Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Tenure-Track Finance Professor

🎯 Role Definition

As a Finance Professor, you are the cornerstone of our academic finance program. This tenure-track role is a unique blend of scholar, mentor, and innovator. You will be responsible for inspiring and educating the next generation of finance leaders through high-impact teaching while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of financial knowledge through a rigorous and sustained research agenda. This role requires an individual who can translate complex financial theories into accessible and engaging learning experiences and whose scholarly work promises to make a significant contribution to the field. You will be a vital member of a collaborative faculty, contributing not only to your discipline but also to the strategic direction and intellectual life of the business school and the university at large.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

PhD Candidate in Finance or Financial Economics
Visiting Assistant Professor / Lecturer
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in a related field

Advancement To:

Associate Professor of Finance (with tenure)
Full Professor of Finance
Department Chair or Head of Finance

Lateral Moves:

Senior Researcher at a central bank, regulatory body, or economic think tank
Quantitative Strategist or Consultant in the financial industry

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop and deliver engaging and effective instruction for undergraduate and/or graduate-level courses in finance, such as corporate finance, investments, financial markets, international finance, or derivatives.
Maintain a robust and active research agenda in a specialized area of finance, with the explicit goal of publishing in high-quality, peer-reviewed academic journals (e.g., Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, Review of Financial Studies).
Provide dedicated academic advising and mentorship to undergraduate and graduate students, offering guidance on course selection, career pathways, research opportunities, and professional development.
Actively participate in departmental, college, and university-level service through committee work, contributing to faculty governance, curriculum policy, and strategic planning initiatives.
Engage in continuous curriculum development and improvement, incorporating current industry trends, new financial theories, and innovative pedagogical techniques to ensure course content is relevant and rigorous.
Present original research findings at major national and international academic conferences, effectively disseminating knowledge and building a strong professional network within the scholarly community.
Evaluate student performance through a variety of well-designed assessment methods, including exams, case studies, research papers, and presentations, providing timely and constructive feedback.
Hold regular and accessible office hours to provide additional academic support and individualized guidance to students outside of scheduled class times.
Actively seek and apply for external and internal research funding and grants to support scholarly activities and research projects.
Supervise and mentor student research projects, including honors theses, master's theses, and/or doctoral dissertations, thereby fostering the development of future finance scholars and practitioners.
Foster an inclusive, equitable, and respectful learning environment that is welcoming to students from diverse cultural, economic, and academic backgrounds.

Secondary Functions

Establish and maintain professional connections with the local and national finance community to bring real-world perspectives into the classroom and create networking opportunities for students.
Serve as a faculty advisor for student-led organizations, such as a student investment fund, finance club, or financial planning association chapter.
Contribute to the faculty recruitment process by reviewing applications, participating in interviews, and attending job talks for prospective colleagues.
Collaborate with colleagues on interdisciplinary research and teaching initiatives that bridge finance with other fields like economics, data science, law, or public policy.
Participate actively in the business school's accreditation processes (e.g., AACSB), including preparing documentation and contributing to self-study reports and peer-review visits.
Review manuscripts for academic journals and book publishers, contributing to the scholarly peer-review process that underpins academic integrity.
Mentor junior faculty members, offering guidance on navigating the challenges of teaching, research, service, and the tenure and promotion process.
Assist in the strategic development of new academic programs, concentrations, or certificate offerings within the finance discipline.
Engage in professional development activities to remain current with the latest research methodologies, pedagogical strategies, and technological tools in finance and higher education.
Represent the department and university at recruitment events, open houses, and outreach activities to attract high-quality students to the finance program.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Advanced Expertise in a Finance Specialization: Deep subject matter knowledge in areas like Asset Pricing, Corporate Finance, Behavioral Finance, FinTech, or Financial Institutions.
Econometric and Quantitative Analysis: Mastery of statistical and econometric techniques for empirical financial research.
Statistical Software Proficiency: High level of skill in using statistical packages such as Stata, SAS, R, or Python for data analysis and modeling.
Financial Modeling: Ability to build and interpret complex financial models for valuation, risk analysis, and forecasting.
Curriculum Design and Assessment: Proven ability to design effective course syllabi, learning objectives, and valid assessment tools to measure student learning.
Scholarly Writing and Publication: Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality academic writing suitable for top-tier, peer-reviewed journals.
Grant Writing and Proposal Development: Skill in identifying funding opportunities and writing compelling proposals to secure research grants.

Soft Skills

Exceptional Communication and Public Speaking: Ability to clearly articulate complex financial concepts to diverse audiences, both in writing and through engaging lectures.
Student Mentorship and Advising: A genuine commitment to student development and the ability to guide and support students effectively.
Collaboration and Collegiality: A collaborative spirit and the ability to work productively with faculty, staff, and students on shared academic and administrative goals.
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Strong analytical skills to drive original research and help students navigate complex financial problems.
Time Management and Organization: Ability to effectively balance the demanding and competing responsibilities of teaching, research, and service.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive academic environment for all members of the university community.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

A Ph.D. or Doctorate in Finance or a closely related field (e.g., Financial Economics) from an AACSB-accredited institution. Advanced ABD (All But Dissertation) candidates nearing completion by the start date will be strongly considered.

Preferred Education:

A completed Ph.D. in Finance with a strong dissertation, a clear pipeline of promising research projects, and evidence of teaching potential.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Finance
Financial Economics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0-5 years of post-doctoral academic experience for an Assistant Professor position. A strong record of publication and teaching excellence is required for Associate or Full Professor ranks.

Preferred:

A clear and promising research agenda demonstrated by high-quality working papers, presentations at major academic conferences, and/or publications in refereed journals. Evidence of teaching potential or effectiveness, which may include teaching assistant experience, guest lectures, or independent instruction at the university level.