Careers in Corporate Finance
Controller. The duties of a controller involve accounting, financial planning, reporting and cost analysis. A controller may also be required to interface with auditors. You need extensive accounting experience for this job.
Treasurer. A treasurer’s responsibilities involve cash management, asset acquisition and disposition, financial planning and raising capital. Analytical skills are required for this upper management position.
Financial analyst. A financial analyst’s responsibilities includes determining financial needs, performing long-range financial planning, analyzing capital budgeting projects and possible asset sales and acquisitions, working on budgets, implementing financial plans, monitoring the market price of their firm’s securities, analyzing competitors, visiting credit agencies to discuss their firm’s position and analyzing leasing agreements. For this job, you must possess a broad understanding of finance, good analytical and computer skills.
Investor relations officer. Investor relations officers disseminate financial information, addresses inquiries from investors, issues press releases regarding corporate events and organizes teleconferences with investors. The job involves a lot of contact with upper-level executives, and you must have a strong understanding of public relations and finance. If you have a background or experience in advertising or public relations, that will be a plus.
Real estate officer. A real estate officer negotiates lease agreements, acquires real estate, valuates properties and finds real estate locations for a company. It requires an understanding of real estate and finance.
Credit Manager. As a credit manager, you would be responsible for establishing policies for extending credit to vendors, establishing guidelines for collecting on credit and deciding whether to securitize receivables. You must be able to analyze accounting statements and have a good knowledge of the customer.
Cash manager. A cash manager ensures that enough funds are on available to meet daily needs, establishes relationships with banks, puts excess funds into an interest-bearing concentration account, manages short-term credit needs and handles international funds transfers. This is a detail-oriented job that requires strong negotiating skills.
Benefits officer. As a benefits officer, you would be responsible for setting up employee 401k plans, determine health care benefits policies, manage pension fund assets and work with human resources to set up employee benefit plans. You must possess a combination of finance and human resources management knowledge and have an understanding of organizational behavior.