Finance
What do Finance majors do?
AT A GLANCE
2012 Median Salary:
$55,000 (Bachelor)
As juniors, finance students
are invited to enter the
Finance Academy, a
highly selective enrichment
program
2012 TOP HIRING EMPLOYERS
Deloitte
KPMG
Ernst & Young
PricewaterhouseCoopers
OTHER HIRING EMPLOYERS
McGladrey
Wells Fargo
Navigant Consulting
William Blair
The field of finance is primarily concerned with the acquisition and management of funds by business firms, governments, and individuals. A business seeks financial advice when considering the purchase of new equipment, the expansion of present facilities or raising additional funds. Determining the value of financial and real assets and derivatives is a key activity in finance. The study of finance is designed to provide the student with both the theoretical background and the analytical tools required to make effective decisions.
Finance Department »
Career Options
BANKING (Investment & Commercial)
Investment - Run valuation analyses, perform complex financial modeling, conduct industry and company research and analysis, develop client presentations, write internal and external marketing memoranda, and support client relationships and business development.
Commercial - Provide the full range of commercial, treasury, and asset management services.
- 22% of 2012 Finance graduates started their careers in Banking
- $68,700 mean salary (Investment Banking)
CONSULTING
Perform database analysis, financial modeling, general business analysis, research, and generate reports for the client or project team. In addition, consultants are actively involved in the application and transfer of specific skills and knowledge to the client.
- 19% of 2012 Finance graduates started their careers in Consulting
- $56,480 mean salary
PRIVATE/CORPORATE FINANCE & ACCOUNTING
Compile and analyze financial information for an organization. Develop integrated revenue/expense analyses, projections, reports, and presentations. Create and analyze monthly, quarterly, and annual reports and ensure financial information has been recorded accurately.
- 17% of 2012 Finance graduates started their careers in Private/Corporate Finance & Accounting
- $53,254 mean salary
Sample Job Descriptions
Financial Analyst at Allstate
A financial analyst position in the Treasury and Planning department, within the Corporate Finance team will assist with rating agency, capital markets, and corporate structure related responsibilities including modeling of capital adequacy, communication with internal and external parties, and analysis supporting corporate finance decisions and corporate structure projects. Specific responsibilities include: modeling of rating agency capital standards, performing quarterly analysis of capital adequacy of Allstate legal entities utilizing rating agency capital models, assisting internal parties (Business Unit, Investments, Tax, Legal, Accounting) with communication to rating agencies, coordinating annual rating agency data submissions and Allstate's responses to ad-hoc surveys and inquiries, interacting directly with rating agencies and investment banks regarding capital adequacy modeling, and assisting with corporate structure evaluations including, but not limited to, subsidiary formations and dissolutions.
Business Risk Services Staff with Ernst & Young
Our Business Risk Services (BRS) practice, a specialty advisory practice within Assurance & Advisory Business Services, provides comprehensive risk services through a suite of strategic, outsourcing, and industry-focused operational solutions that help companies around the world evaluate and enhance their internal audit and risk management functions.
Work with high-growth clients and other market leaders in industries such as retail, consumer products, financial services, insurance and health sciences. Perform audit procedures; create work products such as audit analyses and engagement documentation; evaluate and test processes and related controls; participate in client meetings and assist in preparation of the final report.
Regional Risk Specialist with BP
The Risk Team within the Chicago office provides core oversight and control around credit, market operational risk and also serves as the facilitator for credit risk management and reporting across the entire BP Group. The Regional Risk Specialist holds primary responsibility for global credit data integration, modeling and analysis within both IST Credit and across the BP
Group, creating monthly reports and dashboards, advising on data-related systems issues and maintaining or developing various scenario-based models. As a member of the Risk Team based in Chicago, the Regional Risk Specialist will also provide additional cross-functional and project-based support to the extent possible.