7 of the highest-paying jobs in finance

Some people find that working in a high-paying role is their route to financial security. The finance industry has many such opportunities for those willing to put the time and effort into gaining relevant qualifications and experience. With finance roles available in various areas, job seekers can find lucrative finance careers in their chosen industry. Continue reading to learn about finance careers and explore seven of the highest-paying jobs in the finance sector.

What are finance careers?

Finance careers center around financial institutions. Many roles involve working with client accounts to help customers manage and grow their assets. This is a popular and relatively stable sector that lacks the volatility of industries such as energy, retail, and commodities. The various types of finance careers include:

• Corporate finance: This sector manages funding sources for corporations, capital structuring, major investment decisions, and company accounting. Roles in the corporate finance sub-sector include financial analyst, financial controller, and credit manager.
• Financial advising and planning: This sector focuses on advising companies or individuals about financial decisions and planning for those decisions. Roles in this area often include financial planners and wealth managers.
• Banking: Those working in this role concentrate on providing financial services to clients daily. They may have positions such as bank teller, loan officer, and branch manager.
• Accounting: Accounting roles can span all industries, from the finance sector to energy, as every business tracks its financial activities. You can find positions in this field, such as corporate and private accountants.
• Investment: Building wealth is the focus of this sub-field, as those in investment finance careers work with the stock market to connect individuals or companies with potential investors. The roles in this field include data scientists and stockbrokers.
• Insurance: Helping protect companies, individuals, and other clients from financial loss is the driving force behind this field. Those working in the insurance sector can operate as actuaries, insurance agents, or claims adjustors.

7 highest-paying jobs in finance

You can find many lucrative and varied roles in the finance industry, a highly sought-after sector. If you’re looking for roles to pursue to step up the salary ladder, some jobs often pay at the upper end of the salary spectrum. These seven high-paying finance careers are worth considering.

Financial advisor

Personal financial advisors review a client’s financial needs and help them make decisions regarding investments and other financial matters. Their duties can include consulting with clients to understand their specific needs, monitoring their finances and accounts, and advising clients on how to achieve their financial goals. Here are the requirements for pursuing a career as a financial advisor and the estimated salary for this role:

• Requirements: You usually require a bachelor’s degree in a related field, although employers often prefer candidates who hold a degree in finance. Additional certifications, such as a Certified Financial Planner or Chartered Financial Analyst credential, can help you advance your career in this field and discover further opportunities.
• Estimated salary: $109,000 per year

Senior accountant

Senior accountants often oversee a team of accountants, approve month-end reports, and reconcile account balances. Their duties may include verifying accounts payable and receivable, summarizing the financial status of a company, offering accounting system recommendations, and mentoring other accountants. Ensuring compliance with generally accepted accounting principles is another main duty for these professionals. They also develop processes to ensure that a company’s financial activities are well-documented and efficient. Here are the requirements for pursuing a career as a senior accountant and the estimated salary:

• Requirements: The minimum education requirements for this position include a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, but an MBA or other graduate qualification in finance can be beneficial. Relevant certifications for this role include the Certified Management Accountant credential.
• Estimated salary: $86,500 per year

Investment banker

Investment bankers help raise money for clients. They do this by selling bonds to investors or equity in a company. They may work more than 60 hours weekly on a client’s behalf. Some investment bankers also help companies navigate mergers and acquisitions and act as financial advisors to clients. Here are the requirements for pursuing a career as an investment banker and the estimated salary for this role:

• Requirements: You need a minimum bachelor’s degree in accounting, statistics, economics, or a related discipline to work in this career. A master’s degree or an internship can be beneficial in advancing your career in investment banking.
• Estimated salary: $109,000 per year

“The finance sector offers lucrative positions to those willing to pursue higher education and put in the time to climb the finance ladder.”

Portfolio manager

These managers oversee the performance of investment portfolios to ensure that they align with their client’s goals. They also help identify risks and create comprehensive investment strategies for their clients. Here are the requirements for pursuing a career as a portfolio manager and the estimated salary:

• Requirements: A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for this position. Many firms prefer candidates with a master’s degree or better. Experience in the industry is essential, and many portfolio managers begin their careers as financial analysts.
• Estimated salary: $123,000 per year

Chief financial officer

Chief financial officers oversee a company’s financial activities. They create and implement financial plans, analyze investment strategies, and monitor operations to ensure each financial activity aligns with a company’s goals. Here are the requirements for pursuing a career as a chief financial officer and the estimated salary:

• Requirements: While a bachelor’s degree might be satisfactory for smaller firms, companies offering senior positions often prefer applicants with a master’s degree or higher and additional relevant certifications. 
• Estimated salary: $246,500 per year

Private equity associate

Private equity associates source and analyze potential investment opportunities for private equity firms that align with the firm’s goals and vision. These finance professionals research various markets, collecting data to present to a company’s senior decision-makers. Many of these associates begin their careers as investment banking analysts or in other financial analyst-type roles to gain the required skills and knowledge for this lucrative position. Here are the requirements for pursuing this career and the estimated salary:

• Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in finance or mathematics can be beneficial for entry-level roles in this career, leading ultimately to private equity associate positions.
• Estimated salary: $109,000 per year

Actuary

Actuaries have a fundamental role in the insurance sector. Combining mathematics and statistics with financial theory, they help companies determine the potential cost of business risks. They develop, maintain, and provide projection models to assist decision-makers in deciding whether they should accept a risk. Here are the requirements for pursuing a career as an actuary and the estimated salary:

• Requirements: A bachelor’s degree can benefit applicants to entry-level roles in this profession, while associate and fellowship-level certifications can help them advance in this lucrative career.
• Estimated salary: $127,500 per year

The finance sector offers lucrative positions to those willing to pursue higher education and put in the time to climb the finance ladder. If you’re ready to take your career a step further, upload your resume to CareerBuilder to start finding much sought-after high-paying roles in this sector.

More tips on pursuing a job in the finance sector

If you’re preparing for a finance interview, learning and practicing winning answers to financial questions can set you up for success.

A business administration degree can be useful for many different careers in the finance industry, making it a valuable program to pursue.