Accountancy, banking and finance background image

Accountancy, banking and finance

The world of finance offers many different career paths - from banking and accounting to tax, investments, and insurance. Here, you'll learn more about the different roles to find the perfect fit for you, discover how to master the application process, explore work experience opportunities, and more.
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Which finance career would suit me?

Learn more about the most common finance roles to help you decide on a path that aligns with your needs and career goals.

Accountant: job description

Job descriptions and industry overviews
Accountants are employed by organisations and private clients to audit accounts, provide financial advice and manage accounting processes.
  • Accounting & finance +1

Insurance broker: job description

Job descriptions and industry overviews
Insurance brokers identify and organise suitable insurance cover for commercial organisations and private clients.
  • Banking, insurance & financial services

Insurance underwriter: job description

Job descriptions and industry overviews
Insurance underwriters make decisions about insurance policies using statistical and commercial information.
  • Banking, insurance & financial services

Investment banker - corporate finance: job description

Job descriptions and industry overviews
Investment bank corporate financiers provide financial services and advice to commercial and government clients about various financial matters including fund and debt management, mergers, flotations, acquisitions and privatisation.
  • Investment banking & fund management

Investment banker – operations: job description

Job descriptions and industry overviews
Investment bank operations staff are responsible for the efficient, accurate, profitable and risk-free clearing and settlement of bank transactions for corporate and government clients.
  • Investment banking & fund management

Investment fund manager: job description

Job descriptions and industry overviews
Investment fund managers advise private and corporate clients to help them get the best return on their investments.
  • Investment banking & fund management

Retail banker: job description

Job descriptions and industry overviews
Retail bankers provide members of the public with financial advice and banking services.
  • Banking, insurance & financial services +1

Stockbroker: job description

Job descriptions and industry overviews
Stockbrokers buy and sell securities (eg stocks and shares) on a commission basis on behalf of private and commercial clients.
  • Investment banking & fund management

Ace the application process

Discover the skills you'll need to create winning applications, learn how to write stellar CVs, and get tips to help you nail your interviews.

The top skills retail banking, insurance and actuarial employers want

Skills and competencies
To get a graduate job in financial services you need to convince recruiters that you have the skills to do the job well. But which of your skills should you be making a big deal of in your applications and interviews?
  • Banking, insurance & financial services

How to write a graduate CV for retail banking, insurance and actuary jobs

Applications
Showing on your CV that you can exceed targets and build good relationships will make you a graduate that financial services employers want to interview.
  • Banking, insurance & financial services

Expert video interview tips to impress recruiters

Interviews and assessment centres
Whether it’s a live Zoom interview or a pre-recorded video interview, our expert video interviews tips will help you secure an internship or graduate role.
  • Investment banking & fund management +21

The skills you need for banking and investment graduate schemes

Skills and competencies
Aiming to develop the competencies investment banks want to see when you apply? You’ll need to go beyond ‘teamwork’ and ‘communication’ to stand out from the crowd.
  • Investment banking & fund management

Compare your investment banking graduate CV to the competition

Applications
CVs for a graduate scheme with an investment bank usually fall into three types: straight and narrow, everyman and wildcard. Want to know where your CV fits and how to improve it? Read below.
  • Investment banking & fund management

Wanted: the skills accountancy recruiters are seeking. Reward: a top graduate job

Applications
Here are five of the top skills that will get you a graduate accountancy or financial management job.
  • Accounting & finance

Four common interview questions for graduate jobs in accountancy and financial management

Interviews and assessment centres
You can't know exactly what questions you're going to be asked in an interview for a graduate job in accountancy, but there are some common questions that you're likely to encounter.
  • Accounting & finance

Group exercises at investment banking assessment centres

Interviews and assessment centres
Investment banking recruiters like to keep the precise content of their assessment centre group exercises a closely guarded secret. But if you're aware of typical tasks and structure, you’re unlikely to have any major surprises.
  • Investment banking & fund management

Why are communication skills so important in accountancy?

Applications
A successful graduate career in accountancy will be impossible if you don’t possess good communication skills. Here’s how to demonstrate yours throughout the application process.
  • Accounting & finance

Example investment banking interview questions

Interviews and assessment centres
What better way is there to prepare for your graduate or internship interview at an investment bank than with a selection of sample questions?

Discover your future career with GradSims

In these free mini-courses you'll get career insights from graduates, do real-life tasks, and get priority access to roles.

Want to be the next management accountant at CIMA?

GradSims
Get a true feel of what it's like by listening to real stories from grads who’ve already been on the journey, and trying out actual tasks in the role.

Are you the next accountant at ACCA?

GradSims
Get exclusive tips and advice from graduates who are currently in the role, and a chance to do an actual task from ACCA.

Are you the next assurance graduate at EY?

GradSims
Get exclusive tips and advice from graduates who are currently in the role, and a chance to do an actual task from EY.

Want to be the next management accountant at CIMA?

GradSims
Get a true feel of what it's like by listening to real stories from grads who’ve already been on the journey, and trying out actual tasks in the role.

Work experience and internships

Getting an internship or work experience could be your ticket to landing a full-time role - discover your options here.

Getting work experience in an accounting firm

Internships and placements
An internship can be a first step towards a graduate job in accountancy. How and when should you apply for work experience and how do you make the most of it?
  • Accounting & finance

Getting work experience and internships in retail banking, insurance, regulation or actuarial science

Internships and placements
Advice on applying for internships and placements in finance, as well as how to make a good impression during your work experience and what options are available.
  • Banking, insurance & financial services +4

The investment banking work experience pipeline and what it means for you

Advice
Banking and investment graduate recruiters view their spring insight programmes and summer internships as talent pipelines to fill the majority of places on their graduate schemes. Start in your first year – or be prepared to play catch-up.
  • Investment banking & fund management

Four ways you can prepare for your investment banking internship

Internships and placements
You’ve been accepted onto an internship at an investment bank, so now a whole new task lies in front of you: preparation. What should you do before you start your internship to give yourself the best chance of securing a full-time job later on?
  • Investment banking & fund management

Graduate jobs in finance: why students should consider alternative routes into the industry

Careers advice and planning
Students who want to work in finance should think outside the box and make their own opportunities to break into the industry.
  • Banking, insurance & financial services +1

Employers in Accountancy, banking and finance

All employers

Our top employers

Industry leaders with a large annual graduate intake.

Capital One
Capital One

Capital One

Banking, insurance & financial services + 6

At Capital One, we're on our mission: to change the world of credit for better – one good thing at a time.

PwC
PwC

PwC

Accounting & finance + 16

Explore. Inspire. Reimagine.

HSBC
HSBC

HSBC

Banking, insurance & financial services + 3

Be part of something bigger. Founded in 1865, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations

Featured employers

Active employers looking for graduate talent all year round.

Experian

Experian

Banking, insurance & financial services +5

When you choose Experian as the place to begin and build your career, you’re choosing more than just an employer.
Experian
Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo

Investment banking +2

At Wells Fargo, we understand that you’re looking for more than just a job – you’re looking for a better life.
Wells Fargo
L'Oréal

L'Oréal

Retail, business & commercial services +7

When you look at L’Oréal, what do you see? If all you see is lipstick, look again and experience the Freedom to go Beyond the ordinary. That’s the beauty of L’Oréal.
L'Oréal
RSM

RSM

Accounting & finance +1

Make an impact, be our future.
RSM

And many more

Other employers who are active on targetjobs , regularly posting new opportunities and events during peak seasons.

Bank of America
LCP
Operis