In business corporations, finance graduates are concerned primarily with financial management. Some graduates may enter the credit department where they analyze credit applications, make decisions on credit extension, and assist in collecting past-due accounts receivable.
Graduates joining commercial banks usually begin as management trainees.
They are trained in various departments for a period of six to twelve months until they begin a position in loans, branch supervision, operations, internal audit, trusts, investments, or another area. Graduates of the finance program are also hired by various governmental agencies as bank examiners, a position that entails considerable travel. Those finance graduates who are interested in security analysis and investment portfolio management should first acquire some experience, preferably in a financial institution or sales before they consider positions in the investment research division of a brokerage firm. Occasionally college graduates are hired by brokerage houses for account executive positions, but persons with some business experience usually are preferred. Risk management is another field of finance.