How can I study finance?

Contents

Domain

Why study finance?

Despite its clichéd image, finance continues to fascinate many students. Despite a reputation for being difficult in many respects, the field of finance is generating exponential appeal, both for the privileges associated with it and for the career opportunities it represents.

A wide range of jobs

If there is one area that is not experiencing a crisis, it is finance. Finance is one of the basic building blocks of our societies. As a result, the sector never ceases to create jobs through the professional fields it supports. As the economy undergoes new changes, finance professions are evolving and diversifying. Focused on wealth creation, the sector’s dynamism generates many jobs by having an impact on industry and commerce. So, depending on their study plan and motivation, students can easily find a job, whatever their level of training and skills. Once they have obtained their diploma, there is a wide range of jobs to suit all levels of ambition. Whether you work in banking, insurance, consultancy, business or auditing, there is a wide range of jobs to suit your profile, with attractive salaries to match.

Opportunities for rapid development

Every business sector needs a financial expert or business advisor within its organisation. Unlike many professional fields, recruiters in the finance sector do not necessarily focus on the number of years of study, but rather on profile, determination and autonomy. As a result, the world of finance offers the chance to develop very quickly, with numerous career opportunities. Job transfers can take place in just a few months, and employees can consider a change of function or location (particularly internationally) more quickly than in other sectors. Joining a large group can make this easier, thanks to its intercontinental reach.

A formative and versatile experience

As with many highly responsible jobs, the skills required to work in this sector are very specific. Mastery of cutting-edge fields such as law, economics and taxation is essential if you are to work in the sector without difficulty, and if you are to progress rapidly. Finance jobs require employees to broaden their range of skills and develop complementary qualities, over and above their initial training. Employees may need to develop additional language skills, customer relations, creativity, team spirit and, of course, initiative for the benefit of their company. As the sector evolves, we see the gradual development of highly sought-after, multi-disciplinary profiles, capable of adapting and enriching themselves throughout their career.

Description

What is finance training?

Finance refers to the way in which organisations or companies obtain investments and capital. Finance is thus an integral part of many professional fields, such as the stock market, economics and the public sector. Courses in this sector range from Bac+1 to Bac+6, and can be taken in specialist public schools, universities or vocational colleges. Of course, the teaching depends on the level of training required.

Training in finance is not just reserved for students considering a career in the field, it is also accessible to employees who have already started their working lives. All profiles are welcome for training, and are directed towards a course adapted to their study plans. This is a continuing education course that can be accessed via VAE or VAP.

Offers

What kind of finance studies can I do at INSEEC?

Thanks to its specialised and targeted programmes, INSEEC is a major player in the training of future employees in the financial sector. Whether they come from corporate, real estate or banking finance, the range of employment opportunities extends to many fields and enables all profiles to find the training that suits them. The school offers several types of course, adapted to each student’s study plan.

INSEEC’s courses are accessible to all profiles, from 1 to 5 years after the baccalauréat. In constant contact with leading companies in the sector, the school helps to facilitate the study of concrete cases and work placements. It also promotes the integration of students as new players in the network. Through this premium programme, students build a career plan of their choice, in order to find the best place in the market.

Here is the list of courses offered by INSEEC:

Programmes

What is the finance training programme?

Depending on the level of ambition of the candidate, several types of course are available. Although they differ according to the initial project, the basis of learning is common to all courses.

Overall, the courses are organised around these subjects:

accounting and financial reporting
company 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 your career plans, there is a wide range of training courses available to meet all your requirements and enable you to specialise.

Training in finance at Bac +2 level

The BTS finance syllabus is divided into two distinct sections, general and vocational. The subjects on offer are :

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

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

3 years’ higher education in finance

The Bachelor’s degree is equivalent to a Licence, or a Bac +3. Accessible directly after the baccalauréat, or through parallel admission after a Bac +2, the degree 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 based on these subjects:

legal and fiscal environment
financial management and treasury
insurance law
introduction to accounting software
applied mathematics
company taxation
banking law
management control
accounting for day-to-day operations
in-depth accounting technique
general economy

This is a vocational course, most of which is done on a sandwich basis, and includes work placements in companies. To ensure that you are quickly effective in a practical environment, the subjects are general but do not preclude specialisation in certain subjects.

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

If you successfully complete your studies at an IUT, you can quickly enter the finance profession. This degree provides solid skills in taxation, law, human resources and management. To specialise, you need to choose one of the two options, which include their own range of disciplines:

BUT gestion des entreprises et des administrations, option gestion et management des organisations (business and administration management)
Business and Administration Management Option: Accounting and Financial Management

At the end of the 3-year finance course, the experience will be validated by a minimum 2-month work placement in a company. It is also possible to follow a sandwich course under an apprenticeship contract or a professional training contract.

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

Completed at a business, finance or management school, a Master’s degree in finance trains future high-level executives, either full-time or on a sandwich course. Once again, a wide range of fields come together to offer a rich and complementary education. The first year focuses on general subjects, before specialising in subsequent years. The courses are structured around these fundamental subjects:

legal, tax and financial engineering
management control
business and capital markets
audit and statutory auditors
asset management
financial and risk management
market knowledge, research and simulation
project management

During the two years of the Master’s programme, students must complete a minimum 6-month work placement or a sandwich course. Students will be required to write a dissertation, either on the internship or on a free topic.

The MSc or MBA takes one or two years to complete and complements a Licence or Bachelor’s degree. As with any course, there is a core curriculum and specialist subjects:

The common disciplines are as follows

management accounting
right
human resources
marketing
management and sales
communication

Specialisation in the finance sector then includes these subjects:

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

The MBA or MSc requires a work placement or an apprenticeship contract in order to mix coursework and work experience.

Training

How do I get into a finance programme at INSEEC?

To follow an INSEEC course, you need to apply to one of the 3 campuses spread across these major cities, depending on your course preferences and location:

You have two choices, depending on your initial training:

1 admission route via the BCE pathway (Banque commune d’épreuves), for students in preparatory classes
1 internal competitive entrance exam, for students with a Bac+2, Bac+3 or Bac+4 degree

To apply for a course, access to the application form is available on the INSEEC website, below each diploma description. Don’t forget that INSEEC organises open days for information on courses, methodology, financing and the subjects taught. You can register for these on this section of the school’s website.

Criteria for admission to Bac+2

If you have a BTS, DUT or Licence 2 degree, you can apply for the parallel admission competition to enter a year of L3.

Criteria for admission to Bac+3 or Bac+4 courses

If you have an L3 or M1 degree, i.e. 3 years of higher education, you can apply to join INSEEC’s Grande école Master’s programme or a specialised Master of Science, in 1 or 2 years.

Jobs

What career opportunities are there in finance?

Particularly stimulated by the internationalisation of trade, the field of finance continues to generate fulfilling careers. Finance professionals are in demand in many companies, both for their internal development and for private individuals. The finance sector is currently the biggest recruiter in France, offering tens of thousands of jobs every year. The job opportunities are vast and cover a wide range of positions. Here is a non-exhaustive list: