Corporate Finance: Job Functions, Careers and Salaries (2024)

An Overview of Corporate Finance, Including Job Functions, Positions and Salaries

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What Is Corporate Finance?

Corporate Finance Definition: Corporate finance is the division of a large company that manages its audit and financial statements, budgeting and planning, cash flow and cash, capital structure, risk, and tax, and makes key decisions in all these areas.

The purpose of corporate finance is to report on a company’s business accurately on the financial statements and to external parties, and to plan and facilitate future growth.

The three main divisions within corporate finance areFinancial Planning & Analysis (FP&A),Controllership, andTreasury, and each one manages a different aspect of the company’s finances.

When most people think of corporate finance, they think of FP&A roles, where your job is to plan the company’s budgets, compare expected and actual performance, and so on.

But that’s just one small part of this field; Controllership (accounting and the financial statements), Treasury (cash and cash flow needs, including external financing), and even areas like Internal Audit, Pricing, Risk, and Tax also play big roles.

Corporate Finance Topics

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Investor Relations Careers
Corporate Strategy Careers
Corporate Analyst Role

Corporate Finance Jobs & Hierarchy

Corporate finance may not be as “prestigious” as investment banking, and it doesn’t give you as many exit opportunities…

However, it does offer a stimulating career path where you can still make hundreds of thousands of dollars, and even millions in annual salary and bonuses if you’re at the right company in the right role.

Most corporate finance departments at large companies are similar, with the King (or Queen) of the castle being the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Reporting to the CFO, you find the following roles:

  • The Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Manager: Heads the management accounting department and is in charge of reporting on and forecasting the P&L.
  • The Controller: Heads the financial accounting department and is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the balance sheet for reporting, investor relations and audit purposes.
  • The Treasurer: Heads up the treasury department, and deals with everything related to cash and cash flow.

Corporate Finance: Job Functions, Careers and Salaries (9)

Corporate Finance: Job Functions, Careers and Salaries (10)

Compensation varies widely depending on the size of the company and the size of the P&L, but here’s what you might expect at each level:

FP&A Salaries

  • Entry-Level Analyst: $70K USD base salary
  • Senior FP&A Analyst: $100-130K USD base salary, plus up to 10% bonus
  • : $200K USD for a smaller P&L (e.g., the German division of a global company)
  • Global FP&A Manager: up to a 7-figure salary in a large organization

Controller Salaries

  • Entry-Level Controller: $40-50K USD for an entry level position on the “traditional” accounting side
  • More senior Controller roles will earn equivalent to FP&A salaries above

Treasury Salaries

  • Entry-Level Analyst: $70K-$90K USD base salary
  • Senior Analyst: $100-170K USD, with a 15% bonus
  • Treasurer: $200K USD at the low end, up to $4MM USD for the most prestigious global roles

Corporate Finance: Job Functions, Careers and Salaries (11)

Corporate Finance Courses

Corporate finance is a “relatively competitive” field to get into.

“Relatively competitive” means that it’s easier than investment banking or equity research (for example), but also harder than most non-finance roles at large companies.

You don’t need an Ivy League degree or perfect grades to win offers – just a good knowledge of accounting, the financial statements, and key tools such as Excel.

And you don’t necessarily need to prepare for case studies or modeling tests or anything like that because interviews for corporate finance roles tend to be a bit more qualitative.

Our courses on Breaking Into Wall Street (BIWS) are not geared toward corporate finance, but there is some overlap because they teach many skills that are useful in all finance roles.

We recommend the following courses and packages if you’re interested in this field:

  • Excel & VBA– Get up to speed quickly on the most important shortcuts, commands, and formulas
  • Core Financial Modeling – Provides an overview of financial modeling in different industries via the 10+ global case studies
  • PowerPoint Pro– Learn how to make slides and presentations with the key shortcuts and our custom macro package
  • BIWS Premium– Learn Excel & VBA, financial modeling, and PowerPoint to accelerate your on-the-job performance

Corporate Finance: Job Functions, Careers and Salaries (12)

Corporate Finance: Job Functions, Careers and Salaries (13)

Corporate Finance: Job Functions, Careers and Salaries (14)

Corporate Finance: Job Functions, Careers and Salaries (15)

Corporate Finance: Job Functions, Careers and Salaries (2024)

FAQs

Corporate Finance: Job Functions, Careers and Salaries? ›

As a fresher in corporate finance, your primary responsibility will be to analyze financial data and prepare reports. This includes studying financial statements, conducting ratio analysis, and evaluating key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the company's financial health and performance.

