What Can You Do With a Finance Degree?

Managing money — earning, spending, saving and investing it — is an essential life skill. It can also be a fulfilling career path for someone with a bachelor's in finance. If you’re an analytical person with good communication skills and an eye for detail, studying or working in the field of finance might be the right fit.

“Finance today is where numbers, technology, and strategy come together to help people and organizations make smarter decisions,” said Mona Stephens, an associate dean overseeing accounting, finance and business analytics at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

Stephens earned a master's degree in accountancy and also earned a master's in data analytics from SNHU. She's brought 25 years of public sector financial leadership experience into her role and has been an instructor and administrator at SNHU for over 15 years.

Since every organization has financial aspects to it, there are opportunities to pursue this kind of work in the public or private sector. Most finance jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree, with some roles requiring specific licenses or credentials, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Having a master's degree in finance can position you well in the finance field. According to a recent Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) report, 60% of global employers expect to hire candidates with a master's in finance in 2026 (GMAC PDF Source).*

Whether you’re going back to school or already have your degree in hand, you might be wondering about what your next step is.

So, What Does Someone Do With a Finance Degree?

A finance degree can help open doors to an accounting or finance career. Some jobs you could pursue include financial analyst, personal financial advisor, financial manager and postsecondary teacher.

"Finding your niche in finance starts with thinking about what you enjoy, where your strengths are, and how you want to use those skills to help people or organizations make better decisions," said Stephens.

No matter the path you choose, the endgame is the same: To help your organization or clients manage and improve their financial situation. To do so, you’ll need skills in financial analysis, management, economic modeling and forecasting, all of which you can learn in a finance degree program.

What Are Some Types of Entry-Level Finance Jobs?

You've just earned your associate degree in finance and want to pursue a career in the field, but maybe you're unsure where to start. There are plenty of entry-level opportunities for you to get the ball rolling in this industry and build experience.*

A few potential roles include bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks. According to the BLS, employers may prefer candidates who have completed some college courses in related subjects, such as finance.

As a bookkeeper, accounting or auditing clerk, you would be responsible for creating financial records for a business, BLS reported. You'll also record financial transactions, update statements and check financial records for accuracy.

The role of financial clerk could be right for you if you're interested in helping businesses with administrative work, such as keeping records, helping customers and performing transactions that involve money, according to BLS. Typically, financial clerks need at least a high school diploma to enter the occupation, although some employers, like brokerage clerks, may prefer a candidate who has completed some college, BLS reported.

Another potential path is that of an entrepreneur. Whether you currently own a business or have your sights set on establishing one, earning a finance degree can be beneficial. The competencies taught in a finance program can help improve your business budgeting, financial planning and strategic decision-making skills.

"(A) finance degree has long been recognized as one of the top degrees when owning a small business," said Dr. Zuzana Buzzell '01MBA '04MS '13PhD, associate dean of business programs at SNHU. "Understanding the financial aspects of a small business operations and smart budgeting is a key to long-term success of small business owners."

Buzzell, who earned her master's in finance, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and doctorate from SNHU, brings her extensive education and experience to her role. With nearly two decades at SNHU and a background working as a fund accountant and senior business analyst, she offers a wealth of knowledge and expertise to learners.

What Are 4 Types of Finance Jobs?

Here are four different careers that you could consider with a finance degree:

Financial Analysts

Financial analysts analyze and evaluate financial data for reporting, modeling, forecasting and investing purposes, according to BLS. As an analyst, you'll use soft skills, including communication, to build relationships with clients and explain your findings clearly, BLS reported.

"A good financial analyst brings value to an organization by using data to help make better decisions, manage risk, improve performance and identify new opportunities for growth," Stephens said.

In 2025, there were about 377,200 financial analysts, according to BLS.* And, BLS reported, the largest employers in this field were:

• Businesses dealing with securities, commodity contracts and financial investments
• Companies involved in credit intermediation
• Firms offering professional, scientific and technical services
• Insurance carriers
• Organizations focused on the management of companies and enterprises

If you're interested in becoming a financial analyst, a bachelor's degree is typically required for entry-level positions, as reported by BLS. Some employers also recommend a master's.

