Career in Financial Markets

Have you ever wondered where does the money deposited in your bank go? Or the invested capital in Stocks and Shares go? Who manages all these Finances? All these investments are distributed among corporations that are well versed on further utilizing it for the proper functioning of Financial Markets. These sectors maintain a balance between debt and equity. Through this blog, let us explore career opportunities in this field. 

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What are Financial Markets?

Marketplaces, where trading of financial assets takes place, are popularly known as Financial Markets. Buying and selling of assets like Bonds, Currencies, Shares, Debentures and Stocks are the major activities pertaining to this field. In the country’s economy, these markets play a very crucial role in allocating limited resources and acts as an intermediary between the savers and investors by mobilising funds between them. It also provides an excellent platform to buyers and sellers to trade and determine the price of assets is determined by the demand-supply forces. The function of these marketplaces are as follows:

• Facilitate Mobilisation of Funds
• Helps in Determining the Price of the Security
• Provides Liquidity to Tradable Assets
• Helps in Saving Time, Money and Efforts of the Parties 

Must Read: BFM Course (Bachelor of Financial Markets)

List of Courses 

There are various Financial Market & Stock Market Courses that students can pursue from numerous educational institutes in India and abroad. Given below is a list of some of the courses offered in this field:

• Bachelor / BCom / MCom / MBA of Finance Markets
• Master of Finance Markets
• BSc in Finance
• MS in Finance and Investment
• Diploma in Financial and Stock Market
• Advanced Diploma in Financial and Stock Market
• MSc in International Finance Markets
• BSc in International Finance Markets
• BSc (Hons) in Financial Trading and Investment Management
• BSc in Mathematical Trading and Finance
• Bachelor of Business Administration in Financial Markets (BBA in Financial Markets)
• MSc in Finance, Investment Analyses and Wealth Management

Bachelor of Finance Markets

This is a 3-4 year, full-time UG program in Management, under which students are provided a theoretical and practical knowledge of utilising the capital resources of an organization/ company in an efficient way, by planning, organizing, monitoring, directing and controlling of capital resources. The students are provided basic knowledge about the financial markets and their instruments like bonds, shares, debentures, currencies, derivatives, etc. Area of study in this program includes Principles of Investment, Environment of Financial System, Principles of Business Management, Taxation for Investments, Debt Markets, Foreign Exchange Market, Derivative Markets, etc. 

Diploma in Financial and Stock Market

This is a popular name in the list of short-term courses in Finance, job-oriented programs in Finance and the Stock Market. Under this diploma program, the student gains theoretical and practical knowledge of the essential aspects of the securities market. The subjects which students study under the diploma program include the Capital market, Commodity market, Currency market, Derivatives market, Technical Analysis and Options Strategy.

B.Com in Financial Markets

This is a 3-4-year UG program in Financial Markets, which is designed in a comprehensive way to create adequately trained personnel for the financial services sector. The program involves the advanced study of the debt & equity markets, financial assets, markets, and institutions, and foreign exchange market and financial management. Subjects in the B.Com Financial Markets program include Principles of Investment, Management Accounting, Debt Markets, Commodities Markets, Equity Markets, Global Capital Markets, Computer Applications in Financial Services, etc.

M.Com in Financial Markets

This 1-2 year long PG program in Financial Market, imparts students with in-depth knowledge about trade financial securities such as stocks, commodities and bonds in the market and related mechanisms. Subjects of Study in the program include Taxation Law & Practice, General Management, Research Methodology, International Business & Finance, Financial Markets & Services, Dissertation, Management of Financial Institutions, etc.

Also Checkout: What Can You Do With a Masters in Financial Analytics?

Top Universities

There is a wide range of educational institutions across the globe that offer Financial Market courses. Below is a list of top Institutes curated by Leverage Edu to make a Career in Finance:

• University of Essex, UK
• University of Wollongong, Australia
• University of East Anglia, UK
• University of London, UK
• Pace University, United States
• University of Greenwich, UK
• The University of Edinburgh, UK
• NEOMA Business School, France
• Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, Spain

Career Prospects

After completion of a degree programme in Financial Markets or related courses, students can work in the Private and Government sector. Some of the employment areas for these are Public Accounting Firms, Markets Research, Budget Planning, Corporations, Consultancies, and Educational Universities. Job profiles given to the students may range from organisation to organisation, enlisted below are some popular ones:

• Financial Controller: An executive of management, whose job role is to supervise the preparation of financial statements and ensures insightful data from the reports. The key work areas of a Financial Controller in the organisation include Business budgeting, accounts, auditing, and payroll. Their average salary is $240,900.

