Careers Related to Accounting and Finance

Accountancy

Most people entering professional accountancy careers will train as chartered accountants. Most of these will train in public practice, offering audits and business advice services (including tax advice) to clients. There are also numerous opportunities to train with industry and commerce, normally through CIMA or ACCA. Local authorities and other public bodies often recruit public finance accountants who train for the CIPFA qualification. The boundaries between different types of qualification and employer are becoming  increasingly flexible. Some of the Big 5 chartered accountancy firms offer CIMA, ACCA, and CIPFA training alongside the ICAEW or ICAS qualification; some public sector employers (such as the civil service) train their accountancy staff for the CIMA qualification and it is possible to qualify as a chartered accountant outside public practice.

Banking

Retail banking (the provision of financial services to individuals and small businesses) covers not only the traditional high street banks and building societies but also supermarkets, insurance companies (e.g. Prudential's Egg) and other companies such as Virgin.

Corporate and investment banking involves advising major organisations on mergers and aquisitions, flotations and financial strategy. Graduates are recruited into areas such as analysis, customer liaison and dealing. Opportunities are also potentially great for qualified accoutants.

Insurance

Large composite insurance companies are growing ever larger through mergers and takeovers, often on an international scale. Candidates are recruited into areas such as acturial work, customer services, accounting, broking, investment management, underwriting and claims work. There are other entry routes - via clerical or call centre positions which may get people onto the first rung of the ladder to move up within the organisation.

Other Finance Related Careers

These may include stockbroking, corporate treasury management, tax work, IT in the financial sector, company secretary, solicitor, financial information services and pensions management.

Alternative Careers

There are many other occupations which accounting and finance specialists can enter:

• advertising and media
• civil service
• computing
• law
• library and information work
• sport
• management services
• market research
• personnel
• retail management
• purchasing