What is the job function of corporate finance? ›

As a fresher in corporate finance, your primary responsibility will be to analyze financial data and prepare reports. This includes studying financial statements, conducting ratio analysis, and evaluating key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the company's financial health and performance.

Is corporate finance high paying? ›

Corporate Finance Analyst Salaries

The rules of thumb are: Entry Level (Analyst): The “average” base salary is ~$70K USD at most large companies. But you might earn less than this in Controllership (more like $50K), and more than this at large tech companies (see below).

What does a corporate finance function do? ›

It deals with the day-to-day demands on business cash flows and long-term financing goals (e.g., issuing bonds). Corporate finance also involves monitoring cash flows, accounting, preparing financial statements, and taxation.

What are the five basic corporate finance functions? ›

The five basic corporate functions are financing (or capital raising), capital budgeting, financial management, corporate governance, and risk management. These functions are all related, for example, a company needs financing to fund its capital budgeting choices.

Is corporate finance stressful? ›

The median annual wage for business and financial occupations is $46,310 higher than the median annual wage for all occupations. Drawbacks of a career in finance can include high stress, long working hours, continuing education requirements, and, in some cases, limited job stability.

Is it hard to get into corporate finance? ›

You don't need an MBA to work in finance, but the field is highly competitive, especially at the entry-level. Internships offer experience, exposure, and a tryout for a full-time gig.

What degree is best for corporate finance? ›

If you want to get a graduate degree, your options include earning a master's in business administration (MBA) or a master's degree in another business-related area, such as management, finance, business analytics, marketing, or entrepreneurship.

Is corporate finance a lot of math? ›

Math skills

Corporate finance uses, more than anything else, a lot of math. The majority of it is quite simple, but it's still math, so corporate finance is particularly ideal for those who are numerically inclined.

Is corporate finance a hard major? ›

Finance degrees are generally considered to be challenging. In a program like this, students gain exposure to new concepts, from financial lingo to mathematical problems, so there can be a learning curve.

What are the three main areas of corporate finance? ›

The three main areas of corporate finance are capital budgeting, capital structure, and working capital management.

Why should I do corporate finance? ›

If you enjoy working with numbers and you have strong analytical skills, then corporate finance could be the career for you. Those who are good problem-solvers and have a strong attention to detail do well in the area.

Is corporate finance competitive? ›

Corporate finance is a “relatively competitive” field to get into. “Relatively competitive” means that it's easier than investment banking or equity research (for example), but also harder than most non-finance roles at large companies.

What is the difference between finance and corporate finance? ›

Corporate finance mostly tries to increase the capital of the firm where as finance deals with profits and every day operations. Track the investments. Build strategies to maximize the capital.

What is corporate finance in simple words? ›

Corporate finance is a branch of finance that focuses on how corporations approach capital structuring, funding sources, investments, and accounting decisions. 1. Its primary goal is to maximize shareholder value while striking a balance between risk and profitability.

Is corporate finance the same as investment banking? ›

Corporate finance and investment banking are very different in terms of their aims and purpose. Investment banking helps businesses raise capital in a variety of ways, such as mergers and acquisitions, as well as selling securities, while corporate finance helps organizations acquire funding and manage their assets.

Which of the following is a basic function of corporate finance? ›

Corporate financial functions are essential to the successful operation of any company. Five primary functions are crucial to a company's success: financing, capital budgeting, financial management, corporate governance, and risk management.

What skills are required for corporate finance? ›

Skills Needed:
  • Problem solving and analytical skills.
  • Research skills.
  • Critical thinking skills.
  • Attention to detail.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Strong quantitative background.
  • Time management and ability to multitask.

What is the function of a financing corporation? ›

FICO's sole purpose was for issuing bonds to finance a rebuilding of the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC), and after FIRREA to function as a financing vehicle for the FSLIC Resolution Fund that succeeded the FSLIC.

What is an example of a job title in corporate finance? ›

Common corporate finance positions titles include financial analysts, who work to interpret the data and create reports; directors of finance, who work to ensure everything is in order in the team; finance managers, who oversee the creation of advice for maximizing profits and decreasing losses; CFOs, who speak ...

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