Top 5 Business Schools for Investment Banking Careers
If you’re hoping to land a high-paying investing career, not just any business school will do. You have to attend a top business school that has a history of employing graduates. Even then, you’ll most likely need to be near the top of your class or have an impressive background/internship to land the job you want.
Continue reading…Masters Advantage: Finance vs. Accounting
If you’re analytically minded and good with numbers and money, then a Master’s in Finance or Accounting could be the right career move for you. Both options prepare you for a career in the finance industry, but in different ways. A career in finance is not the same as the career of an accountant though there is so much overlap that it can get confusing at times.
Continue reading…International Option: Pros and Cons of Earning a Master’s in Finance in the UK Instead of the U.S.
A Master’s in Finance is fast becoming one of the most popular degrees in the world. According to The Financial Times, “global demand for masters in finance (MiF) degree courses increased slightly in 2018,” due to a number of factors including ROI, career paths for graduates, and costs.
Continue reading…Top 5 Paying MBA Careers: Finance
Finance, no surprise, is an extremely popular field among MBA graduates. According to Payscale, finance is 4.7 times more popular among MBA graduates than other fields. The reasons for this are rather uncomplicated: its pretty lucrative.
The starting median salary for those with up to five years of experience is $62,100. After ten years, the reported median salary jumps to $120,000; a 93 percent increase. Given that it is finance, the bonuses that employees can earn are massive, making the field even more lucrative.
With such high salaries and the prospect of massive bonuses, those interested in finance might be curious about what the best positions are for them. These can vary by company, experience, and location.
Companies Recruiting Finance MBA Graduates
The firm you work for can affect how much you make. Larger firms tend to offer more than smaller houses. The following are the top five employers in terms of average salary for those with an MBA in finance.
Morgan Stanley: $136,500
Deloitte: $132,656
Microsoft: $123,684
Amazon: $123,678
Citigroup: $121,346
Finance MBA Experience
As one might expect, the more experience one has in a field, the higher their salary will be. According to Payscale, this is a breakdown of average salary based on years of experience.
- Up to 11 Months: $58,517
- 1–4 Years: $65,589
- 5–9 Years: $86,086
- 10–19 Years: $113,775
- 20+ Years: $135,016
Finance MBA Location
Along with company size and experience, location is the other major determinant of salary for finance MBA graduates. Given the fact that finance tends to be centralized in major cities, it is reasonable to assume that the largest salaries are to be found in cities with large, well-populated metropolitan areas. The following are the five cities where MBA graduates can earn the most.
- New York, NY: $120,962
- Los Angeles, CA: $111,727
- Boston, MA: $109,490
- Chicago, IL: $108,421
- Houston, TX: $101,643
For finance savvy MBA graduates, New York City offers the best average salary opportunities in the United States.
Top Paying Finance Careers
While there are many careers from which a finance MBA can choose, the following offer the highest salaries. To maximize a potential salary, one should consider the variables mentioned above when searching for a position.
#1: Vice President, Finance ($135,000–$195,000)
As a vice president of finance, your primary responsibility will be to direct finances and coordinate the budget. The VP of finance also sets goals and oversees lower-level employees in the financial department. Other responsibilities include engaging in accounting, operations, and finance management.
Common tasks include the following:
- Ensuring company financial plans are carried out
- Coordinating, preparing, and reviewing annual reports
- Directing accounting operations
The average salary of a VP of finance is $134,919. In addition, MBA graduates can earn an average of $24,430 in bonuses, $24,566 in commission, and $8,757 in profit sharing. The salary on this job can raise these numbers higher depending on where one works. Look for these positions in the following cities, where you can earn more than the average:
- San Francisco, CA: 28 percent more
- Los Angeles, CA: 16 percent more
- Boston, MA: 15 percent more
#2: Finance Director ($110,000–$160,000)
Finance directors are responsible for managing the goings on in the finance department of the company. In addition, effective finance directors can see problems and risks and design necessary solutions as needed.
Common tasks include the following:
- Overseeing the preparation of regulatory and financial reporting as required
- Developing policies and procedures to control and report financials
- Managing budget, forecast, and accounting preparations
The average salary of a finance director is $111,384. MBA graduates can expect to earn an average bonus of $18,556, $33,000 in commission, and $5,113 in profit sharing. According to Payscale, the following are three highest paying companies for this position:
- Nike: $150,000
- Lilly: $130,000
- CBRE Group: $128,000
#3: Investment Banker ($99,000–$207,000)
As an investment banker, your primary responsibility is to grow wealth for your clients. This can be through either strategic investing or raising capital. Investment bankers look through all of the financial information of a company to develop the best strategy for addressing its concerns and reaching its goals.
Common tasks include the following:
- Constructing financial models to aid in transactions and communications
- Performing valuation analyses
- Conducting industry and company research
On average, you can expect to earn an average of $98,831 in salary. Investment banking is rather lucrative, so it is not impossible to double your salary in commission alone. However, because if this, the salary scale can widely vary. The average commission for this position on Payscale is $90,000. To make that possible, you’ll need to go to a city where capital generation is needed. These three places pay more than the average, according to Payscale:
- San Francisco, CA: 52 percent higher
- New York, NY: 12 percent higher
- Dallas, TX: 5 percent higher
Investment bankers would do well to look into a career in the Bay Area. San Francisco-metro investment bankers make nearly 50 percent more than the national average, according to Payscale data.
