Types of Positions:

Trust officers deliver trust services, financial products, and advice to bank customers with knowledge of business, investing, estate planning, taxes, probate law and some knowledge in counseling.

A job that involves making mortgage loans to homebuyers and businesses. This involves heavy contact with real estate professionals, credit checks, and dealing with new buyers.

Controllers direct the preparation of financial reports that summarize and forecast the organization’s financial position, such as income statements, balance sheets, and analyses of future earnings or expenses and are also in charge of preparing special reports required by regulatory authorities. Often, controllers oversee the accounting, audit, and budget departments.

Treasurers and finance officers direct the organization’s financial goals, objectives, and budgets, oversee the investment of funds, manage associated risks, supervise cash management activities, execute capital-raising strategies to support a firm’s expansion, and deal with mergers and acquisitions.

Credit managers oversee the firm’s issuance of credit, establish credit-rating criteria, determine credit ceilings, and monitor the collections of past-due accounts. Managers specializing in international finance develop financial and accounting systems for the banking transactions of multinational organizations.

Cash managers monitor and control the flow of cash receipts and disbursements to meet the business and investment needs of the firm. Cash flow projections are needed to determine whether loans must be obtained to meet cash requirements or whether surplus cash should be invested in interest-bearing instruments.

Risk and insurance managers oversee programs to minimize risks and losses that might arise from financial transactions and business operations undertaken by the institution. They also manage the organization’s insurance budget.

Financial analysts help companies or their clients make investment decisions. Financial analysts analyze company financial statements in order to determine a company’s value and project future earnings. They also need to study an entire industry, assessing current trends in business practices, products, and industry competition, and be updated with new regulations or policies that may affect the industry and the economy.

Financial consultants use their knowledge of investments, tax laws, and insurance to recommend financial options to individuals in accordance with their short-term and long-term goals such as retirement and estate planning, funding for college, and general investment options. While most planners offer advice on a wide range of topics, some specialize in areas such as retirement and estate planning or risk management.  

Portfolio managers usually work for investment firm or pension fund to select and manage investments which meet the goals of a group of investors. This work requires patience, discipline and a strong understanding of financial markets and companies.

Investment advisors provide investment advice, performance evaluation and quantitative analysis to the money management sector. The work requires strong quantitative skills and deep appreciation of finance.

Mutual fund analysts do lots of analytical work before an investment is made. This work is analytical and requires a working knowledge of computers, perhaps in the programming dimension.

Brokers and dealers trade securities either on their own accounts or on behalf of their clients. There is a rapid growth in the career in recent years.

Insurance underwriters underwrite the insurance policies by identifying and calculating the risk of loss from policyholders, establishing appropriate premium rates, and writing policies that cover these risks. They may be specialized in health, life, property and casualty insurance.