Wednesday, January 22, 2014

The top jobs in finance for 2014

By Susan Ricker


top finance jobsA recovering economy doesn’t mean that all areas of hiring are slow. In fact, hiring in financial services occupations is likely to pick up in 2014, according to a new survey from CareerBuilder and MoneyJobs.com — its job site for finance and accounting professionals.
As businesses continue to regrow and establish more savvy ways to operate, they require smart financial minds to bring their business back. From financial analysts to accountants to credit counselors, there are a variety of ways that finances need to be monitored and moved, and workers are needed to fill these roles.

Hiring is up in financial services
While other areas in the economy continue to slowly regrow, financial services occupations are needed by all industries for their expertise in budgets, finances and spending. And there’s high demand for their help. In a nationwide survey of financial services hiring managers and human resources professionals, 35 percent of financial services employers are increasing full-time headcount this year compared to 2013 — 11 points above the national average and up from 27 percent in 2013.
“Job growth in financial services is expected to outpace job growth for all occupations in 2014,” said Kevin Knapp, chief financial officer for CareerBuilder. “This is good news for jobseekers in the sector, whose skills will be in-demand across a range of businesses and occupations that typically offer highly-competitive wages.”

Top financial services jobs for 2014
The following list of financial services occupations each grew at least 5 percent from 2010-2013 and are projected to grow faster than average growth for all jobs in 2014.

1. Credit analyst
  • Total employment in 2013: 63,449
  • Added 4,973 jobs from 2010-2013, up 9 percent
  • Median hourly earnings: $29.36
2. Financial analyst
  • Total employment in 2013: 257,055
  • Added 16,956  jobs from 2010-2013, up 7 percent
  • Median hourly earnings: $36.82
3. Actuary
  • Total employment in 2013: 22,586
  • Added 1,369 jobs from 2010-2013, up 6 percent
  • Median hourly earnings: $45.04
4. Personal financial advisor
  • Total employment in 2013: 227,974
  • Added 12,417  jobs from 2010-2013, up 6 percent
  • Median hourly earnings: $32.11
5. Credit counselor
  • Total employment in 2013: 28,579
  • Added 1,521 jobs from 2010-2013, up 5 percent
  • Median hourly earnings: $18.96
6. Financial examiner
  • Total employment in 2013: 30,117
  • Added 1,568 jobs from 2010-2013, up 5 percent
  • Median hourly earnings: $36.44
7. Accountant/auditor
  • Total employment in 2013: 1,311,816
  • Added 67,614  jobs from 2010-2013, up 5 percent
  • Median hourly earnings: $30.21
How to join the field
If you’re considering joining the financial services industry, or are angling for a new position, it’s good to know the field’s standards. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most finance jobs typically require a bachelor’s degree in a finance-related subject, like accounting, finance or economics.

Many workers also have certifications or licenses from industry-specific authorities, like the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the main licensing organization for the securities industry. It requires licenses for many financial analyst positions. According to the BLS, “Most of the licenses require sponsorship by an employer, so companies do not expect individuals to have these licenses before starting a job.”
For instance, for financial analysts, the BLS says, “Certification is often recommended by employers and can improve the chances for advancement. An example is the Chartered Financial Analyst certification from the CFA Institute, which financial analysts can get if they have a bachelor’s degree, fours years of experience and pass three exams. Financial analysts can also become certified in their field of specialty.”
For more finance-focused roles, check out MoneyJobs.com, which connects employers to the top talent in the financial services industry. Users can post resumes, sign up for automatic job alerts, and tap into advice on everything from writing résumés to on-the-job success. MoneyJobs is a division of CareerBuilder.

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