Those who do a B.A. in Accounting and Finance are a rare breed. Most people tend to go with the more conventional alternatives such as a B.Com or a BBA, even a BMS, but only a few special people do a BAF.
If you are one of those rare and unique people, naturally, you must be wondering – what next? And it is at this juncture of time that you would have realized that there are not a lot of resources on the internet that talk about career options after B.A. in accounting and finance. The ones that do talk about it only give incomplete information based on half-baked theories and assumptions.
So, how would you know which career option pays BAF graduates the most amount of money, or which profession has the best work-life balance?
Don’t worry, we have done all the research for you. After talking to multiple finance professionals and doing a huge amount of homework, we have finally come up with a list of best career options after BA in Accounting and Finance:
Financial Risk Analyst
As an accounting graduate, you will (we hope) be well-versed in financial risk and all the different intricacies around this subject. So how about you do something that actually uses all that information stored inside your brain. Nice idea? Yeah, we thought so.
Becoming a Financial Risk Analyst is just about the perfect way to do that. In simple words, what a risk analyst does is measuring, monitoring, analyzing and identifying market and credit risk. He (or she) does so by incorporating methods like simulation, optimization modeling, production of sensitivity, financial modeling, stress testing, scenario analysis, etc.
Is there any other job that is more suitable for a fresh accounting and finance graduate? If it exists, we don’t know about it. Which is highly unlikely, because if you haven’t noticed, we are a website about careers.
At the beginning of your career, you can expect to earn about anywhere between 5,00,000 and 7,00,000 rupees per annum. And as you get more experience behind your name, this number is only going to become bigger and bigger. Freelancing can also be done in this line of work, which can further increase your income if you do it on the side.
Financial risk analysts are hired by all the major multinational corporations, and they can also find employment in investment firms. What are you waiting for? Start approaching the HR people of these companies on LinkedIn, and who knows, you may just strike gold.
Accountant
Another fantastic choice for you if you recently graduated with a BAF degree is to work as an accountant. Decent pay, plenty of room for advancement, the chance to put all of your skills that you learned during graduation to good use, and some perks thrown in for good measure. What more could an accounting and finance graduate possibly require?
If you’re not sure, this is what an accountant does – An accountant is responsible for preparing asset, liability, and account entries by thoroughly analyzing the financial operations of the business. They are also responsible for taking note of all the financial transactions that happen within an organization.
The job profile varies depending on the business and your place in the organizational chain, but this will essentially be your primary responsibility. If leadership and management are essential factors for you in choosing a profession, opportunities are easily available once you reach a certain level of experience.
Growth and leadership opportunities can be difficult to come by at first, but if you persevere, you will be rewarded with increased responsibilities (and of course; better pay). Work-life balance can be ridiculous at times, but it’s not impossible to achieve if you have good relations with your superiors.
Let’s get to the good stuff. Starting salaries are around 6,00,000-7,00,000 rupees per annum, but there is a lot of room for development. Also, bear in mind that this is an estimate; if you live in a major city or tier-1 city, your salary would be much higher.
Tax Advisor
Right now, tax advisors are one of the most in-demand professionals in our country. Students who will graduate after completing a B.A. in accounting and finance are the ones who are most eligible for this position.
Tax Advisors provide commercially focused tax advice to a wide range of clients who deal with various sectors of the economy. Tax consultants use past information and the current trends in guiding their clients to make the best business decisions that help them save on taxes. And did we mention that the growth prospects are excellent?
The real picture is that money in this sector has been steadily increasing year by year. You can expect to earn somewhere in the 4,00,000-6,00,000 range when you begin your journey in this field, but a lot depends on how good you are at your work as well as the company that hires you.
Work-life balance varies by organization, but in general, weekends are considered holidays, and overtime is uncommon.
Only a few people who are successful enough to rise to the top are offered leadership positions. In this field, soft skills are generally not needed, and being an introvert can actually work for you. A high degree of self-assurance is an absolute must. If you don’t like working with numbers and have poor analytical skills, this may not be the best option for you.
Investment Analyst
If you’re a finance graduate, pursuing the road to becoming an Investment Analyst is a fantastic choice for you. The job description is exciting, and you’ll be challenged to solve new problems every day in a creative manner. Is there anything more satisfying? We doubt it.
An Investment Analyst provides stock market traders and fund managers with advice and recommendations derived from global investment data and available financial information. Some aspects of the job description, as well as work-life balance, can vary from company to company. Some businesses ensure that their workers have a good work-life balance, while others do not. It is what it is.
With time, leadership opportunities become open, and the opportunity for career advancement is enormous. However, bear in mind that this is a desk job, so travel will be a rare aspect of your workday. So, if travel is a top priority or a make-or-break factor for you, this career path may not be the right fit for you.
The pay in this field is good, with freshers being given a good starting salary (approximately 6,00,000 rupees per annum). The money in this sector is growing very rapidly because share trading and investment is growing very rapidly in our country. Platforms like Zerodha have brought investing to the common man. And this is very good news for investment analysts.
This work does not require much travel, but you will be exposed to a few transfers here and there. Are you ecstatic? Start applying for junior/assistant investment analyst positions now. Not your cup of tea? Continue reading for a one more suggestion to assist you in finding your dream career.
Financial Planner
For students of B.A. accounting, becoming a financial planner is a slightly unusual or odd career choice. However, being special does not imply that the work is of poor quality or that the pay is low. It simply means that, for whatever reason, there aren’t many people who walk this route.
A financial planner or financial advisor guides people in preparing the budgets regarding investments and savings. They generally work with individuals or a group of people invested in a business. Good communication skills and interpersonal skills are the key attributes of this profile. And as you gain experience, man-management and leadership skills become increasingly important.
The role is dynamic, which means that no two days will be alike. You’ll still be a problem solver if you’re a financial planner. Plus, if you’re a ‘creative’ problem solver, you’ll get bonus points.
In this sector, salaries vary greatly. And they are based on a variety of unrelated variables, but one thing you can count on is that you will be paid what you are worth. Salaries start around 7,00,000 rupees per annum, but keep in mind that this is just an approximation.
The potential for growth is strong, but the competition is fierce. The job can be difficult and stressful at times, but if you like finance, you will enjoy being the person who plans it out for a company. To stand out, you’d have to be exceptionally good at your work. The sky is the limit for the fortunate few who make it.
So these were some of the highest-paying professions that you can go for after completing a B.A. in Accounting and Finance. Did you like the article and found it informative? Then please share it with fellow finance students so that they can make well-informed decisions about their professional life. Subscribe to our newsletter to get a weekly update about the different career options added on the website.