The Finance cluster is about using your skills in math and statistics to prepare for well-paying careers in financial and investment planning, banking, insurance, and business financial management.

This career pathway is divided into five pathways:

• Accounting

• Banking Service

• Business Finance

• Insurance

• Securities and Investments

Accounting

Accounting encompasses careers that record, classify, summarize, analyze, and communicate a business's financial information/business transactions for use in management decision-making. Accounting includes such activities as bookkeeping, systems design, analysis, and interpretation of accounting information.

Sample occupations include:

• Accountant

• Accounting Clerk

• Cost Analyst

• Management Accountant

• Merger and Acquisitions Manager

• Personal Financial Advisor

• Revenue Agent

• Tax Accountant

Banking Services

Primarily concerned with accepting deposits, lending funds, and extending credit, banking services include cash management, short-term investments, mortgages and other loans, credit cards, and bill payment. Banking services are delivered via a number of different institutions, from commercial banks (the largest group) and other traditional means (savings and loans associations, credit unions, and local banks) to newer ventures through insurance companies, brokerage houses, and the internet.

Sample occupations include:

• Account Executive

• Bill and Account Collector

• Branch Manager

• Compliance Officer

• Credit Analyst

• Debt Counselor

• Financial Manager

• Loan Officer

• Teller

• Title Researcher

Business Finance

The business finance function in a company is to manage policy and strategy for (and the implementation of) capital structure, budgeting, acquisition and investment, financial modeling and planning, funding, dividends, and taxation.

Sample occupations include:

• Auditor

• Cash Manager

• Controller

• Economist

• Project Manager

• Revenue Agent

• Shipping and Receiving Clerk

• Tax Preparer

Insurance

The insurance industry, which exists to protect individuals and businesses from financial losses, delivers services that transfer risk from an individual or business to an insurance company.

Sample occupations include:

• Actuary

• Benefits and Job Analysis Specialist

• Claims Adjuster

• Claims Clerk

• Claims Examiner

• Insurance Appraiser

• Insurance Processing Clerk

• Insurance Sales Agent

• Risk and Insurance Manager

• Underwriter

Securities and Investments

The securities and investments industry consists of brokerage firms, investment banks, and stock exchanges, all of which support the flow of funds from investors to companies and institutions. Related services include financial planning, asset management, hedge fund management, and custody services.

Sample occupations include:

• Financial Analyst

• Fund Manager

• Personal Financial Advisor

• Real Estate Developer

• Securities and Commodities Sales Agent

In order to make a plan for your future career goals, you need to know how to get there and make sure it is a good fit for you. There are several tools that can be used for career research. These tools can give you a description of the career, skills needed, tasks involved, wage range, and education/training needed.

Here are a few career research tools:

• Xello

• Onet-Use the "Occupation Search" features

• My Next Move

• CareerOneStop-Use "Occupation Search" or "List of Occupations"

• ASVAB-Career Exploration Program