Finance jobs are changing fast. As regulations, technology, and global trends reshape this industry, roles like financial analysts are expected to grow 6% by 2034 while fintech innovations offer new opportunities for engaging with the sector.
Mengchuan (Mike) Fu, a Tenure Track Assistant Professor at Bentley University, sees this as an opportunity. His background bridges finance, computer science, and statistics, with research and teaching that focuses on how artificial intelligence, machine learning, and financial technologies are reshaping capital markets and corporate decision-making.
Professor Fu’s integrative approach to finance mirrors Bentley’s curriculum that uniquely fuses business education with technology, an approach that he says “reflects the future of finance education.” Bentley’s Master’s of Finance programme stands out for its fusion of financial rigour with analytical thinking, ethical decision-making, and real-world application.
This distinctive approach works. Bentley’s Master of Finance programme was recently ranked the No. 1 programme in the US by the Financial Times, ranking first alumni salary increases, alumni employed at three months, and value for the money.
Located in Waltham, Massachusetts, just 10 miles from Boston, Bentley University prepares students to master today’s tools and drive the innovation of tomorrow’s financial systems. Source: Bentley University
Preparing for finance careers that may not even exist yet
It’s important Bentley University keeps its focus on the future. Finance is evolving and so are employer’s demands.
Bentley has always stayed ahead, as seen with programmes here including rapidly changing technologies like AI, blockchain, and digital currencies. “Faculty members actively research in these emerging areas and regularly refresh course materials with real-world developments, such as the use of LLMs (Large Language Models) in financial analysis or blockchain applications in payments and compliance,” says Fu. “We also solicit continuous feedback from alumni and industry partners to ensure that the skills we teach remain aligned with market expectations.”
That philosophy drives Bentley’s Master of Science in Finance (MSF). Many MSF instructors have also worked in the trenches of the very topics they teach. “We have professors who took their company public, so when they talk about IPOs, they talk from experience,” says Senior Lecturer Alain Chinca. “Another example is that one of the instructors teaching international finance used to work on the currency desk at Credit Suisse.”
Chinca fits that same profile. He worked in the asset management industry for over 36 years. Before becoming a full-time lecturer in 2016, he held different roles (analyst, portfolio manager) in various asset classes: real estate, fixed income and equity. He brings those experiences – and his professional network – into the classroom to ensure courses stay relevant.
Such is the calibre of faculty leading the MSF. Each has their specialised expertise, which allows the programme to offer four tracks, two of which are STEM-designated. The first is Fintech, which teaches technology through a financial lens. Rather than offering programming or data science courses in isolation, it integrates coding, analytics, and AI applications directly into finance courses. Students learn not only how to use technology but also why and when it creates financial value.
The other STEM-designated track is Financial Analytics, which sharpens command of mathematics, data modelling, and capital markets. It’s good preparation for analytically demanding roles — such as financial analysts, quantitative analysts, risk modelling specialists, and investment research analysts — which apply advanced tools to assess markets, forecast performance, and support data-driven decision-making.
Bentley University frequently collaborates with financial institutions, fintech startups, and technology firms to ensure its curriculum remains aligned with real-world challenges. Source: Bentley University
Experience finance in action
The MSF tracks matter because specialised knowledge and skills are crucial to today’s employers. But so too are soft skills, which is why every class connects what you study with the real world. Students work with tools such as Python, R, SQL, and AI frameworks, and learn to apply machine learning, blockchain concepts, and digital finance applications to real business problems.
For example, students have valued Home Depot (NYSE: HD) using a full Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model, simulating what a professional equity analyst does. “The goal is to prepare graduates who can speak both the language of finance and the language of technology, a skill that stands out in today’s job market,” says Fu.
Over at the trading room – one of the university’s “jewels” according to Chinca – are the same tools used by asset management firms, handy when you work on projects that use platforms like FactSet, Bloomberg, and generative AI. Bentley’s partnerships with financial institutions also bring speakers, internships, and job opportunities to campus.
It’s a wide range of experiences, one intentionally designed so MSF graduates in Fintech and Financial Analytics are ready to take on a wide spectrum of roles. They can become analysts, investment researchers, quantitative researchers, or risk analytics specialists. Others leverage their fintech training to join emerging startups or drive digital transformation initiatives within banks and financial institutions, to name a few.
“While traditional finance careers remain strong, today’s market increasingly values professionals who can bridge financial expertise with technological innovation,” says Fu.
“Our graduates are prepared to lead in this hybrid space, whether optimising trading algorithms, designing digital banking solutions, or implementing AI-driven financial strategies.”
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