#4: Finance Manager ($90,000–$124,000)
Finance managers are expected to watch departmental budgets. Their primary responsibilities include making financial forecasts for their company, working with other departments to establish future budgets, and keeping excellent track of the money going in and out of the company.
Common tasks for people in this position include the following:
- Identifying areas for cost reduction
- Providing analyses to the operations team
- Preparing informational analyses
Given the importance of this position, MBA graduates who pursue it will be compensated well. The average salary for a finance manager is $89,636. In addition to the base salary, an MBA graduate can expect an average of $9,959 in bonuses, $25,006 in commission, and $3,982 in profit sharing.
Because this position is so important, companies are willing to pay excellent candidates well. The following offer the three highest average salaries according to Payscale:
- Boeing: $119,000
- Amazon: $112,000
- Johnson & Johnson: $111,000
#5: Portfolio Manager ($84,000–$140,000)
Portfolio managers are responsible for investing their clients’ money, whether those clients are businesses or individuals. They work to get the highest return possible for their clients’ money.
Common tasks for this position include the following:
- Consulting with clients to develop investment goals
- Reporting on investment performance
- Managing portfolios to maximize returns
Portfolio managers earn an average of $84,443, with $10,274 in bonuses, $10,113 in commission, and $4,000 in profit sharing. According to Payscale, these positions tend to be centered in financial institutions and investment firms.
The following three banks offer the highest average salaries to their portfolio managers.
- Blackrock: $115,000
- S. Bank: $99,000
- Citizens Financial Group: $97,000
Invest in Your Future By Applying to New MBA Jobs at Top Investment Firms
You’ve invested all this time in earning your MBA degree, now invest some time in applying to new MBA jobs at these top investment firms. Working at an investment firm can be widely varied and rewarding, with the average graduate earns more than $140,000 according U.S. News & World Report. Here are just a few potential landing spots for MBAs to bring their talents after earning their degree: Continue reading…
Company Battle: Morgan Stanley vs Credit Suisse
MBA graduates on the prowl for post-graduate employment opportunities would do well to investigate international banking giants Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse, both of which offer many attractive perks to employees.
New York City’s Morgan Stanley primarily handles the investments and assets of governments, corporations, and institutions. Zurich, Switzerland-based Credit Suisse is highly regarded for its bank-client confidentiality and overall discretion with regard to client information.
Morgan Stanley vs Credit Suisse: Salaries
The most common entry-level position for MBA graduates is as an associate. Luckily, associates are compensated handsomely at both companies.
Morgan Stanley offers an average salary of $108,659 according to Glassdoor data, with the possibility of an additional $21,732 in bonuses, on average.
Credit Suisse remains competitive with Morgan Stanley at an average annual salary of $111,572 and an average overall pay of approximately $112,000. However, there is the potential for healthier bonuses at Credit Suisse, with a ludicrous average bonus pay of $67,980. Still, reviews from current and former Credit Suisse employees on Glassdoor seem to suggest that bonuses are actually few and far between. Whereas reviews from Morgan Stanley employees suggest that they are more generous.
Morgan Stanley vs Credit Suisse: Company Culture
Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley actively fosters inclusion in the workplace, with a number of key diversity initiatives. In addition, both banks have implemented innovative strategies to demonstrate corporate responsibility and philanthropy.
Credit Suisse offers several employee networks designed to foster collaboration, including networks for family, women, veterans, LGBT professionals, and POC professionals. Additionally, Credit Suisse offers the Real Returns™ Program, which offers senior bankers the chance to return from an extended career break.
Morgan Stanley also encourages their employees to volunteer regularly, as exemplified by its Global Volunteer Month, the most recent iteration saw 48,000 employees in 36 countries volunteer over 262,000 hours of their time.
Morgan Stanley’s Vice Chairman Tom Nides and Chief Human Resources Officer Jeff Brodsky, shown with over 300 volunteers during the company’s 2018 Global Volunteer Month.
Credit Suisse is known for its collaborative working environment and flexible working hours. Morgan Stanley, on the other hand, promotes a supportive workplace culture, but work occurs at a much faster pace and over longer hours. Some might find the fast-and-furious approach preferable, as it offers more learning opportunities, but it can be difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Both banks rank highly by various publications on workplace cultures, but Morgan Stanley seems to consistently come out on top. According to Vault, Credit Suisse ranks at 19th as the best place to work, whereas Morgan Stanley comes in 4th. eFinancialCareers also ranks Morgan Stanley as the 4th most ideal employer, citing its competitive bonuses and salaries, as well as its progressive initiatives on issues like workplace diversity and corporate social responsibility. Despite their attractive salaries, positive office environment, and accommodating working hours, Credit Suisse comes in slightly behind at 10th. Finally, Glass Door ranked Morgan Stanley at 100 overall in its 2019 list of ‘Best Places to Work.’
Morgan Stanley vs Credit Suisse: Hiring Rates and Versatility
Morgan Stanley features over 57,000 employees, spread out over 41 countries. There are opportunities to work in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, and Asia Pacific.
Credit Suisse features 46,840 employees working across 50 different countries. However, a number of positions are only available in Switzerland. In spite of these figures, Credit Suisse claims that there are still many opportunities for mobility, both internally (with respect to opportunities to work across departments as well as potential promotions) and geographically. In 2017, 4,100 employees made an internal move and 47 percent of vacancies were filled internally.
