FINANCE
CAREER OVERVIEW FOR STUDENTS
DAY ONE – BUSINESS READY
The finance program is offered through Saunders College of Business. The program prepares students for financial
management positions in financial, commercial, industrial and government organizations. Alongside the applied
nature of our program, our students are well equipped with advanced computer skills, an expertise in mathematics,
and a strong understanding of global business. Students interested in financial analysis can find positions in asset
and securities management with financial institutions such as banks, brokerage houses, insurance companies or real
estate firms.
Curriculum for Finance
http://www.rit.edu/programs/finance-0
Degree(s) Awarded
Bachelor of Science
Master of Science in Finance
MBA with a concentration in Finance
Enrollment
Approximately 100 undergraduate students currently
enrolled.
Cooperative Education Component
Students are required to complete 1 semester or 2
summers of Cooperative Education.
Salary Information – Avg/Range
Co-op: $12.50
$8.00 - $18.90
BS:
$39,000
$27,040 - $50,000
MS:
$50,000
$45,000 - $55,000
Accreditation
AACSB International - The Association to Advance
Collegiate Schools of Business.
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Rankings:
BusinessWeek ranks Saunders one of the best
Undergraduate Business Schools by Specialty in
2013.
For 10 consecutive years, the Saunders College of
Business undergraduate programs have ranked in the
top 5% of all U.S. business schools, according to
U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges
in 2004 – 2013 and #56 in the nation.
Student Skills & Capabilities


High quality technical knowledge and effective
communication and presentation skills with in-depth
understanding of the complex economic, legal and
financial environment in which they operate.
Strong functional skills in the area of concentration
with broad knowledge of theory and application
background of finance concepts from the following
major courses:
o Valuation of Real and Financial Assets In this course, students learn to obtain and
organize financial data and conduct financial
analysis such as discounted cash flow
analysis, risk analysis and financial
forecasting. Sources of data include webbased sources and proprietary databases.
Excel will be the main software tool.
o Managing Assets and Liabilities - Focuses
on corporate financial management. Asset
management topics include working capital
management and advanced capital
budgeting. Liability management topics
include dividend policy, capital structure
policy, security issuance and leasing.
o Financial Modeling – A critical course in
which students learn how to use
spreadsheets in a systematic manner to
model and solve financial problems.
Included among the many problems studied
are methods to diagnose financial
performance, forecasting cash flows, and
forecasting financing requirements.
o Intermediate Investments - focuses on the
financial investment problems faced by
individuals and institutions. Theoretical
topics include asset pricing, hedging and
arbitrage. Application topics include risk
management in bond and stock portfolio
context. A discussion of options, futures
and swaps is also included.
Nature of Work
Almost every firm, government agency, and other type of organization has one or more financial managers.
Financial managers oversee the preparation of financial reports, direct investment activities, and implement cash
management strategies. Managers also develop strategies and implement the long-term goals of their organization.
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook)
Training/Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or business administration is the minimum academic
preparation for financial managers. However, many employers now seek graduates with a master’s degree,
preferably in business administration, economics, finance, or risk management. These academic programs develop
analytical skills and teach the latest financial analysis methods and technology. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics O.O.H.)
Job Outlook
Employment growth for financial managers is expected is to be slower than average for all occupations. However,
applicants will likely face keen competition for jobs. Those with a master's degree and certification will have the
best opportunities.
Employment change. Employment of financial managers over the 2010–20 decade is expected to grow by 8
percent, which is slower than average for all occupations. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics O.O.H.)
Job Titles
Corporate Finance, Stock Brokers, Financial Analyst, Financial Planner, Investment Bankers, Research Analyst,
Budget Analyst, Insurance Underwriter, Loan Officer, Benefits Consultant, Risk Management
Significant Points
o Quantitative skills are extremely important. Take additional courses in math, statistics, and accounting.
o An MBA is required to move beyond the entry-level analyst position in investment banking.
Investment banking is highly competitive
o Several professional designations and licenses, e.g. Chartered Financial Analyst or Certified Financial
Planner, are available to finance professionals working in a particular area. Earning these designations
may help one obtain advanced positions.
Employment
Financial managers held about 527,000 jobs in 2010. Although they can be found in every industry, approximately 3
out of 10 were employed by finance and insurance establishments, such as banks, savings institutions, finance
companies, credit unions, insurance carriers, and securities dealers. About 8 percent worked for Federal, State, or
local government. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics O.O.H.)
Selected Employers of RIT Finance Co-op and Graduating Students
Bank of New York Mellon, Bausch & Lomb, CitiGroup, First American Equipment Finance, Eastman Kodak,
Harris Corporation, ITT Industries, JP MorganChase, M&T Bank, Manning & Napier Advisors Inc., Merrill Lynch,
Midwest Inc., Morgan Stanley, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, The Hershey Company, The Raymond
Corporation, Xerox Corporation
Contact Us
We appreciate your interest in your career and we will make every effort to help you succeed. Feel free to contact Maria
Richart, the program coordinator who works with the Finance program. You can access information about services
through our web site at http://www.rit.edu/co-op/careers.
Maria J. Richart, Associate Director, mjroce@rit.edu
RIT Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services . Bausch & Lomb Center
57 Lomb Memorial Drive . Rochester NY 14623-5603, 585.475.2301, 585.475.6905 tty
Unless otherwise noted, information is based upon data collected by RIT Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services.
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