Career in Commerce – Complete Guide

Planning to pursue a career in Commerce? Traditionally, commerce was referred to as the process that facilitates the exchange of goods, services or something of value between two parties. However, we, as a nation, are way past this. Now, the field isn’t just limited to the exchange of goods but has become a practice that enhances the standard of living in a country and increases its ranking in the world by providing jobs and producing beneficial products. If you are looking for 2023’s top careers in commerce, you’ve come to the right blog!

From the electronic sale of goods and services to filing taxes online, the electronically driven economy now offers an array of opportunities with lucrative salaries. The FAME (Finance, Accountancy, Management, and Economics) behind in commerce will not only give you the opportunity to grow but also shape your illustrious career. Here is a list of options to establish a career in commerce.

“The lessons taught in great books are misleading.
The commerce in real life is rarely so simple and never so just.”
– Anita Brookner

15 Best Careers in Commerce 2023!

Want to know the highest salary jobs in Commerce 2023? Here are the best 15 careers in Commerce:

Career in Commerce	Average Salary	Courses
Chartered Accountant (CA)	₹6-7 Lakhs per annum	CA course
Company Secretary (CS)	₹3-6 Lakhs per annum	CS Course
Marketing Manager	₹6-7 Lakhs per annum	BBA in Marketing, MBA in Marketing, Masters in Marketing, PG Diploma in Digital Marketing
Investment Banker	₹9-10 Lakhs per annum	BCom/BBA in Finance, Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
Human Resource Manager	₹6-7 Lakhs per annum	BBA in HR, MBA in HR
Entrepreneur	₹3-5 Lakhs per annum (vary as per the success of the business)	BBA in Entrepreneurship/MBA in Entrepreneurship
Bank PO	₹8-13 Lakhs per annum	BCom/BBA in Banking or Finance/Qualify Bank exams
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)	₹12 Lakhs per annum	BCom/CFA Course
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)	₹7-9 Lakhs per annum	BCom/BBA/Qualify CPA exam
Actuary	₹10-14 Lakhs per annum	BSc Economics, BCom, Qualify actuarial exams
Cost Accountant	₹4 Lakhs per annum	Bachelor in Accounting/CA/Masters in Accounting
Business and Taxation Accountant	₹6-7 Lakhs per annum	BAT Course
Retail Manager	₹5-6 Lakhs per annum	Bachelors/BBA in Retail Management
Personal Financial Advisor	₹3-5 Lakhs per annum	Bachelors in Finance, MBA in Finance
Budget Analyst	₹6.5 to 21 Lakhs per annum	BBA, Bachelor in Finance, Masters in Finance/Budgeting

Let’s explore these trending commerce careers in further detail:

Chartered Accountant

Pursued by a number of students, Chartered Accountancy is one of the most popular courses for Commerce students. Primarily dealing with the taxation and accounting-related matters of an organization or business, a career in Commerce through this profession can be highly rewarding. Be it the CA course in India or abroad, this certification program builds a strong foundation in topics like merger and acquisition, environment and ethics, taxation laws, auditing, etc. The major industries where one can work after getting certified include Tax and Law advisory firms, IT departments, government organizations, the banking sector, etc.

Company Secretary

Counted amongst one of the best professional courses after the 12th Commerce stream, Company Secretary is tasked with overseeing the overall administration of the company. From maintaining the company laws and handling issues related to governance to representing the organization in tribunals and raising funds from markets, the duties of a company secretary are vast.

When we talk about establishing a career in Commerce under this profession, the opportunities are numerous as scores of industries are in constant need of such trained professionals. You can read our blog on how to become a company secretary to understand the process in detail!

Investment Banker

Investment Bank is the segment of the banking sector that deals with raising capital for individuals and organizations along with providing financial consultancy services. It acts as an intermediary between investors and security issuers and is one of the most complex financial mechanisms of the market.

Who are Investment Bankers? Investment Bankers are professionals adept at corporate financial analysis. Their main job is to raise capital to fund the operations of corporations, raise money from capital markets, and structure acquisitions, mergers or sales for clients. With the lustre of Wall Street comes handsome salaries. But beneath the surface, this profession demands a skill set that makes them perfect in what they do – from excellent number-crunching abilities to analytical reasoning. This, however, comes with gruelling work hours and uncertainty.

Where can an Investment Banker Work? Goldman Sachs (GS), Morgan Stanley (MS), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAC) and Deutsche Bank are some of the big names which hire individuals for the profile of Investment Banker. You can also read our blog on the other types of Investment Banking jobs to get a better picture!

What Qualifications are Required to Become an Investment Banker? There is no particular written down career path to be followed to become an Investment Banker. However, a bachelor’s degree in accounts, economics or commerce like BSc Banking and Finance, MSc Finance, and Bachelor in Accounting and Investment Banking is a must. Further, Internships with investment banks or certification programs such as the CFA course act as a positive catalyst for advancement in this career. London School of Economics and Political Science, Financial University, Bocconi University, etc are some of the academic institutions to pursue such courses.

