Asset Management
Career Tracks
Portfolio Management and Research Roles
Fund Accountant
Salary: $35,000 to $50,000
Education: BA/BS in finance or accounting
As a fund accountant, you have a singular objective: To calculate the net asset value, the price that customers pay, for a
mutual fund. You do this by tracking the fund’s holding and closing prices for the securities owned as well as income
earned and customer withdrawals. The job consists of checking ledger entries, running valuation reports, and recording
account transactions. An accounting or finance degree is a typical requirement. In some firms, the position is seen as a
way of learning about the fund industry and portfolio management.
Junior Research Analyst
Salary: $60,000 to $1 00,000
Education: BA/BS
Typically an entry-level position at a firm such as Goldman or Merrill, this prized role does the bidding of the equity
analyst. The role includes reading 1 0-Ks to find new company information, updating and maintaining financial models,
synthesizing and analyzing external company and industry data, proofreading PowerPoint presentations and research
reports, conducting primary research by calling industry contacts, and writing minor research reports and analyst notes.
The role is essentially the assistant to an analyst or group of analysts. However, it brings you incredible exposure within
the company and sets you up in an analyst track. Most junior analysts get MBAs and continue in the industry as
associates, then senior analysts, and eventually managing directors. Junior analyst roles are entry-level or require one
to two years of experience. Many firms look for people with accounting or finance degrees. However, top firms such as
Credit Suisse will take college graduates from a wide range of majors, as long as they have excellent quantitative and
communications skills.
Economist
Salary: $65,000 to $1 50,000
Education: BA/BS, MS/MA, PhD
Are you a budding Alan Greenspan who wants a piece of the action now? Economists sit in both buy-side and sell-side
companies. As an economist, you typically provide an opinion on the future of the market and general economy based
on models that you develop and maintain, third-party models and analysis, and analysis of global and domestic news
and economic indicators. You communicate your position on the economy and the market through written analysis briefs