A Guide to Your Career in Finance

Posted by Gaby Wallace on May 7th, 2018

If you are interested in working in finance, then it is a good idea to have a sense of what kind of jobs there are in different sectors of finance, and which appeal to you most. From there, you’ll be able to find out where you should be focusing your efforts in terms of studying and gaining qualifications, or where you should be looking to get in with an entry level role. Many job portals will give you the right information on what is needed in your desired position.

There are quite a few things you will need to consider when researching the types of finance career that may be a suitable goal for you. Here, we are going to take a look at some of these factors:

Location Can Be Important in Finance

One thing that can affect which potential areas of finance you may want to work in is how you feel about having where you can live defined by your career. There are some financial roles you can do just about anywhere where there are people and businesses, such as being a financial advisor or a company accountant. However, for some other areas of finance, jobs really only exist in major cities, especially significant financial hubs. It is also worth bearing in mind that jobs in major financial centers are not always kept in those locations permanently. Changes in macroeconomic and socio-political factors can mean financial services companies and banks may move operations to other countries. An example is the predicted exodus of a lot of finance businesses from London to other European cities in the wake of Brexit.

If you like the idea of living and working in a major city and also having the potential to work in other major business hubs throughout your career, then jobs in banking, investment and the markets could suit you. If you prefer to be able to live wherever you like and find work, then you should look more towards finance roles that serve individuals and small businesses.

Customer Facing, or Not?

Another thing you should think about is whether you want to work with people or not. Some people can’t imagine a career without being face to face with clients and helping them, and if this sounds like you, then jobs in advisory or sales roles in finance can be found at all levels.

If, however, you prefer the idea of working in an office where you are not in front of clients for most, or any, of the time, then roles in analysis or back office type roles may be better suited to you. It is important to find a path that fits well with how you’d rather be spending your working time.

Traditional, or Innovative?

Finance is a strange area, because in some ways, it is very traditional, with banks, insurers, the markets and financial services companies all having existed for a very long time, and things working much the same as they always have done. The bare bones of economics, after all, don’t really change. However, finance is also a field where new innovation carries extreme importance, and there are things that are big parts of modern finance that have only really come to the fore in the last decade or so, such as cryptocurrencies, online forex trading, contactless payment systems, automated trading and internet payment services like PayPal.

Technology is a big deal in modern finance, and so if you would like to work in an area of the industry where you can be on the cutting edge of money innovation, then fintech can be a good place to consider a career. However, if you prefer a less fast paced sector of the industry where your expertise won’t become outdated rapidly, then insurance, pensions and classic financial products like mortgages and loans could be of interest to you.

As you can see, finance is extremely diverse, but whatever your preferences in terms of working style and lifestyle, you can find a finance career path to suit you!