Bank PO

A Probationary Officer(PO) in a bank is an important profile who is tasked with multiple responsibilities. Apart from monitoring and assessing the daily activities of the bank, the role of a bank PO also includes handling customer issues, managing loans and cash flow, etc. Not only restricted to those who want to kick start their career in Commerce, one can join as a PO irrespective of educational background. One of the major requirements is to hold a bachelor’s degree. There are scores of entrance exams like IBPS PO, SBI PO, etc, through which candidates are selected for the profile. To gain advanced knowledge, you can also consider pursuing Banking courses after graduation. 

Human Resource Manager

As the name suggests, a human resource manager is a key asset of a company as he is responsible for conducting scores of tasks for the betterment of the organization. From bachelor’s to master’s, there is a multitude of courses offered by universities across the world that not only impart knowledge in related topics but also equip the students with the necessary skills. An MBA in HR further improves career prospects if one wants to establish a career in Commerce with a specialization in Human Resources.

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship is one of the hottest specialisations in Commerce right now and is quite a flexible yet intellectually and financially rewarding career in Commerce. Starting your own business is an adventure of its own but an amazing business idea can surely help you carve out a striking path to success! There is no certain qualification to becoming an entrepreneur, but you must have knowledge of business and management as well as financial management and budgeting. Pursuing the Entrepreneurship Development Program or an MBA in Entrepreneurship can surely equip you with the right knowledge and skills to become an entrepreneur!

Stockbroking

Stockbroking is another popular career in Commerce option that one can think of pursuing. These professionals are tasked with selling or buying stocks for their clients. Also referred to as investment brokers or registered representatives, stockbrokers also do advisory work and carefully gauge through financial risk management (FRM).

To build a successful career in this field, one needs to have good knowledge in a multitude of Commerce subjects like Economics, Accounting, Corporate Laws, Sensex, etc. An individual who has pursued graduation in Finance and has done an MBA has a better chance to kickstart a career in this domain. One can even enrol in the BSE courses which are offered as a certificate, bachelor’s or master’s programs by the famous Bombay Stock Exchange Institute.

Read all about Stock Market Courses!

Actuarial Science

Primarily dealing with assessing and finding solutions to the risks in finance, insurance and other related sectors, a career in Actuarial Science can be highly rewarding. Using mathematical and statistical models to devise policies, and analyze and control potent risks, an Actuarial Science course imparts extensive knowledge of the field and equips the students with strong quantitative aptitude. If you want to build a career in Commerce in this sector then you can find ample employment opportunities in Insurance companies under various profiles. Apart from it, one can also work as a consultant in both government and private sectors.

Insurance Underwriters

Insurance underwriters are professionals who are meant to determine potential clients’ risk factors, evaluate and analyze risks of insuring people and assets and establish pricing for insuring the risks.

One needs to have a bachelor’s degree like that in accounts, economics or commerce. However, insurance-related work experience acts as a plus factor. For further advancement in their career, underwriters are expected to have certifications through coursework so that they are well-updated on new happenings and technological advancements in the field.

Major Responsibilities

• Evaluating insurance applications
• Risk evaluation at policy renewal.
• Liaison between an insurance agent and the insurance company.
• Determining coverage amounts and premiums along with required terms and conditions, within the guidelines set by insurance carriers.
• Contribute to the pricing of life insurance, health insurance, and commercial liability insurance among others.

Insurance underwriting needs an individual who focuses on skill development with a strong analytical base and a high degree of computer literacy as the position requires data analysis and interpretation.

Must Read: How to Become an Insurance Agent?

Economist

Tasked with analyzing an array of issues related to the overall economic processes of the country, a career as an Economist is challenging yet interesting. With scores of pertinent factors like inflation, banking, employment, etc affecting the economy of a country, these professionals are required almost everywhere. Though pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Economics can open doors to entry-level jobs across government and private organizations, having a master’s or PhD in Economics degree can further advance career opportunities.

Must Read: How to Build a Career in Economics?

Consultant

Consultancy is a profession that enables one to engage in the business of providing expert advice to people working in one specific field. It is a learned set of career skills that can be acquired through extensive formal coupled with on-the-job training, mentoring and a heavy dose of individual learning.

Consultants can work as independent individuals or with a firm. Exposure to several varied situations often contributes to the learning of essential lessons that come in handy in the future. The practice instils an individual with an extraordinaire amount of discipline and technique essential for a smooth sail in the future. With no laid down guidelines, move forward as opportunities come in and leverage them in the right way.

Must Read: How to Become an SEO Consultant?

