Finance

What is Finance?

Finance is an analytical discipline focusing on critical decisions faced by individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. It integrates disciplines drawing on economics as the basis of its theory, accounting as the basis for understanding the information used in the decision making process, and the tools of quantitative analysis for the analytical work. An understanding of financial theory and practice evolves to serve as a basis for either entering a financial position in the work force or continuing with graduate studies.

Curriculum

Our undergraduate finance program is designed to provide students with a core of fundamental skills and modes of analysis that are critical to all careers in finance. In addition to this core, the curriculum also allows students to prepare for a specific career path by providing the opportunity to gain specialized knowledge in specific areas, including: investment management, investment banking, corporate finance, and commercial banking and financial institutions.

As part of the undergraduate curriculum, the department has developed two specialized tracks.

  • The Analytic Finance Academy is a challenging track designed for top tier Finance majors with strong technical skills.
  • The Financial Planning track is a program designed for those interested in wealth management and financial planning and has been endorsed by the national Certified Financial Planners Board.

Review the program outline or contact the Lindner College of Business Undergraduate Office at 513-556-7030 for more information.

Real-World Experience

Many well-known companies participate in Lindner's co-op program. This program offers our students practical experience to compliment the strong analytical classroom experience they obtain in the department. Our students work in different roles during their co-op experience. These roles include, but are not limited to security and financial analysis, portfolio management, treasury and finance, and underwriting.

Hiring companies in the co-op program include household names such as: Tesla, SpaceX, Fifth Third Bank, Merrill Lynch, Standard and Poor, PNC and Phillips Edison.

Career Possibilities

Finance graduates are prepared to work in the broad areas of financial institutions and markets, investments, and corporate finance.

Opportunities in the corporate finance area include:

  • Credit analyst
  • Credit manager
  • Treasury analyst
  • Cash manager
  • Capital budgeting analyst
  • Internal auditor

Opportunities in the investments area include:

  • Securities analyst
  • Stock broker
  • Securities trader
  • Currency trader
  • Investment banker
  • Portfolio manager

Opportunities in the financial institutions and markets area include:

  • Credit analyst
  • Loan officer
  • Securities analyst
  • Trust officer
  • Branch manager
  • Money desk manager
  • Currency trader
  • Corporate services representative
  • Bank examiner
  • Operations officer
  • Cashier
  • Internal auditor

Companies that have recently hired Finance students and graduates include Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati Bell, Delta Air Lines, Fund Evaluation Group, GE Aviation and GE, Great American, Johnson Investment Counsel, LPK, Phillips Edison, PNC, PwC.

Contact us

Headshot of Brian Hatch

Brian Hatch

Director of Undergraduate Programs in Finance, Associate Professor, Department of Finance, Real Estate, and Insurance and Risk Management

2335 Carl H. Lindner Hall

513-556-7076