What you can do with a Bachelor of Commerce

According to recruiter Randstand, a number of financial services roles including claims administrators and compliance managers are in high demand in 2022.  But, what types of job options, careers and skill sets will you get from a Bachelor of Commerce, exactly?  Using the latest data from job sites and recruiters, here is all you need to know about a Bachelor of Commerce: 

• What transferable skills will you learn in your degree
• What industries or sectors you can work in 
• Graduate roles 
• Long-term career opportunities 

What transferable skills you will learn with a Bachelor of Commerce

A commerce degree in 2022 is a flexible course designed to equip you with the fundamental skills needed to succeed in business and the finance sector. It’s designed to give you a broad education in market economics while also allowing you to specialise in many different areas of finance, marketing, accounting, operations or management. 

With a global explosion of eCommerce and mCommerce or mobile sales taking place over the last few years, the knowledge you gain from studying commerce will be particularly valuable in virtually any company or industry that has an online presence. 

Here are some of the main skills you can expect to acquire through a commerce degree: 

• Data collection and analysis, knowledge of data analytics tools
• Numeracy and accounting
• Soft skills, such as communication 
• Problem-solving
• Leadership, administration and project management
• Financial analysis and reporting
• Innovation and entrepreneurship
• Analytical thinking
• ICT skills and technical knowledge of industry software
• Strategic planning

Core subjects taught in our Bachelor of Commerce include: 

• Business Communications
• Information Systems
• Accounting
• Business Finance
• Understanding People and Organisations
• Cloud Technologies
• Statistics
• Economics
• Accounting for Planning and Control
• Database Fundamentals
• Corporate Law
• Auditing

As you can see, these core subjects are mainly focused on areas of finance, accounting and management. However, a student can typically also choose from a wide range of elective subjects in addition to these, allowing them to branch out or specialise in other areas, such as marketing, environmental sustainability, entrepreneurship, data analytics or ICT. 

At Torrens University, the Bachelor of Commerce program has recently had a makeover. The updated degree now offers the latest in data analysis tools and work-ready learning:

• 17 core and 7 elective subjects.
• A variety of real-world relevant assessments within the core subjects.
• Embedded technology and ethics study throughout the course.
• Continued emphasis on employability skills and work integrated learning within the curriculum.

What industries or sectors you can work in 

With a Bachelor's in Commerce, you have a highly transferable skill set that gives you the opportunity to work across virtually every industry or sector. You could work in management, strategic, consulting, logistics, operations, marketing, research, analysis or finance role across any of the different areas of commerce. 

With a broad skill set in the business, commerce and finance you can apply your knowledge to every industry and most organisations. Even non-profit organisations require professionals who are skilled in finance, accounting and business management. Some of the primary sectors that are in need of commerce or business graduates for a variety of roles include: 

• Business management
• eCommerce
• Consulting
• ICT and tech start-ups
• Financial, auditing, accounting and tax services
• Health and care sectors
• Transportation or logistics
• Tourism, hospitality and accommodation services
• Commercial or international banking
• Insurance 
• Telecommunications 
• Manufacturing and distribution
• Warehousing
• Government and non-profit sectors

With such a broad array of potential sectors and industries to work in, commerce students have lots of choices to specialise in a particular field, industry or role, depending on their interests. It’s up to you to decide where to steer your career path. 

Graduate roles after BA in Commerce

There are many different graduate roles on offer for BA of Commerce students right now. Many of these roles come with salaries ranging from AUD 60,000 to AUD 80,000, and higher. 

Commerce graduates can also apply for most positions that are advertised for graduates of business or finance degrees, because there is a significant amount of cross-over in course content. 

The 2022 In-Demand Jobs Report from Randstand Recruiting lists a number of jobs in the finance sector as high demand this year. Although not necessarily suited to recent graduates, this demonstrates the diversity of in-demand roles you could work your way up into:

• Technology Risk Manager
• Regulatory Compliance Manager
• Claims Administrator
• Customer Services, Banking
• Mortgage Broker

Some real-world examples of typical graduate job titles for commerce graduates being currently advertised on listing sites Seek and GradAustralia also include: 

• Global Sales Manager
• Graduate Audit and Business Services Accountant
• Graduate Trainee for Business Finance
• Software Engineer for Advanced eCommerce
• Capital Transactions Trainee
• Graduate Fund Manager
• Graduate Accountant
• Global Logistics Support Trainee

These are actual roles for commerce graduates being advertised online right now, reflecting real industry demand for graduates across the business and finance sectors. 

Long-term career options with Bachelor of Commerce

Depending on your interests, there are many different long-term career paths you can work towards with a Bachelor of Commerce. 

One common characteristic of many commerce graduates is that they often end up in senior positions within their organisation. 

The skill sets and training in leadership, management and strategic analysis that you acquire with a Bachelor of Commerce is perfectly suited to the management of large businesses and organisations. 

Some common senior positions and average salary ranges for commerce graduates in Australia according to payscale are:

• Chief Financial Officer (AU$109k - AU$229k)
• Chief Executive Officer (AU$110k - AU$342k)
• Business Development Manager (AU$55k - AU$118k)
• Operations Manager (AU$56k - AU$144k)
• Senior Business Analyst (AU$87k - AU$139k)
• Commercial Manager (AU$88k - AU$190k)
• Commercial Analyst (AU$57k - AU$103k)
• Financial Controller (AU$74k - AU$163k)
• Financial Accountant (AU$61k - AU$101k)
• Management Accountant (AU$62k - AU$96k)
• Senior Accountant (AU$60k - AU$96k)
• Finance Manager (AU$68k - AU$140k)

These are all actual positions that commerce graduates report they are currently working in, according to Payscale’s 2022 data. These roles demonstrate how flexible a commerce degree can be, and how over time it can help you get to the most senior positions possible in business. 

Even if you begin your career down one path, such as business management, a commerce education is inclusive enough to allow you to change your career further down the track; taking a sideways step into marketing, human resources or accounting. It’s a course that allows you to continue to learn, grow and change as your career progresses.