Personal Financial Advisors

Whether you're working on behalf of organizations or individuals, personal financial advisors offer guidance to clients on investments, insurance, mortgages, estate planning, taxes and retirement, according to BLS.

According to Stephens, one way to stand out in the job market is to earn a finance certification. For example, earning the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® certification indicates that you've met strict education, examination and experience requirements.**

"The CFP^® (certification) is valuable because it is widely recognized as a standard of excellence in financial planning and shows employers and clients that a professional has met rigorous education, examination, experience and ethical requirements," said Stephens. "It helps students enter the profession with a strong foundation, greater credibility, and a clear next step in their career journey."

At SNHU, you can earn a bachelor's in finance with a concentration in financial planning that will help you prepare to take the CFP^® certification exam.

According to the CFP^® certification website, board-registered programs of study address financial topics, such as:

• General principles of financial planning
• Investment planning
• Retirement savings and income planning
• Tax planning

In addition to the educational foundation, good communication and relationship-building skills are imperative.

"Personal financial planners need to be thoughtful listeners so they can understand their clients’ hopes and needs, explain financial choices in layman’s terms and help them build a more secure future," Stephens said.

Financial Managers

Financial managers are responsible for an organization's economic well-being, according to BLS. They create financial reports, direct investment activities and develop plans for the long-term financial goals of an organization, BLS reported.

In 2025, BLS reported there were about 879,700 financial managers.* Many financial managers, according to BLS, worked in these fields:

• Finance and insurance
• Government
• Manufacturing
• Professional, scientific and technical services

In addition to a bachelor's degree, you'll likely need at least five years of experience in another business or financial occupation to become a financial manager, according to BLS.

But in managerial roles, they must combine that previous experience with leadership skills.

"Finance managers need strong leadership skills because their role goes beyond understanding the numbers," said Stephens. "They need to support their teams, explain financial information to people outside of finance, build strong relationships across the organization, and help everyone work toward shared goals."

Along with professional experience, most upper-management positions in finance require an advanced degree and additional certifications, according to BLS.

"A master’s degree in finance can help professionals qualify for higher-level roles by building deeper expertise in financial analysis, risk management, technology and strategic decision-making," said Stephens. "It also shows employers that they are prepared to take on greater responsibility and contribute at a leadership level."

Postsecondary Teachers

Postsecondary teachers instruct students beyond the high school level. According to BLS, they may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.

As a finance postsecondary teacher, BLS reported you may:

• Assess students' progress through grading and examination
• Develop an instructional plan
• Stay informed about news and innovations in the finance field
• Teach finance-related courses

There were over 1.4 million postsecondary teachers in 2025, according to BLS, with over 103,600 working as business teachers, which is what finance instructors are.*

Keep in mind that in order to teach finance at the postsecondary level, you’ll generally need a terminal degree in your field, according to BLS. A terminal degree is typically the highest level of education you can achieve in a specific field of study.

How Do You Get Started in the Finance Field?

First, identify your goals to determine the right education and career path. Ask yourself these questions to help focus on what's important to you:

• Do you want to work directly in finance or in a field that is closely related?
• What level of education or credentialing are you interested in pursuing?
• Would you like to start your own business and manage its finances?
• Would you prefer helping individuals realize their long-term financial goals or assisting organizations to increase value for their shareholders?

"As you begin your job hunt, the easiest way to start is through your school’s career resources," Stephens said. "Take advantage of those while you’re still in school."

For example, SNHU has a career services team that offers resources like career fairs, webinars and other networking events with employers and industry experts.

Consider what you might learn from financial professional associations and organizations, such as:

• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^®
• CFA Institute Societies
• Financial Planning Association (FPA)
• National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA)
• National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)
• National Financial Educators Council (NFEC)

Learning more about the resources and associations available can help you build and grow your network as you look to start or advance your career in finance.

**Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP^®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^®, and CFP^® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Nicholas Patterson ’22 ’25MFA is a writer based in West Michigan with several years of experience as a content creator in higher education. He’s an alumnus of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), where he earned both his bachelor’s in English and creative writing and his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. When his head’s not in novels, you can find him outside dreaming up his own stories. Connect with him on LinkedIn.