• Treasurer: The role of the Treasurer in the organisation, is to ensure that a business or organization stays in good financial health, by building detailed financial statements and coordinating investment decisions. The average salary of a treasurer is $225,055.

• Technical Analyst: An individual, whose job role is to perform the evaluation of the fluctuations in the stock market and provide information to clients about crucial investments. The job description of the technical analyst includes observing patterns of the stock market to make predictions about its future performance, and to perform financial forecasting, using statistics tools like trading volume, trade rates, stock price, interest rates and securities. Their average salary is $96,829.

• Equity Research: The job role of the Equity Research professionals, is to produce analysis, recommendations, and reports on investment opportunities that investment banks, institutions, or their clients may be interested in. Their average salary is $112,687

• Investment Banker: Investment banks assist companies and governments in raising funds through the issuance of bonds, stocks, initial public offerings, venture capital, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Average Salary of an investment banker is $101,848.

• Actuary: Actuaries use math, statistics, and financial theory to assess the monetary consequences of risk. These professionals collect, compile, and analyse data in order to estimate the likelihood and likely costs of events such as injury, sickness, disability, death, and property loss. Average salary of an actuary is $99,341.

• Portfolio Manager: Portfolio managers (also known as money managers) manage the investments of institutional and retail clients. They advise clients on personalised investment strategies and specific investment decisions, and they typically have discretion in implementing those strategies to achieve the client’s objectives. The average salary of a portfolio manager is $90,949.

• Quantitative Analyst: Professionals in this field develop mathematical models to assist businesses in making business and financial decisions. Quants are used by asset managers, banks, hedge funds, insurance companies, and private equity firms to help them manage risk and identify investment opportunities. The average salary of a quantitative analyst is $85,914.

• Securities Trader: Securities traders work in a variety of settings, including commercial banks, investment banks, asset management firms, hedge funds, and others. Traders buy and sell securities on behalf of the firm’s assets wherever they work. The average salary of a securities trader is $67,287.

• Financial Planner: Financial planners assist people in developing plans to ensure their current and future financial stability. Typically, they examine a client’s financial objectives and devise a suitable strategy for saving and investing. Their average annual salary is  $65,539.

Must Read: Career in Financial Markets

How to Find Job Opportunities in Finance?

Financial positions are available in almost every company and industry. There are two ways to look for job openings: online and offline, and it’s a good idea to use both. Remember that financial jobs are highly specialised, so general job boards are not the best places to look for them.

When looking for financial job opportunities and career advice offline, specialised executive recruiters (headhunters) can be excellent resources. Your university’s alumni association can also be extremely beneficial in connecting you with industry insiders and B-school alumnae who are willing to provide insight—and sometimes job leads.

Financial jobs can also be found at industry conferences and other networking events. Never underestimate the importance of personal interaction when it comes to networking. Everyone you meet might know someone who knows someone who knows of a job opening. Maintain open lines of communication by following up in a professional, personalised manner with each contact.

Pros and Cons of Careers in Financial Markets

Here are some pros and cons of pursing a career in financial markets. Have a look at them:

Pros

The most obvious advantage is that finance jobs pay better than other professions. Other notable benefits include good working conditions, some flexibility, and the possibility of using your skills elsewhere. Being good with numbers and finance is highly sought after in every industry, so if you want to change careers, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find new opportunities.

Cons

A career in finance, like any other, has its drawbacks. They can include high stress, significant responsibility, long work hours, continuing education requirements, and, in some cases, a lack of job security—the finance industry is cyclical in nature.

Is a Career in Financial Market Stable?

In general, yes. While the industry is known to be quite cyclical—banks and brokerages tend to lay off a large number of people during major recessions—qualified professionals are in such high demand that they will not be out of work for long.

If you are skilled and enthusiastic about numbers, money, and math, a career in this field may be worth considering. Working in finance has many benefits, including a good salary and a variety of jobs to suit different personalities and skill sets. It’s also a sector that’s expected to expand in the coming years.

Must Read: Scope of Financial Management

Conclusion

Financial careers frequently have high entry barriers, stiff competition among applicants, and a lot of stress. Nonetheless, these positions provide numerous benefits, such as a challenging work environment, interaction with highly motivated and intelligent coworkers, opportunities for advancement, and excellent pay. While many people enter the financial field for the income potential, the most successful have a strong passion for their work.

FAQs

Hope the blog has familiarized you with the key features of a career in Financial Markets. If you are planning to enter this domain, take the help of Leverage Edu, our unique AI tool will help you to explore numerous programs and universities available in this field and list suitable combinations which suit your interests and skills.