Cole Parton knows what he wants and is strategic about getting it.
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Cole Parton
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Parton, a Berryville, Ark., native, graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 2021 with a double major in economics and finance. He loves solving problems, and he anticipated a financial role in business.
“By the time I graduated with my undergraduate degree, I had a solid understanding of the types of problems I enjoyed solving. I love the combination of art and science – of psychology and mathematics – involved in the fields of economics and finance,” Parton said. “It’s all about understanding the measurable impacts of decisions while digging into the emotional and logical reasons behind them. Figuring out both sides of the story makes it super interesting and fun to solve these kinds of puzzles!”
Then came reality.
“I learned a lesson in 2021 that I think a lot of fresh college graduates learn. I graduated with a BSBA in Economics/Finance and thought that any company would be lucky to have me as a financial analyst. However, as job application rejection emails started flooding my inbox, I realized that just having an undergrad degree doesn't always mean you land your dream job,” Parton shared. “I knew I wanted to work in finance/analytics but actually accepted a role in operations as my first job out of college because I couldn't get an interview for the roles I really wanted. That was part of the reason I decided to pursue the MSF to be more competitive for finance roles.”
After graduation, Parton began to apply for jobs in Northwest Arkansas and secured a position with J.B. Hunt as a manager trainee for its Intermodal Manager Development program. While it wasn’t the finance position he originally focused on, he learned the functions of various departments, analyzed market conditions, network needs and fuel costs.
“It's quite competitive working in NWA and trying to "break in" to the finance field – companies are often trusting finance professionals to make significant decisions that impact the P&L in a large way, so they need people in these roles who are qualified and trustworthy. It's pretty common to have trouble landing a finance job directly out of an undergraduate finance program, so adding on a graduate level education in this field can help give you a competitive advantage.
This was just the problem Cole was made for! He reviewed his goals and researched his options.
“I knew I wanted a career that incorporated this type of problem solving, and I wanted to make myself the best candidate possible for future roles within this field,” he said. “Because I had a more specific view of the type of career I wanted, I chose to enroll in a more specialized master’s program – how can you be more qualified for financial/analytical roles than someone with a MS in Finance?”
His next step was to decide where to pursue a graduate degree.
“After deciding on the type of grad degree I wanted to pursue, I spent some time researching the different programs offered around the U.S. – both online and in-person,” he added. “I knew I wanted to live in NWA after graduation, so I paid special attention to the programs offered at the U of A. I thought the courses offered within this program with the data analytics concentration fit my career goals perfectly. After having conversations with the program director, Dr. Cash Acrey, about my future career goals and how this program could help me achieve them, I was ready to commit to the program.”
Cole found the Master of Science in Finance program at Walton College had multiple benefits compared to other similar graduate programs:
- There are three Fortune 500 companies within a 25-minute drive of the university and the university does a great job of maintaining relations with these companies.
- The curriculum for this degree is rather flexible and allows students to home in on topics that interest them.
- The NWA area is a great place to live and explore.
- The cost of this program is very competitive.
Cole continued to work while pursuing an MSF graduate degree. He graduated in 2024 after working for J.B. Hunt, InMocean and now Walmart, where he serves as a manager in merchandise planning. Cole’s current job deals with a large amount of data on a daily basis.
“Within my role, I'm constantly working with data and using data to inform business decisions. Whether I'm using sales data to understand what products our customer is gravitating toward, or using macro trends as inputs to financial forecasts, I'm regularly using data and analytical techniques to inform my business,” he said. “Throughout my MSF program, I took multiple courses that taught advanced data analytic skills for the purpose of informing financial decisions. Concepts taught in Advanced Financial Modeling and Financial Data Analytics give students a deeper understanding of the relationships that can be found in data and how these relationships can be used in future decision making. It's also very important in my role to understand how different decisions will impact the bottom line and the overall P&L. Courses like Advanced Corporate Financial Management helped to give me a deeper understanding of the arithmetic/logic used within financial statements.”
Cole describes his job as the chief financial officer for a product line or category. He uses his financial savvy in forecasting, supply chain management and data analytics with an understanding of his customers.
“There are new and interesting problems to solve every day!”
Looking forward, the future looks bright for Cole.
“Now I'm focused on continuing to grow and develop within Walmart,” he shared. “There are so many opportunities within an organization this large and there are many different routes you can take with your career. I'm excited to continue a career at the intersection of finance, analytics, and merchandising!”
Cole is equally encouraging to anyone considering a Master of Science in Finance degree.
“I think a lot of potential master’s students wonder if a graduate degree is "worth it," and my opinion on this is: You're about to begin a 30+ year career. When you consider the current cost of the Walton MSF – if having this degree gives you an advantage for even one promotion/opportunity along the way, it would more than pay for itself when you think of the cumulative increase in salary that would provide over the course of your career. The world of business can be very competitive, so any advantage you can get will only help.”
“Another way I think about the MSF is the flexibility it gives you within your career. There may be times when you feel like you're not in total control of your career – you may end up in a role that feels like it has nothing to do with what you studied in school, and it doesn't involve the types of problems you enjoy working on. Having an MSF in your back pocket always allows you to make a change and transfer back to the world of finance.”
Cole balances out his work life with fun outdoor activities, such as golf or running in a 5k. He also enjoys all that Northwest Arkansas offers in the hospitality world – coffee shops, restaurants and breweries. But underneath the weekend frivolity and the weekday focus, Cole Parton is a man on a mission. He has the technical expertise and is gaining the experience he needs. Simply put, the plan is in motion, and he is ready for what the future brings!
