The term finance has a variety of meanings, all of them having to do with money: as a noun, finance can mean the management of revenue, as in the conduct of financial transactions in a general sense and particularly in the area of investing and banking. Its plural form, finances, refers to financial resources, such as a bank account. As a verb—as in to finance—the term means to supply something or someone with capital or money.
In all its meanings, finance is the core of the banking industry. Ultimately, banking is all about the flow of financial resources. As a result, a finance job is a position that involves finances in some way. Fortunately, these positions are in no short supply.
Let’s take a look at some available (and often greatly varying) positions that fit the description of a finance job, including the requirements, expectations, and duties.
Credit Solution Advisor
A credit union may be looking for a credit solution advisor for an indirect auto lending team. Ideally, candidates will have some recent experience in auto collections, as well as an excellent work ethic, and, if possible, bilingual skills (English and Spanish).
Candidates are expected to have a solid understanding of the Fair Debt Collection Act as well as an understanding of regulatory procedures and laws relating to collections in the appropriate state. The position requires a high school diploma (or GED) and at least one year of experience in secured consumer finance debt collection.
Credit Resolution Specialist
If a credit union is seeking a skilled collector, or credit resolution specialist, candidates seeking this position must have a minimum of two years of consumer collections experience and a bachelor’s degree (alternatively, equivalent education and work experience may be considered for this type of position).
The ideal candidate will have skills in all things relating to collections, from maintaining a well-organized and updated account portfolio to finding creative solutions where and when possible. Candidates must have excellent written and oral skills, and must be well versed in collections and bankruptcy regulations and policy, remaining flexible, courteous, and professional under a wide variety of conditions.
Financial Sales Assistant
A financial institution offering investment and retirement planning products may be searching for a qualified individual for the position of financial sales assistant. This position works with both existing and potential customers to answer a large variety of inquiries and provide positive solutions. This position provides administrative support to the representatives, but also serves as a business development partner, helping to explore avenues for accounts and investments.
Requirements for this type of position include previous experience with brokerage and insurance products, administrative experience, working knowledge of Microsoft Office, and basic knowledge of investment terms, functions, and compliance aspects. Most companies seek candidates who possess an associate’s degree, National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) Series 7 and 63 registrations, Series 65 or 66 licenses, state life, health, disability and variable licenses.
Risk Advisory Service Senior Manager
This type of position may be for a financial advisory team, and requires both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field, as well as a thorough understanding of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) laws and banking regulations, and extensive knowledge of the Institute for Internal Auditors’s (IIA) International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF).
In addition to these qualifications, applicants should have evidenced expertise in business development and strategy, as well as practice development, and a record of successful growth at a previous employer. This position requires excellent verbal and writing skills, and solid interpersonal abilities in combination with a team-oriented attitude and experience supervising up to fifteen staff members (this often includes training, managing, developing, and retaining staff).
Applicants may also be required to have eight to ten years of regulatory compliance experience with a banking agency (state or federal), large financial institution internal audit experience, and/or a mixture of industry, consulting, or regulatory experience.
These are just a few examples of finance jobs and their requirements.