What is Finance?

Financial Management

Financial management is the study and practice of making dollar*-denominated decisions within a single firm, i.e., microfinance. Most job opportunities in finance are in financial management; every company needs a financial manager, even a one-person operation. Financial managers are concerned with the acquisition and allocation of financial resources for a company. They spend most of their time managing working capital (short-term assets and liabilities).
*Or yen or Euros, etc.

Financial Markets &  Institutions

This includes money markets (short-term debt) and capital markets (long-term debt and equities). Money markets provide companies and governments with liquidity, and the capital markets provide the same entities with long-term capital. Typical financial institutions are commercial banks, investment banks, thrifts, insurance companies, and credit unions.

Investments

Employment is usually found in one of three areas:
a) sales,
b) security analysis and portfolio management, or
c) financial planning. Typical firms are stock brokerages, commercial banks, investment companies (mutual funds), and insurance companies.