most crucial job positions available. They are responsible for your premium and other things like car career finance insurance rates, so being one can really offer some interesting opportunities.

Auditor. Both internal and external auditors have the same basic function, but the difference is from who the employer is. External auditors work for city firms while internal auditors work within companies. Therefore, only a few companies are big enough to justify employment of internal auditors.

Management Accountant. The reverse of an auditor, management accountants fill the role of forecasting future finances, which provides information necessary for planning and strategizing.

Private Equity. Highly complex but usually found working on funding business start-ups, employees working in private equity look through portfolio of investments, siting risks and rewards. Industry experts and investors rely on private equity to offer them information and advise on managing portfolios and investments.

Business Analyst. Analyzing every tangible and intangible factor involved in a business, the business analyst highlights the problems and provides the options for substantial solutions. This position is crucial for companies that plan to survive the ups and downs of business.

Financial Director. As a top position in Finance, being a financial director means that great responsibility is bestowed upon. All forms of cash flow are managed by the financial director, so confidence and skill are crucial for continued operation of the company.

Career corporate finance is a lucrative career option that opens up a multitude of opportunities for go-getters and competitive workers. Skill and desire are the best tools for a career in finance.

Accounting Finance Careers March 19, 2010

For those who enjoy the challenge of working with numbers on a daily basis, an accounting finance career is right for you. With the tools that were taught in school, you will be able to help a company or a business run efficiently.

But what is the first step that you have to take? Most companies will require that you graduate with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy, business, economics, math or statistics and also obtain your CPA or Certified Public Accountant’s license.

Given that the job market is very competitive, you will also have to get a master’s degree and be familiar with the latest accounting software around given that most companies use the computer these dates to upgrade records or add new information.

For the most part, accountants do not go out of the office much when everything they have to do is in front of their desk. But if the accounting firm has a client, they will have to leave and perform an audit in the customer’s place of office.

The working hours for most accountants on average are 40 hours a week. However, this gets longer during the tax season and towards the end of the financial year.

Your accounting finance career can go into one of the four major fields. If you want to be a public accountant, you work for corporations, the government, a non profit organization or one person. You can advise the client on tax matters, preparing their income tax returns and offering your consultation services when it comes to running their business.

If the accounting department you are working of is quite big, you are able to specialize for instance simply working on the employee’s compensation and benefits.

Management accountant is another and here, you will be responsible for asset management, budgeting, cost management and performance evaluation of the company. Your analysis of the financial information given to you is needed to help top level executives make strategic business solutions that will affect the company as a whole.

But a vast majority of accountants work in the public sector. They maybe employed on a federal, state or local level and their job is to make sure that all the money collected from the people through the form of taxes is accounted for.

The last option is known as internal auditing. Those who work here check and balance the company or the client they are working for in all facets of the organization so money is never mismanaged or wasted. They also recommend new procedures so incidents of fraud do not occur.

Graduates fresh out of college will not be handling an account or given an assignment on their own. They will be assisting accountants who are more senior to them and then after a year or two, be promoted to that position before becoming a manager or even a partner later on.

During this time, you will be able to specialize in one of the four fields mentioned or shift towards something else. Many professionals have gone from public accounting to internal audit or management accounting. But it is very rare that the opposite occurs.

Getting a college degree and your license can open a lot of doors to get you started on your accounting finance career. So, if you want to pursue this, it is yours for the taking.

A Career in Equipment Finance: What Do We Have Here? March 18, 2010

Dealing with machinery and equipment can be quite challenging. Okay, who am I kidding; equipment financing is as tricky as they come. Without proper and sufficient knowledge about the subject it would be wise not to engage in this line of business, although, the same can be said when you go into business.

Do not go blindly forward or else you’ll end up broke. With regards to equipment financing, it would be best to have someone who underwent financial management training to help out with the general finances. Having a career in equipment finance is something that is worthy to consider.

When we talk about equipment financing, we’re not limiting ourselves to leasing or renting huge cargo trucks or heavy construction equipment. There is a lot of equipment leasing being done out there and they are not limited to big units. Although, most of the equipment being rented or leased by companies in the industry include planes, landing facilities, even trains and railing equipment, smaller units like computers are also represented.

Even office printing equipments are being distributed for lease. If you can’t believe that, then be aware that different kinds and pieces of office furniture are also being rented and leased. All of these are considered part of equipment financing products and fall under equipment financing.

Equipment finance is not all about the equipment and details of the lease and contracts though; it is also about the end users. For the end users, they can choose among commercial financing, public sector financing, and small business financing as a means for equipment financing. These are usually the kind of financing schemes that people end up applying for.

Aspiring to be a financial career professional in the field of equipment financing and leasing, you may want to get familiar with these schemes as well as concepts of lenders, investors, manufacturers and especially the end-users of the equipment. It is certain that you will face all of these elements during your career as a financial manager of equipment leasing and financing company.

Moreover, with regards to the process of leasing and financing, knowledge on existing legal obligations and accepted practices is also a key factor in this business. You need to update your knowledge database and be sure to know the latest ruling, restrictions, etc. It will make your life a lot easier later on.

Furthermore, you should be able to identify the different kinds of leases and should have an easy enough time understanding the concepts and explaining them when needed. That is part of your responsibility when you build your career in equipment finance.

Among the various transactions that you would encounter in an equipment financing business includes conditional sales, transactions across borders and between governments, different operating leases, the so called single investor leases and many others. Keeping track of these kinds of transaction are part of the job description of a finance career professional in the field of equipment financing.

Providing innovative solutions to leasing problems and concerns is also part of the services that an equipment financing company offers. There are different kinds of work around to common problems. But at times, despite all the solutions that implemented a total recall or restructuring of the company would be the best solution.

In this regard, as part of the financial management team, you will definitely have concrete responsibilities and essentially help in improving the status of the company.

Having a career in equipment finance is not a walk in the park. You need to work hard on it to achieve your goals and be someone in this field. Every kind of career should be like that: work hard to become someone recognized in your field.