Explore the world of finance, understand the difference between certifications and certificates, and discover lucrative career paths such as Accountant, Business Development Officer, and Financial Data Analyst. Learn about the top finance certifications like Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and find out how these credentials can enhance your career prospects.

Finance Certifications and Certificates

If you're looking for a way to demonstrate your skills in finance, you might feel overwhelmed by the different certifications and certificate programs available. You might have a lot of questions, such as:

• Will getting certified help me get a job?
• Do I need to be certified in finance?
• Should I get a certification or a certificate? What is the difference between the two?

This article aims to answer these questions so you can efficiently choose the right path toward a finance certification. Keep reading to find out more.

What is Finance?

In its most basic definition, finance is the management of money. Finance includes investing, lending, budgeting, borrowing, saving, forecasting, and studying money. There are multiple areas of finance, including personal, corporate, and public finance. 

Personal finance deals with keeping your debt down, budgeting, growing your assets, and increasing cash flow, among others. The three main types of corporate finance are capital budgeting, capital structure, and dividend policy. Among the significant concerns of public finance are the budgeting process and an entity’s revenue source. 

Read more about what finance is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Finance?

At its root, finance deals with managing money. This includes investing, saving, budgeting, forecasting, borrowing, and lending. Here are three solid career paths to follow with a firm understanding of finance.

• Accountant - This lucrative field is ideal for anyone with a love of numbers, though it is not necessary to be successful. Within a company, an accountant often creates, interprets, and analyzes a wide range of financial statements. Company accountants and management come together as partners to create budgets. Finally, accountants handle the tax matters of a company, including filing returns and planning out tax liabilities.

• Business Development Officer - Companies hire Business Development Officers to develop and execute strategies that lead to increased sales and higher profits. These officers also seek out business opportunities and secure the best business deals. They are responsible for negotiating deals and meeting with potential investors.

• Financial Data Analyst - These professionals analyze data to assist financial institutions in making better business decisions. Among their numerous responsibilities is compiling information from different divisions of a company. These analysts also look for ways to improve the company's current methods of data collection.

Certifications vs. Certificates: What’s the Difference?

It is common to use the terms certification and certificate interchangeably in professional settings, but they are distinct and require a different process to obtain. To qualify for certification, an individual must obtain training and experience and then take an examination. Those who wish to demonstrate mastery of a particular skill can obtain certifications, which can be required to secure certain positions. 

A certificate is earned upon completing a program recognized by the industry. Beginners can earn certificates in many of these programs. Certificates are optional for employment, but they can be helpful when applying. However, any certificate can be a great addition to your resume. Having a certificate can also help you prepare for certification exams. 

Top Certifications & Certificates for Finance

When entering the financial sector, one can choose various careers. When choosing what career path to go down, you may consider the different certifications you can get in those paths. Here are some of the top certifications in finance.

• Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
• Chartered Investment Counselor (CIC)
• Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA)
• Chartered Economic Analyst (CEA)
• Energy Risk Professional (ERP)
• Financial Risk Manager (FRM)

You can check out the Financial Management Association for more information on these certifications. 

Noble Desktop offers several certificate programs for finance if you do not want to get a certification but still want to improve your resume. Depending on which area of finance you wish to enter, you may consider the FinTech Bootcamp or the Financial Analyst Training Program. Each of these courses provides students with a certificate upon completion. 

Should I Get Certified in Finance?

Getting certified is unnecessary if you are pursuing a career in finance. You do not need to receive a certification to understand and perform the basics of finance in banking and other areas. Depending on your career goals, you can enter the financial sector without receiving certification. 

Certain positions can benefit from certification, like earning the CFP certification, as this proves to clients and employers that you can be trusted with their finances. Several of these certifications must stay in good standing once you receive your licensing and certification. This will require additional time and resources on your end to keep your certification from expiring. 

How to Get Certified in Finance

If you decide to pursue a certification, you may wonder how to get it. If you wish to pursue a certification, you must first decide which one you want to pursue, as each certification requires a different set of qualifications before you can take the board exam. 

Certifications will require different knowledge and skill levels to qualify for the exam. It is important to be aware of those requirements before deciding to take the exam to become certified. Once you decide which certification you wish to specialize in, research the exam requirements so you can start preparing any necessary training or skills you will need to pass the exam. Some certifications will also require you to maintain good standing with licenses. Keep this in mind as you move forward with different certifications. 

Learn Finance with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Some believe the only way to learn finance, whether for a career or personal benefit, is through a lengthy, time-consuming degree program. Luckily, there are many alternatives. Many people feel the bootcamp or certificate training model is the superior path.

As a premier provider of online education, Noble Desktop provides multiple ways to learn finance. They offer numerous thoughtful educational options to expand your finance skill set quickly, whether you're new to the field, already working in finance, or in a position that requires a deep understanding of it. Here are some of Noble Desktop's most popular programs.

• FinTech Bootcamp - Taught by expert instructors, this extensive FinTech bootcamp is intended for beginners. You can complete this course in four weeks full-time or four months part-time. Among the topics covered are the fundamentals of Python, data structures, and how to use SQL to query databases.

• Python for Finance Bootcamp - This 18-hour detailed Python for Finance Bootcamp is designed for Risk Managers, Financial Analysts, Portfolio Managers, and those seeking a career in finance technology and data analysis. Students will learn the major Python financial libraries, how to analyze financial statements from the SEC website, and how to apply statistical measures.
  
  
• Financial Analyst Training Program - While some knowledge of accounting and finance is helpful for this seven-day Financial Analyst Training Program, it is not necessary nor required. If you're looking to carve out a career path at a top financial firm, this bootcamp is the most effective and affordable course to learn these skills.

Other Noble Desktop courses to consider are the Premiere Pro Bootcamp, Video Editing Certificate, and Premiere Pro classes and bootcamps.

Key Takeaways

• The certification process requires one to pass an exam and demonstrate mastery of a skill. 
• Certificates are issued based on completion. 
• Neither is necessary for a career in finance, but it can be helpful in certain cases.
• Before choosing a certification, you should decide which field you want to pursue.
• Noble Desktop offers in-person or live online courses for comprehensive training or to receive a certificate.