Before settling on a finance concentration at one of the country’s top MBA programs, it’s a good idea to look at the types of jobs available with an MBA in Finance, according to the Economist. Since an MBA can dramatically boost both the earnings potential and hiring potential of candidates in the corporate sector, the list of available jobs range from those specific to the finance industry, to positions that are more general in terms of their managerial focus. The most common finance jobs pursued by recent finance MBA graduates include all of the options listed blow.

Financial Manager

This is perhaps the most obvious direction to go with a fresh MBA in hand. The financial manager is responsible for overseeing daily financial operations, and will often have a hand in creating the company’s budget and dedicating financial backing to certain departments, new products, or marketing initiatives. The financial manager will also work within their department to create strategic investment plans, investor dividend schedules, and much more. Outside of managing company finances, finance managers are responsible for hiring new candidates into entry-level and mid-level work, and they’re typically the person responsible for briefing executive leadership on the company’s financial position throughout the year.

Chief Financial Officer

After a long enough stint as a financial manager, the next step on the corporate ladder is often that of Chief Financial Officer, or CFO. As a top-level leadership post, this title is more than just an achievement in its own right. The CFO is the company’s public face when earnings statements are issued and when investors or directors have questions about the financial direction of the company. They’re also the final “veto” of funding and financing plans, stock swaps, dividends, stock splits, new investments, and new stock offerings. The CFO’s extensive list of responsibilities makes this one of the highest-paid roles in the organization, rivaling the salary of the typical CEO.

Financial Analyst

Not all financial MBA graduates go on to work in managerial roles at a major corporation. In fact, many use their talents at an investment firm instead. As a financial analyst, MBA graduates will look at the financial position of major corporations, research the company’s stock performance, and give guidance about that company’s expected financial performance in the future. This highly educated advice and analysis is used by financial advisors and individuals as they craft an investment portfolio and essentially make bets on a company’s long-term performance odds in the stock market.

Mid-Level or Upper-Level Management

An MBA, even with a finance concentration, is a strong management degree that qualifies graduates to lead virtually every department in a corporate setting. Classes in everything from accounting to business law and professional ethics prepare graduates to handle tough management situations, make critical decisions for the company’s bottom line and market performance, and lead a team successfully no matter what the underlying goal of their department happens to be.

Related Resource: International MBA

As Always, the MBA is a Versatile Option for the Business World

A Master of Business Administration degree is versatile by design, just like its undergraduate counterpart. A concentration in finance adds value and gives graduates unique opportunities in the financial sector, but he broad scope of the degree means that the types of jobs available with an MBA in finance are limited only to what the degree holder is comfortable with in their organization.