Money makes the world go round, so they say, and as a system of exchange, storage, and measure of wealth, money has been around in various guises since prehistoric times. But banking and finance have transformed in recent times from the gold standard of pre-1970 to today’s payment cards, digital currency, and cryptocurrencies.
No wonder that money management and accumulation have fascinated so many for so long. So, who are today’s young professional wealth managers, and what do they do? And where are today’s financial movers and shakers trained and located?
Wide Range of Career Fields
Banking and finance professionals have a wide range of career opportunities across various sectors. Those entering the field may choose to specialize in one or more of the following career paths:
- Investment Banking: This area involves advising corporations, institutions, and governments on financial transactions. Investment bankers help with mergers and acquisitions, raising capital, and providing strategic advice.
- Commercial Banking: Professionals in commercial banking work with businesses and individuals, offering services like loans, mortgages, and everyday banking needs.
- Asset Management: Asset managers oversee the investments of clients, such as pension funds, high-net-worth individuals, and institutional investors. They make investment decisions to grow their clients’ portfolios.
- Wealth Management/Private Banking: Wealth managers provide personalized financial services to high-net-worth individuals. This includes investment management, tax planning, estate planning, and overall financial advice.
- Financial Planning: Financial planners work directly with individuals to help them manage their finances, plan for retirement, save for education, and achieve their financial goals.
- Risk Management: Risk managers identify and analyze potential risks that could impact a company’s financial performance. They develop strategies to mitigate these risks.
- Corporate Finance: Professionals in corporate finance manage the financial activities of a corporation, including financial planning, budgeting, and analyzing financial performance.
- Insurance: Careers in insurance involve assessing and managing risks for individuals and businesses. Roles include underwriting, claims adjusting, and sales of insurance products.
- Financial Analysis: Financial analysts evaluate the performance of stocks, bonds, and other investments to provide investment recommendations or support corporate financial decisions.
- Compliance and Regulatory Roles: Compliance officers ensure that financial institutions comply with laws and regulations. This is crucial in highly regulated sectors like banking and finance.
- Fintech: With the rise of technology in finance, there are opportunities for fintech companies focusing on digital banking, payments, blockchain, and financial software development.
- Consulting: Consulting firms often hire banking and finance professionals to advise clients on financial strategies, risk management, or regulatory compliance.
- Treasury Management: Treasury professionals manage a company’s liquidity, cash flow, and financial investments. They optimize financial performance by managing assets and liabilities.
- Real Estate Finance: Careers in real estate finance involve financing property purchases, development projects, and real estate investment trusts (REITs).
Qualifications and Experience
To excel in these careers, individuals typically pursue relevant education (such as degrees in finance, economics, or business), and professional certifications (like CFA, CPA, or FRM), and gain experience through internships or entry-level positions in financial institutions.
The Master in Finance program at EU Business School Switzerland ticks all the boxes when it comes to a sought-after international qualification, taught in English. Exploring challenging technical theory and a wide range of topics, including asset pricing, portfolio management, derivative securities, and blockchain fundamentals, the Master in Finance ensures that students understand the increasing complexity of the new financial paradigms, and the recent shifts in regulations and ethical thinking.
Why Geneva, Switzerland?
Networking within the industry and staying updated with market trends and regulations are key to success in banking and finance careers. Geneva is an international hub for finance and diplomacy. Where better to forge your banking career than in the heart of a leading global financial and banking center, home to the headquarters of major banks including UBS, Credit Suisse, and the World Bank Group?
Networking with Business Leaders
EU Business School’s exclusive Learning from Leaders conference series hosts high-level networking events with business leaders from a wide range of institutions on its campuses. Recent guest speakers have included Daan Struyven, Senior Economist at Goldman Sachs; Dr R Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank; and Alexandre Zeller, Chairman of Credit Suisse.
Final Thoughts
Young professionals seeking an international career in banking and finance should not look further than EU Business School’s Master in Finance offered on their campus in the heart of Geneva, Switzerland. Its concentration of numerous international organizations and global companies makes Geneva a fantastic choice to live, study, and build a career.
