Welcome to the finance page!

Whether you are just beginning to explore a career in finance or looking to deepen your understanding of the field, you are in the right place. On this page you will find the tools and resources to explore Finance deeply, reflect on your interests, and connect your strengths to real-world career possibilities.

Your journey starts here—let’s explore what’s possible!

What is finance?

Finance is the function focused on managing money, assets, and investments to support informed decision-making and long-term value creation. Professionals in finance help individuals, businesses, and institutions allocate resources effectively, assess risk, and plan for the future.

Career paths in finance span corporate finance, investment banking, asset management, private equity, venture capital, financial planning, and more. Finance professionals play key roles in budgeting, forecasting, valuation, capital allocation, and strategic growth.

To better understand the landscape, explore our Finance career map to explore this function visually. After you have explored this function, we encourage you to visit other function pages within the W. P. Carey career website to compare and gain a clearer picture of where you might thrive professionally.

Core skills needed for finance careers

Success in finance requires analytical rigor, business acumen, and strong communication skills. Core competencies include:

• Financial analysis and modeling: Build and interpret models to evaluate performance, value assets, and forecast future outcomes.
• Quantitative skills: Use data and statistical tools to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Strategic thinking: Understand how financial decisions impact an organization’s growth, operations, and competitiveness.
• Technology proficiency: Work with Excel, financial modeling platforms, and analytics tools (e.g., Bloomberg, Tableau, Python).
• Attention to detail: Ensure accuracy in financial reporting, investment analysis, and regulatory compliance.
• Communication and presentation: Translate complex financial information into clear, compelling insights for stakeholders.

Whether you are interested in corporate finance, capital markets, or financial strategy, the finance field offers dynamic opportunities to shape business decisions and drive economic impact.

Related clubs and organizations

Financial Management Association (FMA)

Finance and Accounting Career Club

Student Economics Association

Explore all student organizations at ASU here

Learn more about networking via professional chapters here

10-Year demand forecast

The BLS forecasts steady growth in finance-related occupations. Roles like financial analyst, portfolio manager, banker and loan officer are expected to grow by 8.39% from 2022 to 2032.

Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

How you can expect to engage in your job search

There are three primary ways business school students find jobs. Understanding which of these is part of your job search will help you build an efficient plan. Although each of these types of job searches requires a different plan, they all require the same core capabilities for success: Personal narrative, market research, networking, applications, and interviewing. Let us help you figure it out!

• On-campus/Global Job Search
  The majority of on-campus recruiting happens in the fall semester with a smaller set of firms doing campus recruiting in the spring. This requires you to be prepped and ready to interview soon after school starts. If the firms you are focused on do not visit ASU’s campus, then you will need to supplement your On-campus strategy with a Networked or Just-in-time job search.
• Networked Job Search
  All job searches require networking skills. If you are targeting firms that do not recruit on-campus at ASU then a Networked job search is your avenue. This requires a proactive approach to research, as well as developing relationships with the goal of building advocates within a firm. You’ll need to ensure your personal narrative and job search skills are well developed to convince these firms to consider you.
• Just-in-time Job Search
  A majority of firms, whether they participate in on-campus recruiting or not, will have a need for immediate hires throughout the year. Although applications are submitted at the time of need, your preparation and networking should be ongoing in order to be ready when these opportunities arise. These opportunities can be limited and are not predictable, so you’ll want to view this as a back-up strategy, rather than an excuse to delay your job search.