The top 10 highest paid positions offered in finance and how to land them

We have all eagerly ushered in a promising new year full of resolutions to work towards. Perhaps a career pivot is one of your resolutions and with that in mind we’ve sourced the top 10 most lucrative openings available in the corporate sector of finance.

Once we cover the core skill set financial institutions deem necessary to truly shine in the right job within the finance sphere, we’ll link to open positions available on Ladders.

According to a efinancial careers jobs in finance will continue to do well into 2021 and beyond for the following reasons. “The response to the COVID-19 pandemic by governments and central banks across the world has transformed revenues for financial services firms. The record amounts of stimulus have led to record levels of capital markets activity and triggered a rebound in trading revenues, while private equity firms are looking to push cash to work again.”

Let’s take a look at the burgeoning field of finance to find out where you would fit best and make the most out of your career in 2021 in an arena with boundless exciting opportunities.

1. Financial analyst for a hedge fund

This particular field of finance offers entry-level candidates anywhere from 150K per year with the potential to double those earnings with merit-based performance. If you prove your worth at an institution like this you can qualify for huge bonuses bringing the average salary of financial analysts working for hedge funds up to 350K! Many hedge funds look to hire in-house talent providing paid graduate programs for junior financial advisors to affordably hone their skills.

The Edward Daniels Group is looking to bring in some candidates with experience in cracking complex problems in financial markets. Applicants should be well versed in programs like Python to handle large amounts of data, experience interning for financial or tech firms, and have a Master’s or Ph.D. degree from a competitive university in a quantitative field such as statistics, mathematics, operational research, computer science, finance or economics.

If this sounds like a good fit for you apply for positions available on Ladders today!

2. Private equity analyst

A private equity analyst does the behind the scenes work to attract big clients or companies that promise large financial returns by applying a few strategic changes to their current marketing strategy. This is where private equity analysts come into play. This junior entry level position focuses on executing deals, monitoring the portfolio of companies, and screening new deals. They also come up with better financial models for struggling companies to better compete in the industry through collecting data from similar competitors in the marketplace.

The Barclays Center based in New York is looking for analysts to assist new clients in the new year. If you think you have what it takes to bring companies to the next level financially then apply for this coveted position here that offers undergraduates and those promoted directly within an analyst program offered at an investment bank between 100-150K per year salary.

3. Investment banking division analyst

Some lessons were learned from the economic travesties that occurred back in 2008 since instead of firing analysts when the market collapsed investment banks brought more on this time to help expedite the process of recovery. It ends up costing more to fire a slew of analysts only to try to bring them back on suddenly when things get better. An analyst is usually in charge of handling mergers and acquisitions which thankfully continue to be on the rise despite the economic downturn brought on by the novel coronavirus. This brief delves deeper into the responsibilities of an analyst employed with an investment bank and the following is an excerpt to give you a general idea of what you’ll be taking on in this new position.

“Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is a general term used to describe the consolidation of companies or assets through various types of financial transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, consolidations, tender offers, purchase of assets, and management acquisitions.”

The Janus Capital Group, Inc. based in Denver, Colorado is looking for a full-time analyst to bring on their dynamic team. The salary is a handsome 80-100K per year so apply here.

4. Investment banking sales and trading division

If you’re looking to become the next Wolf of Wall Street look no further than the sales and trading division at investment banks. What does this sort of career move entail?

According to the ultimate guide to sales and trading blog, you’re responsible for the following. “Sales and trading refer to the division of an investment bank responsible for making markets in stocks, bonds, and derivatives. Salespeople work with asset managers, hedge funds, insurance companies, and other buy-side investors to pitch ideas and to buy or sell securities or derivatives. Sales and Trading are also referred to as the Markets or Securities Division, depending on the bank.” This position offers a competitive salary of 100K per year.

BlackRock, Inc. in San Francisco is looking for folks well versed in the market to help their clients’ finances soar in the coming years and you can apply for that career here.

5. Quantitative risk analyst

This particular arena in finance requires applicants to be proficient in handling stakeholder’s investments deftly through developing and then implementing complex mathematical models for financial firms. This model will inform all future investments, pricing, and the risks involved. Essentially you want to reduce risk through avoiding bad investments and instead use market research and mathematical algorithms to decide the best way to generate profits.

Getting your master’s in Data Science will be largely beneficial in terms of landing a job like this. The First Republic Bank in Los Angeles, California is looking for someone to fill this role.

Start making 80-100K a year by sending in your resume here.

6. Regulatory reporting accountant

Accountants are in high demand since every company needs someone paying special attention to detail especially when it comes down to handling million-dollar investments for clients. What exactly is the role of a regulatory reporting accountant? This brief explains your duties as a regulatory reporting accountant. “The stock market relies on market research from regulatory reporting accountants to provide public opinions required by the rules governing capital markets’ transactions to perform financial due diligence for financial directors and advisors.”

Workday is looking to bring on someone at their headquarters in Frisco, Texas with experience in this field to start making 80-100K salary that can consult with IT, financial managers and customers alike to build a business. If this job sounds like it aligns with your skills, apply here now!

7. Internal auditor

What kind of core competencies are encouraged to be a great internal auditor at a financial institution? Nowadays simply having a background in accounting is not enough. Internal auditors must exhibit meticulous attention to detail, a high aptitude in mathematics, and experience working in data-mining systems. The most desired quality in an internal audit position is analytical and critical thinking skills according to CFO magazine ranking the desired attributes of an applicant in order here:

  • Analytical and critical thinking (73%)
  • Communication skills (61%)
  • Data mining and analytics (50%)
  • General IT knowledge (49%)
  • Business acumen (46%)

Did you check yes next to every desired trait and you have a background in finance? You’re in luck since the National Bank of California in Irvine, California is hiring. The pay ranges from 80-100K depending on experience so don’t hesitate to jumpstart your career and apply here.

8. Private banking analyst

A private banking analyst acts as your financial advisor providing deep analysis on the state of an individual or a company’s financial standing to make the best recommendations based on their assets such as their current investments, estates, and philanthropic objectives.

This deep dive helps inform future decisions for lucrative investments based on unique qualifiers. Having a firm grasp on the banking industry is paramount as well as strong interpersonal and communication skills. Argo Data in Richardson, Texas is looking for a banking consultant and analyst to apply the aforementioned qualifications. The starting salary is 80K but can reach up to 100K for more experienced analysts that handle high net-worth clients well.

Apply for this job on Ladder’s site here!

9. Compliance finance managers

Compliance managers in financial institutions are there to ensure clients and their financial assistants are on the straight and narrow as far as legal practices go. These managers prevent white-collar crimes by abiding by this code of ethics broken down in the following financial blog. “A compliance manager is responsible for ensuring a company’s policies and procedures comply with regulatory and ethical standards. Also referred to as a compliance specialist, these highly-analytical professionals perform regular audits, implement company policies, and design control systems.”

If this job description piques your interest, apply for this IT compliance management role offered by the company First American Payment Systems offering employees 100K per year.

10. Actuary

A career as an actuary will have you utilizing mathematics, statistics, and an acute understanding of applied financial theory to determine the financial costs of risky investments and uncertainty in the market. You will work with clients and businesses to minimize risk to ensure they get the proper returns on their investments. Actuaries need a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and they must also pass a series of exams on the job. The salary for this position starts at around 80K but the pay increases with each exam passed on the job.

BrightHouse Financial, LLC located in Charlotte, North Carolina is looking for someone to streamline their actuarial system and you can apply for that open position here.