What can I become with a master's degree in finance and investment?

Career avenues with a finance and investment degree

Gone are the days when financial operations were at the core of financial institutions only. Today, finance is a critical function for all businesses, irrespective of whether that business happens to be small, medium or large-scale. Organisations rely on efficient financial operations, not only to ensure that the organisation's financial health is maintained and enhanced, but also to contribute to important decision-making processes. This has led to the creation of new and unique job roles within the finance sector which require qualified professionals whose expertise can influence a company’s financial well-being.

This blog will focus on a range of finance and investment jobs that you can opt for after completing a professional qualification in a relevant field. Furthermore, we’ll also help you identify the roles that best match your skill-set and what you can achieve with a degree in finance and investment. 

What is a finance and investment degree?

A degree in finance and investment focuses on helping students acquire advanced skills that can contribute to their professional success. In this degree, students acquire expertise in different aspects of business, accounting and economics. Furthermore, students will learn about various financial concepts, the dynamics of the global financial environment, mergers, regulation and derivatives, risk management, asset pricing, econometric testing and other key financial fundamentals.

What can you achieve with a finance and investment degree?

The scope of finance and investment in terms of employment opportunities is vast, as is the current expansion of the finance industry. If you’re interested in pursuing a degree in this field, here’s a list of jobs available with a finance and investment degree that can put you on the global map of successful finance professionals. 

• Financial planner: If you assume the role of a financial planner, you’ll be working as an advisor in investments or financial planning firms. This involves being responsible for ensuring that financial decisions taken by your organisation are profitable in the future. The typical duties of a financial planner include:
  • Conducting financial and business analysis and research;
  • Assessing revenue, capital expenditure and expense trends;
  • Designing templates for financial reviews and meetings;
  • Developing strategies for debt liquidation, including payoff timelines and priorities;
  • Developing and suggesting financial planning strategies;
  • Monitoring market trends;
  • Reviewing the organisation’s financial accounts;
  • Recommending actions pertaining to cash management, investment planning and insurance coverage;
  • Keeping a close track of the organisation’s current income, expenses, tax status, insurance coverage, risk tolerance, financial objectives and other factors that can affect financial planning.

The average annual salary for a financial planner is £57,270. 

• Investor relations associate: Investor relations associates are generally employed by financial or banking institutions to help them manage long-standing relationships with investors. They are responsible for a diverse set of tasks, including handling telephonic as well as face-to-face correspondence with clients. The responsibilities of an investor relations associate include:
  • Developing streamlined communication channels between the organisation and its investors;
  • Preparing annual reports and providing information to investors;
  • Managing investor relationships;
  • Collecting crucial information and collaborating it to present it to the investors;
  • Preparing organisational newsletters, investor presentations and organising the annual investment meeting;
  • Participating in client meetings.

The average salary of an investor relations associate is £45,592 per annum. 

• Budget analyst: If you are working in the capacity of a budget analyst, you’ll be responsible for the appropriate allocation of an organisation’s financial resources. Organisations depend on budget analysts to ensure that their existing financial resources are used optimally and to the advantage of the organisation’s financial health. The typical duties of a budget analyst include:
  • Collaborating with project managers, the leadership team and other internal teams to set the budget for the organisation;
  • Developing, analysing and executing budget strategies;
  • Predicting the future financial needs of the organisation;
  • Reviewing the budget proposals submitted by managers of different departments;
  • Ensuring that the proposed budget plans are compliant with government laws, regulations and standards;
  • Monitoring the organisation’s expenditure;
  • Ensuring that the expenditure is within the set budget range.  

The average salary for a budget analyst is £40,527 per year. 

• Investment banker: An investment banker works to help clients earn money in the capital markets, either by issuing debt or by selling equities in the organisation. They act as financial advisors for their clients, which can be an individual or an entity. Their day-to-day tasks include:
  • Designing a range of financial models to assess the value of debt and equity to facilitate mergers, capital raising and acquisition transactions;
  • Advising organisations about private equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions, product offerings and valuations;
  • Preparing and reviewing financial texts for clients such as investment memoranda, pitchbooks and management presentations;
  • Developing relationships with potential clients and maintaining good business relationships with existing clients;
  • Creating finance portfolios for clients;
  • Conducting analysis, research and documentation of live transactions.

The average annual salary of an investment banker is £77,071. 

• Credit analyst: Credit analysts are generally employed by banking institutions who are in the business of lending money to individuals or organisations. The job responsibilities of a credit analyst are:
  • Collecting financial information about clients;
  • Reviewing financial briefings;
  • Analysing complex financial information and interpreting it into comprehensive data;
  • Developing statistical models and using them to conduct risk analysis;
  • Ensuring that the organisation’s credit exposures are within the recommended risk-bearing limits;
  • Determining the credibility of an individual or organisation in terms of credit-worthiness;
  • Examining customer credit applications based on factors such as purpose, payment history and credit viability.

A credit analyst can make an average annual salary of £43,160. 

Career avenues within the finance and investment industry are in equal parts challenging and rewarding. If you have an affinity for financial functions, taking up a postgraduate degree in finance and investment could be the right way ahead for you. So, research at length about the benefits of finance and investment career opportunities and choose the right programme for your choice of career.