If you are a student, fresh graduate, or someone who wants to start a career in finance, this blog is for you. Many people feel confused when they hear words like financial analyst, credit analyst, or investment banking analyst. These job names sound big and complicated. But don’t worry. In this blog, we will explain the best entry level jobs in finance in very easy language.
You will learn:
- What is an entry-level finance job
- Important skills you should have
- Best entry level jobs in finance with clear examples
- Simple calculation examples related to finance
- Tips to get your first finance job
By the end, you will have a clear idea of which job can be a good starting point for you.
What Is An Entry Level Finance Job?
An entry level finance job is a starting position for someone who is new to the finance field. Usually:
- You are a fresher or recent graduate
- You may have 0–2 years of experience
- You have a degree like B.Com, BBA, BMS, BA Economics, or BSc Finance, or similar
- You are ready to learn and grow under seniors
In these jobs, you are not expected to know everything. Companies know you are just starting. They train you, give you tasks, and slowly increase your responsibilities.
Basic Skills Needed For Finance Jobs
Before we go into the best entry level jobs in finance, let’s see what skills are useful:
- Number skills (basic maths)
- You should be comfortable with addition, subtraction, percentages, and averages.
- You should be comfortable with addition, subtraction, percentages, and averages.
- Excel and computer skills
- Many finance jobs use Excel for reports, budgets, and data.
- Many finance jobs use Excel for reports, budgets, and data.
- Attention to detail
- Small mistakes in numbers can create big problems.
- Small mistakes in numbers can create big problems.
- Communication skills
- You should be able to explain numbers and reports in simple words.
- You should be able to explain numbers and reports in simple words.
- Analytical thinking
- You should be able to look at data and understand what it means.
- You should be able to look at data and understand what it means.
- Honesty and ethics
- Finance deals with money. Companies want people they can trust.
If you don’t have all these skills right now, don’t worry. You can learn them slowly. Many online courses, free videos, and internships can help you.
Best Entry Level Jobs In Finance
Now let’s discuss the best entry level jobs in finance one by one in simple language.
1. Financial Analyst
A Financial Analyst studies numbers and helps the company make better money decisions.
What you do:
- Analyse sales, expenses, and profit of the company
- Prepare reports and charts
- Help in making budgets and forecasts
Example:
Suppose a company earned $500,000 last year and spent $350,000. As a financial analyst, you may calculate:
- Profit = Income – Expense
= $500,000 – $350,000
= $150,000
You may then compare this profit with last year’s profit to see if the company is growing.
Why it’s good as an entry-level job:
- You learn how a full business works
- You work with many departments (sales, marketing, operations)
- Good growth path: Senior Analyst → Finance Manager → Finance Director
2. Staff Accountant / Junior Accountant
A Staff Accountant or Junior Accountant handles day-to-day accounting work.
What you do:
- Record expenses and income
- Prepare basic financial statements
- Check invoices and bills
- Help during audits
Simple calculation example:
If a company pays $1,200 per month as office rent, you will record:
- Monthly rent expense = $1,200
- Yearly rent expense = $1,200 × 12 = $14,400
You need to record this correctly in the accounting software or Excel.
Why it’s good:
- Strong base in accounting
- Useful if you want to do CPA, CA, or ACCA in the future
3. Credit Analyst (Entry Level)
A Credit Analyst checks if a person or business is safe to give a loan or credit card to.
What you do:
- Read financial statements of people or companies
- Check their income, expenses, and existing loans
- Give a recommendation: approve or reject the loan
Example with calculation:
Suppose a person has:
- Monthly income = $3,000
- Existing EMIs = $900 per month
A simple ratio you might check is the Debt-to-Income ratio.
Debt-to-Income ratio = (Total monthly debt payments / Monthly income) × 100
Here:
= ($900 / $3,000) × 100
= 0.3 × 100
= 30%
If the company policy says Debt-to-Income should be less than 40%, then 30% is acceptable. So the loan has a better chance of approval.
Why it’s good:
- You understand risk and lending
- Good base for careers in banking, credit, or risk management
4. Investment Banking Analyst (Entry Level)
This is a more demanding job but also very rewarding.
What you do:
- Help in large deals like mergers, acquisitions, and company listings
- Make financial models in Excel
- Prepare pitch books and presentations for clients
Example:
If Company A wants to buy Company B, you may help calculate:
- Value of Company B based on profit, assets, and future growth
- How much Company A should pay
This job usually has long working hours, but the learning and pay can be high.
Why it’s good:
- Fast learning environment
- High salary potential
- Strong brand names on resume (big banks, investment firms)
5. Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Analyst
An FP&A Analyst helps the company to plan its future money needs.
What you do:
- Make budgets for departments
- Compare actual performance vs budget
- Explain why costs or profits are higher or lower than expected
Budget example:
Suppose the marketing department has a yearly budget of $120,000.
- This means monthly budget = $120,000 / 12 = $10,000
If in one month they spend $12,000, you will write:
- Budget = $10,000
- Actual = $12,000
- Variance = Actual – Budget = $2,000 (unfavourable)
Then you may ask: why did spending increase? Maybe they ran extra ads or attended a trade show.
6. Audit Associate (Entry Level)
An Audit Associate works in an audit firm and checks if company accounts are correct and legal.
What you do:
- Check invoices, bills, and financial records
- Test if the company is following rules and accounting standards
- Prepare working papers and reports
Why it’s good:
- You see how different companies work
- Good if you want to become a Chartered Accountant or CPA
- Strong understanding of internal controls and compliance
7. Tax Associate
A Tax Associate helps people and companies file their taxes correctly.
What you do:
- Prepare tax returns
- Understand tax deductions and exemptions
- Help clients reduce tax legally
Simple tax calculation example:
Assume:
- Annual income = $50,000
- Tax rate = 20%
Tax = $50,000 × 20% = $10,000
But if the person has a tax-deductible expense of $5,000 (like certain savings or investments), taxable income becomes:
- Taxable income = $50,000 – $5,000 = $45,000
- New tax = $45,000 × 20% = $9,000
Tax saving = $10,000 – $9,000 = $1,000
As a Tax Associate, you help find such savings and ensure rules are followed.
8. Treasury Assistant
A Treasury Assistant manages the company’s cash and bank accounts.
What you do:
- Track daily cash balance
- Help in short-term investments
- Ensure there is enough money to pay salaries, suppliers, etc.
Example:
If a company needs $100,000 for payments next week and currently has $150,000 in the bank, they may invest $30,000 in a short-term deposit and keep $120,000 as liquid cash.
This job teaches you about cash management, liquidity, and banking operations.
9. Risk Analyst (Entry Level)
A Risk Analyst helps find and measure financial risks.
What you do:
- Study market changes, interest rates, and credit risks
- Run basic risk models
- Prepare risk reports for management
Why it’s good:
- Risk jobs are very important after financial crises
- Good growth options in banks, insurance, investment firms
10. Junior Financial Planner / Assistant to Financial Advisor
A Junior Financial Planner helps senior advisors guide individuals in managing their money.
What you do:
- Help make investment plans for clients
- Prepare simple plans for savings, insurance, investments, and retirement
- Explain basic products like mutual funds, fixed deposits, insurance plans
Example of a simple investment plan:
A client wants to save $24,000 in 2 years.
- Time = 2 years = 24 months
- Monthly saving needed = $24,000 / 24 = $1,000
If he invests $1,000 every month in a mutual fund with an expected return of 10% per year (approx 0.83% per month), the final amount will be more than $24,000 due to growth. You may use SIP calculators to show this.
This role is good if you like speaking to people and explaining finance in simple words.
11. Banking Assistant / Customer Service in Banks
This is another common entry level job in finance, especially in retail banks.
What you do:
- Help customers with account opening, deposits, and withdrawals
- Explain bank products like savings accounts, fixed deposits, simple loans
- Handle basic documentation
Why it’s good:
- Good for people who like customer interaction
- Understanding of retail banking
- Can grow into roles like branch manager, relationship manager, etc.
Example Of A Simple Finance Calculation: Return On Investment (ROI)
Many finance jobs require you to calculate Return on Investment (ROI). It shows how much profit you made compared to the money you invested.
ROI = (Profit / Investment) × 100
Example:
You invest $2,000 in a small project. After one year, you receive $2,500.
- Profit = $2,500 – $2,000 = $500
- ROI = ($500 / $2,000) × 100
= 0.25 × 100
= 25%
So, ROI = 25%. This is a simple but powerful calculation you may use in financial analysis roles.
How To Choose The Right Entry Level Finance Job For You
Not every job suits every person. Here are some simple tips:
- If you love detailed numbers and rules
- Try: Staff Accountant, Audit Associate, Tax Associate
- Try: Staff Accountant, Audit Associate, Tax Associate
- If you like analysing data and making reports
- Try: Financial Analyst, FP&A Analyst, Risk Analyst
- Try: Financial Analyst, FP&A Analyst, Risk Analyst
- If you like high-pressure and fast-paced work
- Try: Investment Banking Analyst
- Try: Investment Banking Analyst
- If you like talking to people and advising them
- Try: Junior Financial Planner, Banking Assistant
- Try: Junior Financial Planner, Banking Assistant
- If you are interested in lending and loans
- Try: Credit Analyst, Bank Customer Service
Make a short list of 2–3 roles that sound interesting and research them more.
Tips To Get Your First Finance Job
Here are some practical steps you can follow:
1. Build A Strong Resume
- Add your degree, marks, and relevant subjects (like accounting, corporate finance, economics).
- Mention internships, college projects, or online courses (Excel, financial modelling, basics of stock market).
- Use action words like analysed, prepared, supported, assisted.
2. Learn Excel And Basic Tools
- Practice formulas like SUM, AVERAGE, IF, VLOOKUP, SUMIF.
- Learn how to make simple tables and charts.
3. Do Internships Or Part-Time Roles
Even a 2–3 month internship can make your resume stronger. You get:
- Practical knowledge
- Real life examples to share in interviews
- Chances to get a full-time job in the same company
4. Prepare For Common Interview Questions
Some common questions are:
- “Why do you want to work in finance?”
- “Tell me about a time you worked with numbers.”
- “What is your favourite finance subject and why?”
- “Explain a basic financial concept like profit, ROI, or budgeting in simple words.”
Practice answers in clear, simple language.
5. Start With Any Good Entry Level Role
It is okay if your first job is not your dream job. For example, you may start as a Junior Accountant and later move into Financial Analysis once you gain experience.
Also Read: What Is Finance as a Job? – Guide to Roles & Skills
Final Thoughts: Start Small, Learn Fast, Grow Steady
Starting a career in finance does not mean you must know everything on day one. The most important thing is to start. Choose one of the best entry level jobs in finance that matches your interest:
- Financial Analyst
- Staff Accountant
- Credit Analyst
- Investment Banking Analyst
- FP&A Analyst
- Audit Associate
- Tax Associate
- Treasury Assistant
- Risk Analyst
- Junior Financial Planner
- Banking Assistant
Focus on building strong skills in numbers, Excel, analysis, and communication. Use small calculations and real examples to understand concepts deeply. With time, you will grow from an entry level position to senior roles like Finance Manager, Risk Manager, Audit Partner, Tax Consultant, or Investment Banker.
Remember: every big finance expert once started in an entry level job. Your first step may look small, but it can lead to a long and successful finance career if you keep learning and improving.
