How to study finance?

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Why study finance?

Despite an image maintained by certain clichés, finance continues to fascinate many students. Although it is reputed to be difficult in many respects, the field of finance is generating exponential appeal, both for the privileges it offers and for the career opportunities it represents.

A variety of jobs

If there is one field that does not know the crisis, it is finance. Finance is one of the basic components of our societies. Thus, the sector does not cease to generate employment through the professional fields that it feeds. As the economy undergoes new changes, the finance professions are evolving and diversifying. Turned towards the creation of wealth, the dynamism of the sector generates many jobs by impacting the fields of industry and trade. Thus, depending on his or her study project and motivation, a student can easily find a job, regardless of his or her level of training and skills. Once the degree is obtained, the panel is wide and answers all degrees of ambitions. Whether in the banking, insurance, consulting, corporate or auditing sectors, a multitude of positions are available depending on the profile, with attractive salaries.

Prospects for rapid evolution

Each business sector requires a financial expert or economic advisor within its organization. Unlike many professional fields, recruiters in the financial sector do not necessarily favour the number of years of study but rather the profile, determination and autonomy. Thus, the world of finance offers the possibility of evolving very quickly with numerous career opportunities. Job transfers can take place in just a few months and an employee can consider a change of function or location (particularly internationally) more quickly than in other sectors. Joining a large group can facilitate this aspect thanks to its intercontinental distribution.

A formative and versatile experience

As with many high responsibility jobs, the skills required to work in the industry are specific. Mastering advanced fields such as law, economics or taxation, are essential to practice without difficulty, and to see oneself evolve rapidly. Finance jobs require employees to enrich their skill set and develop complementary qualities, beyond their initial training. An employee may need to develop additional language skills, customer relations, creativity, team spirit, and of course, initiative for the benefit of the company. The evolution within the sector allows a progressive development of multidisciplinary profiles, extremely sought after, capable of adapting and enriching themselves during their professional career.

What is a finance course?

The word finance refers to the way organizations or companies obtain investments and capital. Thus, finance is integrated into many professional fields such as the stock market, the economy or the public sector. The courses in this sector range from Bac+1 to Bac+6, and are carried out as much in specialized private establishments as in universities or professional high schools. Of course, education is relative to the level of training sought.

Finance training is not only for students considering a career in the field, it is also available to employees who have already begun their working lives. All profiles are welcomed for training, and are directed towards a course of study adapted to their projects. It is then a continuing education program accessible through VAE or VAP.

What kind of finance studies can I do at INSEEC?

Thanks to its specialized and targeted programs, INSEEC is a major player in the training of future financial employees. Whether they come from corporate finance, real estate or banking, the employment panel extends to many fields and allows all profiles to find the training that suits them. Thus, the school offers several types of courses, adapted to the study project of each student.

INSEEC’s courses are accessible to all types of profiles, from 1 to 5 years after the baccalaureate. In permanent contact with leading companies in the sector, the school participates in facilitating the study of concrete cases as well as internships in companies. It also promotes the integration of students as new actors in the network. Through this premium program, the student builds a professional project of choice, in order to find the best place in the market.

Here is the list of courses offered by INSEEC:

What is the curriculum for a finance course?

Depending on the level of ambition of the candidate, several types of courses are available. Although different depending on the initial project, the basis of learning is common to all courses.

Overall, the courses are organized around these subjects:

accounting and financial reporting
corporate financial policy
banking and risk management
market knowledge, studies and simulations
management control
financial engineering
financial markets
business administration
macroeconomics
financial strategy
modern languages
financial diagnosis
financial mathematics
corporate law

Depending on the professional project envisaged, a wide range of training courses are available to meet all demands and to specialize.

Training in finance at Bac +2 level

BTS finance

The BTS finance program is divided into separate sections, general and professional. The subjects offered are:

English
right
economy
control and accounting processing of commercial operations
corporate management
management of tax obligations
applied mathematics
general culture and expression
business analysis and forecasting
professional workshop
access to computer resources

After a BTS in Finance, most students go on to a 1-year Bachelor’s degree (Bachelor’s 3rd year).

