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Although everyone applying to business school has their own unique motivations, advancing one’s career is a common aim. This may mean getting a higher pay, starting a job abroad, or even getting a promotion faster than usual.
A Master’s of Corporate Finance can set you apart from the competition and open doors to lucrative careers in the financial industry; a field that is increasingly drawing master’s degree candidates. Not only could you end up with strong returns on your investment, but you can also have opportunities to start a new and exciting career in sustainable finance and financial technology (fintech).
Plenty of Career Progression Opportunities
There are plenty of career opportunities for students with a corporate finance master. While many will follow their calling in investment banking and know they can look forward to competitive starting salaries as analysts or associates, others will secure jobs in consulting, a field that requires a solid background in finance to advise firms that are looking to expand and reorganise.
Jobs in the corporate world are similarly enticing, and competent financial managers are a priority for large firms to supervise investment decisions, organisational uses of shareholder wealth. Graduates educated in financial modelling and able to substantiate risk relative to returns are also sought by both venture capital and private equity, and hedge funds.
Strong Market Demand
Banking and financial industry jobs will always be in demand, as decisions surrounding money impact all aspects of an organisation. The successful management of resources – both effectively and efficiently – is the major indicator of an organisation’s overall performance and in terms of departmental results. As big data and new technologies become more prevalent, businesses will place a premium on employees with the analytical chops to sift through financial data and use it to make informed choices.
Employment in the financial sector is expected to expand over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS). Financial analysts’ positions are anticipated to grow by 9%, financial managers by 17%, and personal financial advisers by 15%, which is significantly above the average growth rate of 5% for other professions.
Grow Your Network of Finance Professionals
Building connections is one of the key benefits of earning a master’s degree in finance. This gives you the opportunity to network with seasoned professors, professionals in your field, and other students, allowing you to build connections that will be invaluable to your professional development.
The network you build will open doors to opportunities through mentors, sharing of information, and partnerships that go beyond the walls of your school. These connections will serve your professional and personal development for years to come and will be invaluable in helping you navigate the ever-changing finance landscape.
Stand Out with a Specialisation
A master’s degree provides an excellent opportunity to concentrate your studies and gain specialisation. This ensures you obtain not only a set of unique skills, but also a complementary, robust base of knowledge. With a master’s in corporate finance, you can specialise in asset management, financial engineering, mergers and acquisitions, fintech, quantitative finance, or international finance, to name a few. Alternatively, you can complete the financial research track that also best prepares students for research-based careers in finance and even for PhD programs. Each of these paths will provide you with unique opportunities that allow you to gain the knowledge and experience that make you marketable.
Conclusion
The finance industry is thrilling and constantly changing. If you enjoy learning new things or you like numbers and complicated ideas, a master’s in corporate finance might be a very productive next step. Pursuing a master’s in corporate finance will give you the tools, knowledge, contacts and opportunities to help you realise your full professional capacity, regardless of whether you are starting out or mid-career in your profession.
