WHEN finance is suggested as a career option most university-leavers automatically think of the relentlessly promoted vacancies at the Big Four accountancy firms or highly paid and sought-after positions at the City’s investment banks.
It’s true that both of these areas are major recruiters but there is also a wide variety of opportunities elsewhere in the finance sector. Britain’s high street banks are set to hire more than 800 new graduates and there are an estimated 300 vacancies at the leading insurance firms.
The in-house accountancy departments of industrial, commercial, public sector and not-for-profit organisations also offer an excellent selection of vacancies. Every major employer has a team of financial professionals who measure performance, influence strategy, prepare accounts, and report to shareholders and investors.
Graduates are recruited as trainee management accountants and usually spend much of their first two or three years working towards a recognised qualification from CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) or CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy).