Career Cluster

Finance

Are you a numbers fanatic and a stickler for precision? Financial gurus enjoy working with numbers, appreciate a framework of rules and guidelines and make predictions based on facts. Whether it’s in the areas of banking, business financial management, financial and investment planning and insurance, finance experts must be trustworthy, precise and logical.

DECA CONNECTS

Connect to Courses, Curriculum + Careers

DECA’s Comprehensive Learning Program integrates into classroom instruction, applies learning, connects to business and promotes competition. Examine your course of study and integrate activities from DECA’s comprehensive learning program to show that DECA is connected and relevant.

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Related Courses

DECA's Comprehensive Learning Program provides a variety of instructional resources that would be suitable for these courses and more.

  • Principles of Business Administration
  • Introduction to Finance
  • Accounting I
  • Accounting II
  • Business Finance
  • Banking and Financial Services

Career Pathways

Each career cluster contains several career pathways, or specialized career areas that are comprised of careers that require similar knowledge and skills.

  • Accounting
  • Banking Services
  • Corporate Finance
  • Insurance
  • Securities and Investments

Instructional Areas

Instructional areas are broad areas of content knowledge that are comprised of many performance indicators. Performance indicators are specific knowledge and skills employees are expected to demonstrate or achieve.

Business Law
Communications
Customer Relations
Economics
Emotional Intelligence
Entrepreneurship
Financial Analysis
Financial-Information Management
Human Resources Management
Information Management
Marketing
Operations
Professional Development
Risk Management
Strategic Management

Career Opportunities

The following are examples of career opportunities and occupations that are available within this career cluster.

Accountant
Accounting Manager
Accounts Payable Manager
Accounts Payable Specialist
Accounts Receivable Manager
Assistant Credit Manager
Auditor
Brokerage Representative
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Revenue Officer
Controller
Credit Analyst
Credit and Collections Manager
Debt Consultant
Finance Director
Financial Analyst
Financial Consultant
Forensic Accountant
Insurance Appraiser
Insurance Broker
Internal Auditor
Investment Advisor
Investor
Loan Officer
Loan Processor
Payroll Manager
Payroll Professional
Revenue Manager
Securities/Investments Analyst
Stock Broker
Tax Preparation Specialist

COMPETITIVE EVENTS

Enrich the Classroom

DECA’s Competitive Events Program is an incredible tool for curriculum. As an integral part of the classroom curriculum, DECA’s industry-validated competitive events are aligned with National Curriculum Standards.

DECA’s flagship evaluation process involves students in both a written component such as an exam or report and an interactive component with an industry professional serving as a judge. DECA’s competitive events reinforce creativity, problem solving and presentation skills.

The potential for recognition, awards and travel for learning classroom content is a tremendous motivator – not to mention the scholarships and cash awards recognizing DECA members for outstanding achievement.

With more than 60 events, DECA offers a competitive event for every course and every student.

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Case Studies + EXAMS

Integrate into Classroom Instruction

Case studies provide a student-centered engagement activity to help DECA members apply learning through problem-based scenarios that require creative solutions and practical outcomes. DECA’s case studies challenge DECA members to demonstrate industry-relevant knowledge and skills through performance indicators. DECA’s case studies are developed through industry research to reflect current issues and trends in business and industry.

DECA’s exams are rigorous, industry-validated, multiple-choice, 100-item exams based on National Curriculum Standards. Each exam item is also linked to an instructional area and specific performance indicator.

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2024
Accounting Applications
Financial Analysis
Role-Play

You are to assume the role of the new accountant at DENE COMPANY, a company that molds materials into eyeglass frames. The company manager (judge) wants you to calculate ending inventory and cost of goods sold.

Hidden Content:
Classroom Resources
Finance
Role-Play
Financial Analysis
Accounting Applications Series
2024
Accounting Applications
Financial Analysis
Role-Play

You are to assume the role of the new accountant at DENE COMPANY, a company that molds materials into eyeglass frames. The company manager (judge) wants you to calculate ending inventory and cost of goods sold.

Hidden Content:
Classroom Resources
Finance
Role-Play
Financial Analysis
Accounting Applications Series
2024
Accounting Applications
Financial Analysis
Role-Play

You are to assume the role of the new accountant at DENE COMPANY, a company that molds materials into eyeglass frames. The company manager (judge) wants you to calculate ending inventory and cost of goods sold.

Hidden Content:
Classroom Resources
Finance
Role-Play
Financial Analysis
Accounting Applications Series
2024
Accounting Applications
Financial Analysis
Role-Play

You are to assume the role of the senior accountant at MONACO COMPANY. The manager of the company (participant) wants you to correct journal entries and errors made in your absence.

Hidden Content:
Classroom Resources
Finance
Role-Play
Financial Analysis
Accounting Applications Series
2024
Accounting Applications
Financial Analysis
Role-Play

You are to assume the role of the senior accountant at MONACO COMPANY. The manager of the company (participant) wants you to correct journal entries and errors made in your absence.

Hidden Content:
Classroom Resources
Finance
Role-Play
Financial Analysis
Accounting Applications Series
2024
Accounting Applications
Financial Analysis
Role-Play

You are to assume the role of the senior accountant at MONACO COMPANY. The manager of the company (participant) wants you to correct journal entries and errors made in your absence.

Hidden Content:
Classroom Resources
Finance
Role-Play
Financial Analysis
Accounting Applications Series
2024
Business Finance
Financial Analysis
Role-Play

You are to assume the role of the senior accountant with FISHER INDUSTRIES. Your manager (judge) wants you to analyze a potential investment and determine issues that should be considered.

Hidden Content:
Classroom Resources
Finance
Role-Play
Financial Analysis
Business Finance Series
2024
Business Finance
Financial Analysis
Role-Play

You are to assume the role of the senior accountant with FISHER INDUSTRIES. Your manager (judge) wants you to analyze a potential investment and determine issues that should be considered.

Hidden Content:
Classroom Resources
Finance
Role-Play
Financial Analysis
Business Finance Series
2024
Business Finance
Financial Analysis
Role-Play

You are to assume the role of the senior accountant with FISHER INDUSTRIES. Your manager (judge) wants you to analyze a potential investment and determine issues that should be considered.

Hidden Content:
Classroom Resources
Finance
Role-Play
Financial Analysis
Business Finance Series
2024
Business Finance
Financial Analysis
Role-Play

You are to assume the role of the accountant at COUNTY COURIER, a small logistics business in the region. The president of the company (judge) wants to know the current depreciation expense of the office building and your opinion on reclassification.

Hidden Content:
Classroom Resources
Finance
Role-Play
Financial Analysis
Business Finance Series
2024
Business Finance
Financial Analysis
Role-Play

You are to assume the role of the accountant at COUNTY COURIER, a small logistics business in the region. The president of the company (judge) wants to know the current depreciation expense of the office building and your opinion on reclassification.

Hidden Content:
Classroom Resources
Finance
Role-Play
Financial Analysis
Business Finance Series
2024
Business Finance
Financial Analysis
Role-Play

You are to assume the role of the accountant at COUNTY COURIER, a small logistics business in the region. The president of the company (judge) wants to know the current depreciation expense of the office building and your opinion on reclassification.

Hidden Content:
Classroom Resources
Finance
Role-Play
Financial Analysis
Business Finance Series

CORPORATE CHALLENGES

Apply Learning

DECA and its corporate partners have teamed up to provide classroom activities that challenge members to apply learning in relevant ways.

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DECA at the Bell Challenge

Write and produce your very own episode of DECA at the Bell. Creativity is encouraged; what matters most is the ability to engage the audience while connecting something in the world of business to the world of DECA. The topic/theme of the 2024 challenge is Customer Service.

Submissions due by:
November 1, 2024
SubmitRegister
Guidelines

Stock Market Game

Collegiate DECA offers two competitive rounds of the Stock Market Game, provided by the SIFMA Foundation. The Collegiate DECA Stock Market Game challenges teams of one to three Collegiate DECA members to work together to build and manage a high-performing investment portfolio of stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Participants in the Collegiate DECA Stock Market Game develop and manage a virtual investment portfolio. The challenge is conducted online and calls teams of Collegiate DECA members to test their investment acumen against each other. The goal of the competition is to increase the value of the beginning portfolio, while maintaining a diversified mix of stocks, bonds and mutual funds.

Submissions due by:
November 15, 2024
SubmitRegister
Guidelines

EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES

Extend Learning Beyond The Classroom

DECA conferences provide unique opportunities to connect students with corporate professionals to engage them in learning industry-related trends and content.

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DECA International Career Development Conference

April 26-29, 2025
Orlando, FL

Ultimate DECA Power Trip

November 21-23, 2025
Arlington, VA

Partners

Connect To Business

DECA’s college and corporate partners engage DECA members and help them prepare for colleges and careers of their choice. They provide classroom presentations, scholarships, internships, work experience and much more. Visit our partners page to learn more about developing a win-win relationship with DECA’s partners.

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Get Involved

Together, we can help prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for college and career. Learn about the various opportunities to get involved with DECA.

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Start a DECA Chapter

Partner with DECA

Questions?

Contact DECA staff
for more information.

View All DECA Staff Contacts
Christopher Young, CAE
Chief Program Officer
Contact

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DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

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