Tax Policy Analyst

A tax policy analyst is responsible for analyzing and researching matters relating to taxation policies of the government and working out the policy structure of the organization such that they comply with each other. Modelling tax outlooks along with monitoring and studying the impact of Government taxation initiatives is the main task at hand for a tax policy analyst.

Skills Needed

• One must be able to analyze the information related to highly complex technical work.
• The knowledge of forecasts and data sources for forecasting tax revenues is essential.
• Effective communication skills to understand and address issues with other organizations relating to taxation policies.
• Understanding of accounting principles and the ability to develop and review reconciliations of revenue calculations.

How to Become a Tax Analyst?

A bachelor’s degree in the field of accounting is necessary. Certifications such as a CA (Chartered Accountant), and CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is necessary along with work experience for career development. A master’s degree is not a necessity however, it is preferred by several employers across several firms!

Asset Manager

Many firms and individuals today hire asset management professionals to manage, evaluate and grow the owned, leased or sub-leased assets. Assets can range from physical real estate properties to intellectual property that of patents or goodwill. The major responsibilities include:

• The set of tasks and requirements may vary from situation to situation however fundamental task is to monitor the assets, implement, negotiate and advise clients in regard to assets.
• Asset managers are meant to be experts in the diversification of clients’ profiles so as to give the best possible returns.
• They are expected to manage the funds and achieve the financial goals depending upon clients’ objectives and risk-taking capacity.
• Investments by asset manager can be done can vary in forms from pension funds to hedge funds. The objective can be by investing in various financial instruments like derivatives, options, and futures among others.

Apart from having a knack for numbers and analytical skills, candidates will generally be required to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in finance, business or accounting. The big companies would preferably hire someone who has completed a CFA course (Chartered Financial Analyst) for key positions and even an MBA in Finance graduate.

Trending Career Options in Commerce 2023

Apart from the above-mentioned popular career profiles in commerce, here are some other profiles that you can take up after completing a degree or course in the field of commerce- 

• Cost and Work Accountancy 
• CISA ( Certified Information System Auditor) 
• Chartered Public Accountant
• CFA (Chartered Financial Accountant) 
• Insurance and Risk Manager 
• Tax Manager
• Financial Manager
• Portfolio Manager
• Investment Manager
• Export-Import Manager
• Family Business Manager
• Capital Market Employee 
• Foreign Trade Manager
• International Business Manager
• Banking and Insurance Manager 
• Accounts and Finance Manager

Popular Courses in Commerce and their Corresponding Job Profiles

Let us go through some top-notch courses in commerce along with their popular job profiles- 

Courses	Job Profiles
BCom	Account Executive, Accountant, Finance Executive, Financial Analyst, Bank Manager
BBA or BMS	Sales Executive, HR Executive, Marketing Executive, Business Development Executive, Business Development Associate
Company Secretary	Compliance Officer, Advisor, Corporate Planner
Chartered Accountancy	Financial Advisor, Advisor, Private Practice
BCA	Database Administrator, Information System Manager, Business Analyst, Computer Program, IT Support Executive, Web Designer, Software Developer
Cost Accountancy	Financial Analyst, Cost Accountant, Senior Accountant
BBA LLB	Lawyer, Government Jobs, Business Consultant

Top Courses in Commerce in 2023

After getting familiar with the trending careers in commerce, you must start exploring the top courses which align with your interests and career aspirations. To help you further in your research, we have listed down the top courses in Commerce in 2023:

Commerce with Maths	Commerce without Mathematics	Professional Courses [Higher-level]
BCom BCom Accounting and Finance BCom Banking and Finance BCom Applied Economics BCom in Management Accounting and International Finance BCom Statistics Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) BA Economics BA Mathematics	BCom Tourism and Travel Management BCom Marketing BCom Business Administration Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Bachelor of Hotel Management BA English Literature BBM Course	CA Course CS Course CMA (Cost & Management Accountant) CFA Course (Chartered Financial Analyst) MBA

Top Commerce Colleges India and Abroad

Here are some of the top commerce colleges in India and abroad-

Commerce Colleges: Abroad	Commerce Colleges: India
–University of Oxford –London School of Economics and Political Science –University of Cambridge –London Business School –Harvard University –University of Chicago –Stanford University –Massachusetts Institute of Technology –The University of Melbourne –Monash University	-Shri Ram College of Commerce -Lady Shri Ram College of Commerce –Chandigarh University -St Xavier College -Loyola College  -Manipal Academy of Higher Education  -Hindu College  -Hansraj College  –Christ University  -Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics –Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce

FAQs About Career in Commerce

Time is very important in decision-making as they say that time is money. If we lose time in making the right decision, we lose money – and that is not something that you would want to do as a commerce student. So leverage the opportunity before it’s too late and get in touch with Leverage Edu today and book your free consultancy. Step up your game now and take your first step towards that may be less trodden and may embark on a hard journey but in the end, it’s a way to a successful career in commerce.