Take a look at these best-paying jobs in finance!

One of the best things about careers in the finance sector is that they are highly sought-after and regarded. The jobs you find in this industry often come with attractive compensation packages, and it’s a career where you can show your value to a company through your expertise and skill. In this blog, we will take a look at some of the best-paying jobs in finance. Here’s what we will cover:

• Why do finance jobs pay so much?

• Do finance careers have a good work-life balance?

• What are the top 5 best-paying jobs in finance?

Why do finance jobs pay so much?

One reason finance jobs pay so much is that those in finance roles tend to have an increased amount of responsibilities. There are also additional risks that are taken by those in a finance role that you don’t see in roles where salaries aren’t as high.

If finance is a career you are considering, here’s a look at some of the things you can expect to experience and some of the reasons why these jobs have such high paychecks:

• Company stability. The finance department is often directly responsible for creating stability in a company by being the ones in charge of making key financial decisions that drive the success of the entire organization. 

• Complex work. Along with being heavily math-based, some of the work financial employees do daily is rather complex. You often need to make complicated decisions quickly while also having the ability to research and analyze data to back those decisions.

• Long-term planning. Financial department employees aren’t just responsible for making decisions for the here and now. Instead, they will regularly be making decisions with a long-term goal in mind.

• Required versatility. The finance department is the heart of any organization, which means you will need to be flexible and think on your feet. Along with guiding other departments, you will examine current practices and make changes to align with the company’s goals.

• Weather economic downfalls. While the goal is always to improve a business and help it grow, there are times when that won’t be possible and your company will suffer an economic downfall. It will then become your job to weather that storm and put practices in place to help the business survive until things turn back around again.

• Serve as a liaison. Often, it’s the financial controller or manager who is the go-between for the C-Suite members and the heads of the organization they are part of. As a finance employee, you will need to have great communication skills so that you can work with all levels of other groups and employees within your organization.

Do finance careers have a good work-life balance?

The work-life balance you find in finance jobs will vary widely depending on the specific role as well as the company you are working for. Some industries, like those in investment banking, are known to have high-pressure, demanding working environments, but many others offer a great work-life balance.

Some of the positions that provide more of a predictable work-life balance are roles related to financial planning and analysis, corporate finance, and asset management. There are still long hours that you’ll need to work occasionally, but your schedule is more likely to be fairly predictable in these positions.

What are the top 10 best-paying finance jobs?

One thing you’ll quickly learn is that in the finance industry, there are tons of high-paying jobs. If you are entering this field, here are the 10 best-paying finance jobs you may want to consider pursuing:

1. CFO

CFOs in the US can make over $400K per year. They are often responsible for all financial aspects of an organization.

2. Financial planners

Financial planners typically make at least $60K and spend their time helping individuals and businesses reach their long and short-term goals.

3. Senior accountant

Most senior accountants make around $80K annually. It’s a role that is responsible for much of the day-to-day accounting work a business needs to tackle.

4. Investment banking analyst

Investment banking analysts work with all types of clients on projects related to capital. People in this field make between $72K and $89K annually.

5. Financial analysts

$95K annually is the average salary for financial analysts, whose responsibility is to help companies make better financial decisions.

6. CCO

A chief compliance officer usually makes over $200K per year. This role’s goal is to ensure companies stay compliant and follow regulatory guidelines.

7. Finance director

If managing budgets and forecasts sounds fun, a finance director might be the job for you. Those working in this role typically earn over $110K annually.

8. Loan officer

For those interested in pursuing a career in banking, a loan officer is something to consider. Along with averaging $50K annually, commission is usually earned and can bump that number up significantly.

9. Financial auditor

The financial auditor role is a great entry-level position that still earns a great paycheck. Averaging $60K per year, auditors evaluate financial records and accounting systems.

10. Private equity manager

With a salary of around $90K, the private equity manager provides business strategy, data modeling and analysis, and investment banking knowledge to corporations.

Stop by our salary analyzer page to learn how we can help you learn more about the income expectations of the jobs you are interested in.

Key takeaways

1. Finance jobs pay so much because employees in this field are responsible for company stability and growth and make important decisions for the organization.

2. Work-life balance for finance workers can vary depending on the particular role and the company.

3. There are lots of high-paying jobs in the finance industry, but some of the top options are CFOs, COOs, and investment banking analysts.