Training in finance at the level of Bac + 3

Bachelor Finance

The Bachelor’s degree is equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree, i.e. a Bac +3. Accessible directly after the baccalaureate but also in parallel admission after a baccalaureate +2, the diploma focuses on the acquisition of theoretical knowledge in mathematics, human resources, law and strategy.
The disciplines offered, always halfway between professional practice and theoretical teaching, are mainly distributed around these subjects:

legal and fiscal environment
financial management and treasury
insurance law
introduction to accounting software
applied mathematics
corporate taxation
banking law
management control
accounting for current operations
advanced accounting technique
general economy

Licence pro Finance

The Licence pro is a professional training program, most often carried out in alternating years, and is enhanced by internships in companies. In order to be quickly efficient in a concrete environment, the disciplines are general but do not prevent specialization in certain subjects.

mastery of the economic and financial context
English
heritage management
economic policy
taxation
portfolio management
control of the economic and financial context

BUT finance

By entering an IUT and successfully completing the course, it is possible to quickly enter the finance profession. This degree provides solid skills in taxation, law, human resources and management. In order to specialize, one must choose one of the two orientation options which will include their own panels of disciplines:

BUT management of companies and administrations, option management and management of organizations
BUT management of companies and administrations option accounting and financial management

At the end of the 3-year finance program, the experience will be validated by a minimum 2-month internship in a company. It is also possible to complete your training through an apprenticeship contract or a professionalization contract.

Training in finance at Bac +4, +5 or +6 level

Master of Finance

Completed in a business, finance or management school, the Master’s degree in finance trains future high-level executives, on a full-time or sandwich basis. Once again, many fields intersect to offer a rich and complementary education. The first year is oriented towards general subjects, before focusing on specialties in subsequent years. The courses are structured around these core subjects:

legal, fiscal and financial engineering
management control
business and capital markets
auditing and statutory auditing
asset management
financial and risk management
market knowledge, studies and simulation
project management

During the two years of the Master’s program, the student must complete his or her curriculum with an internship of at least 6 months or a work-study contract. A thesis will be required, either about the internship or on a free topic.

MSc or MBA Finance

The MSc or MBA is completed in one or two years and complements a Bachelor’s degree. Obtaining this precious diploma favors positions with managerial responsibilities. As with any curriculum, there is a common core and specialization subjects:

The common disciplines are distributed as follows:

accounting management
right
human resources
marketing
management and sales
communication

The finance specialization then includes these subjects:

international business law
e-business
project management
international accounting
business management
financial management
computer science
corporate finance
market finance
real estate

The MBA or MSc requires an internship or an apprenticeship in order to mix courses and professional experience.

How do I get into a finance program at INSEEC?

In order to follow an INSEEC training program, and depending on your desires and your location, you must apply to one of the 3 campuses spread over these large cities:

You have two choices, depending on your initial training:

1 admission route via the BCE (Banque commune d’épreuve), for students in preparatory classes
1 way of admission on internal competition, for students holding a Bac+2, Bac+3 or Bac+4

In order to apply for a course, access to the application is available on the INSEEC website, below each degree description. Don’t forget that for any information concerning the curriculum, the methodology, the financing or the disciplines taught, INSEEC organizes open days for which you can register on this section of the school’s website.

Admission criteria for Bac+2

If you have a BTS, DUT or Licence 2 degree, it is possible to apply for the parallel admission exam in order to enter a year of L3.

To apply

Admission criteria for Bac+3 or Bac+4

If you have a L3 or M1 degree, i.e. 3 years of higher education, you can apply for the INSEEC Master Grande Ecole or a specialized Master of Science, in 1 or 2 years.

To apply

What are the career opportunities in finance?

Particularly stimulated by the internationalization of trade, the field of finance continues to generate fulfilling careers. Financial profiles are in demand in many companies, both for internal development of companies and for individuals. At present, the finance sector is the one that recruits the most in France, with an offer of several tens of thousands of jobs per year. The opportunities are vast and cover many job possibilities. Here is a non-exhaustive list:

finance officer
financial analyst
tax lawyer
broker
portfolio manager
administrative and financial manager
treasury manager
financial inspector
trader
asset liability manager
audit manager
financial manager
risk manager
controller of public finances
broker
administrative and financial manager
portfolio manager
trader

More details on our job descriptions.

The main questions asked for the Finance field

Updated 23 February 2024