Finance can simply be defined as "assets and liability management". It is a vast field that deals with various aspects of deals or transactions involving money. It's not a new field as it has been around for thousands of years, since the time man started trading; earlier it was the barter system or goods in exchange of goods and then came the monetary system. However, the fundamentals of this field have remained more or less the same even though it has evolved over the ages. We have complex financial structures both in micro and macro levels and so there are a lot of opportunities for people who want to get into finance careers after school.
For being a part of finance careers, one would require a degree that equips graduates with the knowledge and necessary tools to build a successful career in the financial industry. Training programs tend to focus on building a comprehensive understanding of managing finances, laws associated with it, interpersonal skills and professional knowledge of the subject.
A degree in finance would prepare an individual to manage, analyze and plan different financial or monetary aspects related to performance of any organization; these organizations could be in the field of IT, banking, real estate, manufacturing and consulting services etc. This course makes an effort to educate people in accounting principles, financial instruments, planning of capital funds acquisition, asset or debt management, budgeting, analyzing financials and investments in addition to portfolio management.
The courses at the undergraduate or graduate level generally cover areas such as finance, statistics, economics, economic policy and accounting procedures, analysis, financial companies and budgeting methods.
Graduates with a bachelor's degree in finance are eligible for a wide range of finance-related careers in private businesses, public bodies and non-profit organizations. Most people in this industry work in areas such as commercial banks, corporations and MNCs, investment banking, money management, insurance and real estate.
Tasks or activities associated with this profession:
1) Designing and operating policies and procedures of organizations.
2) Taking decisions on the operational capital of the company, ensuring that each of its departments have the financial means necessary for it to function properly.
3) Analyzing new business opportunities and their financial feasibility.
4) Managing the process of obtaining capital for new ventures.
Thus finance careers can be both challenging and fulfilling and many people find it as a lucrative option. It could also be the key to economic stability as professionals in this field are paid well.