Finance
Finance refers to the firms and companies that provide financial services to a variety of customers. Working in finance involves acquiring and managing money and assets to stimulate financial benefit for an individual or company. It encompasses money management, banking, credit, investments, and insurance. The industry is essential for economic development, providing capital, managing risks, and facilitating transactions. It supports businesses and enables individuals to save, invest, and protect their wealth.
Careers in finance require analytical skills, strategic thinking, an exceptionally strong work ethic, and a solid understanding of financial concepts. Finance opportunities are competitive and intense, but they also offer high pay, advancement, specialization, and the opportunity to work with a variety of organizations and clients.
EXPLORE CAREERS
Finance offers diverse career opportunities across sectors such as banking, investments, insurance, and financial services. See below for a few highlighted positions within the finance industry.
Investment Banking Analyst
Investment Banking Analysts work with clients to raise capital and advise them through major financial transactions such as mergers and acquisitions. This requires an excellent understanding of finance as well as research, financial modeling, analytical, and interpersonal skills. Investment bankers need to be able to analyze and utilize to market data and financial models to effectively work with clients.
Portfolio Manager
A Portfolio Manager is responsible for managing investment portfolios on behalf of clients or institutions. They make investment decisions, build and oversee assets, and monitor the performance of the portfolio. They analyze market trends, conduct research, and strive to achieve the investment objectives and risk tolerance of their clients while maximizing returns.
Financial Advisor
A financial advisor provides personalized guidance and advice to individuals or businesses on various financial matters. They assess clients' financial goals, develop financial plans, and offer recommendations on investments, insurance, retirement planning, tax strategies, and estate planning. They help clients make informed financial decisions based on their unique circumstances and objectives.
Research Analyst
A financial research analyst conducts thorough analysis and evaluation of financial data, market trends, and investment opportunities to provide insights and recommendations for investment strategies, risk assessment, and financial decision-making. A research analyst is a fairly general term; there can be a range of different types of research analysts, and research analysts can work on both the “buy” or “sell” side of finance. Regardless, they need to be able to analyze quantitative data.
FIND OPPORTUNITIES
There are a multitude of finance employers to learn about and potentially apply to. Below is a very short list of finance employers that Colorado College alumni currently or previously worked for. To learn more about each firm and their specific hiring expectations and processes, click on the attached link.
DEVELOP YOUR INTEREST
There are many options to get involved at Colorado College and develop your career competencies. Get involved to deepen your understanding of an industry and help you decide if a job in this field is of interest to you. Planning your experience can feel daunting, so check out some industry specific ideas both on and offf campus below. As you plan, meet with the Advising Hub to discuss your major and academic interests to ensure you’re on track for your academic plans as well.
- Join a club at CC to learn about finance and develop skills that are transferable to finance opportunities, such as the Investment club, Women in Business, and the Consulting Club
- Join an athletic team or club. Finance employers often value the competitive drive, collaboration skills, and strong work ethic developed through athletic experience.
- Develop and utilize interpersonal and problem solving skills by working an on-campus job, such as being a student assistant at an on-campus department, a Residential Advisor, and/or a Teacher's Assistant/tutor/grader.
- Join the Colorado College Student Government Association’s Finance Committee to learn and apply finance skills.
- Complete a major in the Economics and Business department. Majors in the Economics and Business department can help Colorado College students develop business knowledge and skills.
- A particularly helpful course includes Principles of Financial Accounting.
- Study abroad at the London School of Economics to further develop your business and economics knowledge.
- Colorado College’s liberal arts education provides students with excellent interpersonal skills. In addition to those interpersonal skills, though, finance employers expect certain business/finance specific skills, such as Excel and SQL. There are a few ways to gain these skills. One option is to enroll in Colorado College’s Wall Street Prep Half Block Course focused on financial modeling. Also, students can complete an online educational course. Some platforms, like the Corporate Finance Institute, have free resources. Other platforms, such as Wall Street Prep, have both free content and courses that require payment. Navigating these resources can be discussed during a Career Center appointment.
- There are also some programs, such as Girls Who Invest, that provide learning opportunities in addition to internship experience. Girls Who Invest has opportunities for first-year and sophomore women, and applications for the program usually open late summer/early fall.
- The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam is another way to learn and demonstrate business knowledge. The CFA is expensive, though, and employers may cover the cost of at least part of the exam. It also requires extensive preparation. Before committing to the CFA exam, research its applicability and necessity to the intended finance opportunity.
- Additionally, there are programs like the Tuck Business Bridge Program that provides an opportunity for liberal arts students to learn about business through an intensive academic program. However, these programs, Tuck Business Bridge Program included, are expensive, and Colorado College’s financial aid does not apply to this program. Enrollment in these programs should be carefully considered.
- Participate in a Finance Career Building Opportunity, specifically through Paragon One and The Forage. Relevant experience is required for future finance professionals, and career building opportunities are one way to gain that experience.
- Complete an internship. Internships are uniquely important for future finance professionals, as they provide crucial experience and are the best way to earn an offer for a full-time, post-graduate position at a finance firm. Internships and similar experiences should be completed during each summer, and an internship the summer before senior year is particularly important, as they can lead to offers for a full-time post-graduate position. Internships are exceptionally competitive, and applications open a year and a half to a year in advance. Start your search on Handshake and the careers page of the firms listed above.
- Attended recruiting events hosted by Colorado College and employers on Handshake. Employers expect students to attend these events to learn how to apply to these companies and to connect with current employees. As a result, make it a priority to attend these events to learn about industry specific application and interview practices as well as to build your network.
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CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE
- Wall Street Oasis provides great free resources on different finance opportunities and how to prepare for finance interviews.
- Investopedia has financial news and information about different finance careers.
- Keep up with finance current events, such as through resources like the Morning Brew, Bloomberg, and the New York Times (accessible for free as a CC student).
- Participate in a case competition, such as the competitions discussed by the Corporate Finance Institute.
- Prepare for Investment Banking interviews using the Career Center’s Interviewing Guide
- Learn more about a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA).
Questions? Reach out!
