"Goodwill is the only asset that competition cannot undersell or destroy"
~ Marshall Field

What is finance?

Finance is the future-oriented business function of administering and managing money in order to best position a company to be competitive with others. In recent years, the field has transitioned and grown into managing the national trend toward corporate mergers and acquisitions. The outcome of this merger and acquisition trend, along with government deregulation, was the development of huge financial organizations that offer a wide variety of services such as banking, brokerage, real estate, insurance, and investment banking. Subsequently, within the finance field, jobs are grouped in various areas including corporate and public finance, banking, insurance, personal financial planning, investment banking, and money management.

To concentrate in finance at William Paterson University, students must be in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Students complete a common 33 credit business core required of all business majors, with an additional 18 credits in the finance concentration. Classes within the concentration include, but are not limited to, Corporate Finance, Financial Markets and Institutions, Taxation, and International Financial Management. All business majors must accumulate enrichment points through internship, practicum, and/or job shadowing alternatives. The finance department is home to the E* Trade Financial Center, the location for many finance courses and seminars.

To learn more about the degree requirements, please visit this link:
http://www.wpunj.edu/cob/COB_new/undergraduate/ugfinance.html

Admissions information on Finance is located here:
http://www.wpunj.edu/admissions/undergraduate/academic-programs/programs_detail.dot?id=125502

What interests and skills do potential employers value in this career?

• oral and written communication skills
• understanding of cultural diversity
• computer literacy
• creativity
• being able to manage people and activities
• being able to communication in a multicultural setting
• fluency or reading/writing comprehension in another language
• analytical skills
• critical thinking skills
• mathematical comprehension 
• competency in mathematics
• reading comprehension
• critical thinking skills
• being able to give advice on finances
• computer skills
• being able to prepare financial reports
• understanding how to read and create records
• data processing skills
• active listening skills

What types of jobs can finance majors get?

Work Environment :
Finance professionals, or careers related to finance, are located in a variety of industries and environments. Professionals may choose to work in corporate or public finance within organizations, for financial companies, commercial or investment banking, insurance companies, real estate, brokerage firms, trust companies, and personal financial planning for individuals.

Possible Job Titles

In what locations and capacities have William Paterson business alumni worked?

Financial Analyst Accuhealth, Inc.

Financial Consultant Ford Financial Group

Retail Banking Manager Summit Bank

Escrow Specialist Columbia Savings Bank

Accounts Payable Manager American Cyanamid

Underwriter State Farm Insurance

Financial Advisor New England Financial

Financial Analyst GFT ( USA) Corp.

Analyst Lehman Brothers

Broker T.D. Waterhouse

Disability Claims Manager Prudential Insurance

Mutual Fund Pricing The Bank of New York

Orientation Financial Merrill Lynch

Payroll Tax Specialist Lerner NY & Company

Senior Investment Operator Prudential

Bond Trader/Retail Broker R. Seelaus & Co

Credit Analyst Valley National Bank

Pricing Coordinator Hertz Corporation

Aside from majoring in finance, what else can I do that may enhance my qualifications?  

Successful students tend to seek out opportunities to enhance their qualifications through a variety of means. Within finance, it is recommended to find an internship related to the student's interest within the field. Participating in workshops and seminars to help develop stronger computer skills, including spreadsheets, databases, and presentation software is beneficial; developing connections through networking may aid in finding employment; for some, thinking about getting an MBA may help enhance qualifications and aid in moving up the ranks joining the Student Business Association; joining a national professional marketing association; gaining practical experience through an internship/practicum/job shadowing.

What else can I read about finance?

Related Web Sites :

Finance Jobs www.jobsinthemoney.com

Industry information http://www.careermag.com/MKT/Content/JS/Channels/AccountingFinance.asp

Industry Information http://www.vault.com

Advertising Age www.adage.com

Occupational Outlook www.bls.gov/oco/

Job Search and Salary information www.rileyguide.com

MBA information www.mba.com

NJ Finance Information www.njnextstop.org

Other sources of information :

Please drop by the Career Development and Advisement Center to learn more about careers in finance. The career library carries career-specific books and counselors are available to answer any further questions you may have. Visiting the Economics, Finance, and Global Business department on campus may also prove valuable in addressing questions.

The Career Development and Gloria S. Williams Advisement Center
Student Center 301, 300 Pompton Road Wayne, NJ 07470
Phone 973.720.2281/2282 Fax 973.720.2074

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