Finance Career Resources
Finance professionals analyze the financial health of businesses, organizations, and individuals and identify areas for improvements. As a finance major, you will gain experience with valuation, money management and investment analysis, problem solving skills and financial statement analysis. You’ll learn how to estimate the fundamental value of traded and non-traded assets, identify resources of risk and implement risk-management techniques and analyze market conditions for many careers.
Why Major in Finance?
- Analyze and improve the financial health of businesses, organizations and individuals
- Gain knowledge preparing you for a wide variety of career opportunities
- Apply creative problem-solving skills to overcome challenges with innovative solutions
- Analyze real-time stock data on one of our 12 Bloomberg terminals
- Gain hands-on investment experience and make connections with alumni and industry professionals
Who Pursues a Degree in Finance?
Individuals who possess these traits may find their ft with finance:
- Analytical, critical thinkers
- Efective communicators
- Excellent problem solvers and team players
- Highly motivated and achievement-driven leaders
- Skilled with computers and mathematics
- Organized and detail-oriented strategists
Finance Minor Options
- General fnance: allows you to pursue a broad range of interests by selecting courses related to real estate, international fnance, insurance, and investments
- Banking and risk management: prepares you for positions of responsibility in the fnancial services industry and in corporate risk management
- Investments: immerses you in the science of managing financial assets by taking courses that position you to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst designation
Strategic Minor Options
- Accounting
- Business Analytics
- Economics
- Entrepreneurship
- Management
- Mathematics
Professional Certifications and Further Education
To be more competitive in the job market, some students pursue advanced degrees or certifications:
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
- Certifed Financial Planner (CFP)
- Series 7 License
- Master of Science in Finance
- Master of Science in Business Analytics
- Ph.D.
Technical Skills to Learn
- Advanced Excel (Vlookup)
- Black Diamond
- Blockchain
- Bloomberg terminals
- Financial modeling
- Morningstar
- PowerBI
- Tableau
- Zephyr
Career Planning Action Steps
- Earn good grades. Many organizations have high GPA requirements.
- Take courses in mathematics, statistics and accounting.
- Build leadership skills in student organizations.
- Read the Wall Street Journal and other financial news magazines to keep up with the industry.
- Meet with a career coach to discuss career options and craft a strong résumé for internships.
- Complete informational interviews to learn about the various career paths within finance.
- Develop your network of contacts.
- Pursue internships (use Handshake) to gain experience.
Get Involved
Beta Alpha Psi | Big Red Investment Club | Husker Venture Fund | Wall Street Scholars
What Can You Do With a Major in Finance?
Common Career Paths for Finance Majors
- Asset management: manage the money of clients to achieve specific financial objectives
- Commercial banking: advise customers on loan options and cash management services, analyze credit conditions, and manage accounts
- Corporate finance: handle financial activities of a private business
- Investment banking: trade securities (stocks and bonds) and provide advice on mergers and acquisitions
- Personal financial planning: help clients make decisions about long-term financial issues
- Insurance: identify, assess, and quantify business risks
Sample Internship Titles
- Analyst
- Brokerage intern
- Capital markets intern
- Client service associate
- Corporate fnance intern
- Credit analyst intern
- Equity research intern
- Finance analyst intern
- Finance intern
- Financial representative
- Internal audit intern
- Investment banking summer analyst
- Investor services intern
- Loan analyst intern
- Mortgage intern
- Sales intern
- Student examiner
- Risk management intern
- Teller
- Wealth management intern
Sample Titles for First-Destination Careers
- Account manager
- Analyst
- Annuity specialist
- Assistant national bank examiner
- Associate
- Audit associate
- Banker
- Business analyst
- Credit analyst
- Data analyst
- Financial advisor
- Financial analyst
- Investment banking analyst
- Loan processor
- Mortgage servicing representative
- Portfolio analyst
- Product consultant
- Sales associate
- Underwriting assistant
- Universal banker
Sample Titles for Advanced Career Opportunities
- Chief executive officer (CEO)
- Chief fnancial officer (CFO)
- Consultant
- Corporate fnance associate
- Director of corporate strategy and finance
- Equities coordinator
- Executive vice president
- Finance manager
- Growth equity investor
- Investment banking associate
- Managing director
- Risk management consultant
- Senior investment analyst
- Senior portfolio manager
- Strategic growth advisor
- Vice president, fnance
Did You Know?
Nebraska’s investments option of the finance major is part of the CFA Institute University Affiliated Program.
Organizations Hiring Finance Majors
Ameritas
Berkshire Hathaway
Bridgepoint Investment Banking
Charles Schwab
ConAgra
D.A. Davidson
Deloitte
Epic
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Federal Reserve of Kansas City
Fiserv
Goldman Sachs
JP Morgan Chase
Kidwell
Kiewit
Lutz
Morgan Stanley
Mutual of Omaha
Nelnet
Northwestern Mutual
Pinnacle Bank
Renaissance Financial
Sandhills Global
State Farm
Union Bank & Trust
West Gate Bank
Learn More
Learn More About the Major
Need assistance exploring your major or career options? Schedule an appointment with a career coach:
Business Career Center
HLH 141| M-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Drop-ins M-F 1-4 p.m.
businesscareers@unl.edu | 402-472-7272