Career Opportunities
With a Master of Science in Applied Finance (MAF) degree, a graduate is equipped to work in a wide variety of industries. Based on the results of our annual survey, most candidates are likely to work in the finance sector, fulfilling a range of functions such as Securities and Investments, Business Finance, Banking Services, and Insurance. A detailed compilation of employment statistics for our class of 2018 can be downloaded here.
Employees in the Securities and Investments pathway provide investment analysis and guidance to help businesses and individuals with their investment decisions. Examples of such employers are J P Morgan, Standard & Poor's, UOB Kay Hian, etc.
Employees in the Business Finance pathway manage and implement policy and strategy for capital structure, budgeting, acquisition and investment, financial modelling and planning, funding, dividends and taxation. They prepare, analyse and verify financial reports and related economic information to assist in making important financial decisions for an organisation. Examples of such employers are Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, etc.
Employees in the Banking Services pathway provide loans, credit and payment services to businesses and individuals. Examples of such employers are Bank Julius Baer, Barclays Capital, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, etc.
You may refer to the list below for some of these company placements and designations gathered from our alumni in our annual survey.
| AFC Merchant Bank | Emerson Process Management | Morgan Stanley |
| Ascendas Funds Management Ltd | Emirates Bank in Dubai | Norddeutsche Landesbank |
| Bank Julius Baer | Ethoz Capital Ltd | OCBC Bank |
| Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Eurekahedge Pte Ltd | Octis Asset Management Pte Ltd |
| Bank of Communications | Fortis Bank SA/NV | Phillip Securities Pte Ltd |
| Bank of New York Mellon | Franklin Templeton Investments | Prudential Asset Management |
| Bank of Tokyo Mitsuibishi UFJ | GFI Group Pte Ltd | Rabobank International |
| Barclays Capital | GFT Global Markets | Royal Bank of Scotland |
| Bloomberg L.P. | Goldman Sachs | Saratoga Capital |
| BNP Paribas Singapore Pte Ltd | Government of Singapore Investment Corporation | Singapore Exchange Ltd |
| CIMB | Henderson Global Investors | Singapore Mercantile Exchange |
| Citco Fund Services | Hong Leong Finance Limited | Standard & Poor's |
| Citi Private Bank | HSBC Bank | Standard Chartered Bank |
| Citibank | HSBC Insurance | Straits Trading Company |
| Citic Securities | Industrial and Commercial Bank of China | Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation |
| Citigroup | ING | Tantallon Capital |
| Commerzbank | Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore | Target Asset Management |
| Coutts & Co | J P Morgan | The Asian Banker |
| Credit Suisse | KPMG | The Bank of East Asia Ltd |
| DBS Bank Ltd | Legg Mason International Equities | UBS AG |
| Deutsche Bank | Lion Global Investors | United Overseas Bank |
| DMG and Partners Securities | Makara Capital | UOB Asset Management |
| Dresdner Bank | Monetary Authority of Singapore | UOB Kay Hian |
| EDB Investments Pte Ltd | Moore Stephen Corporate Finance Pte Ltd | UT Asset Management |
| Designation | ||
| Accounts Administrator | Derivatives Trader | Product Controller |
| Analyst / Regulatory Reporting | Diversified Assets Analyst | Quantitative Analyst |
| Assistant Manager | Ecommerce Relationship Manager | Regional Finance Manager |
| Assistant Vice President | Equity Analyst | Regional Financial Contoller |
| Associate | Finance Controller | Relationship Manager |
| Associate Director | Financial Planner | Research Analyst |
| Brokerage Analyst | Fixed Income Advanced Specialist | Risk Analyst |
| Busines Development Team Leader | Group Accountant | Sales Dealer |
| Business Analyst | Head of Treasury Finance | Statistician |
| Business Development | Investment Analyst | Supply Chain Finance Manager |
| Compliance Officer | Middle Office Controller | Tax Consultant |
| Credit Analyst | Portfolio Manager | Vice President |
| Dealer | Pricing Analyst | |
| Deputy Director | Principal Valuer | |
Securities/investment analyst, financial analyst, credit analyst or operations manager are generally categorised as middle office roles. These career specialties require a bachelor’s or master’s degree, good communication, problem solving, and analytical skills. Some positions may also require professional licences and certifications such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation accredited by the CFA Institute.
SMU's MAF programme focuses on the knowledge and skills required by the specific cluster.
Our Office of Career Services (OCS) supports all students and alumini in exploring and making effective career choices.
