The financial services industry includes companies that manage, invest, transfer and lend money. The industry is large and includes banks, investment banks, consumer and commercial lenders, asset managers, brokerages, stock exchanges, payment processors, collection agencies, and private equity and venture capital investors.
The financial services industry encompasses different sectors in which you could work as an accounting or finance professional. Examples of sectors in the financial services industry are Accounting, Capital Markets, Corporate Finance, Equity Research, Financial Services Investment Banking, Investment Management, and Private Equity. Please visit http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/industries for more information on these sectors.
Skills and Degrees Needed
The type of skills needed to be successful in the financial industry tend to be analytical and quantitatve with an emphasis on strong management and communication skills.
The following are common skills needed across the financial services industry:
- Analytical ability
- Problem solving skills
- Preparing financial reports
- Managing projects/people
- Quantitative skills
- Research
- Risk analysis
- Strategic thinking
- Persuasive communication
- Budget planning
- Critical thinking
- Data analysis
- Verbal and written communication
- Interpersonal skills
- Leadership
- Organizational skills
Graduate programs
- MBA
- Master of Science in Finance
- Master of Science in Accounting
Certifications
- Certified Professional Accountant (CPA)
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- Virginia Society of CPA's
- National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
- Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
- Certified Financial Consultant (CFC)
Resources Available
Industry Research Resources
- Careers in Accounting
- Careers in Finance
- Tax and Accounting Sites Directory
- Yahoo Finance - offers market, industry and company research
- WetFeet - search for industry and career information for accounting, investment banking, mutual funds and brokerage careers
- Mergers and Inquisitions - a helpful resource for students interested in investment banking
Job Search Resources
- Accounting Career Network - national database of employment opportunities related to accounting and finance
- Accounting Net - offers accounting-related job listings and resource library
- BankJobs.com - job search web site with banking and financial services positions
- Career Bank - job search web site wtih accounting, financial and banking jobs and resumes
- Doostang - job search database with jobs related to finance, accounting and other areas of business
- eFinancialCareers - provides advice and job postings for different sectors in the financial services industry
- Financial Job Bank - offers accounting and financial jobs for professional at all levels
- Jobs on Wall Street - job board for financial services industry
- One Wire - job database with opportunities in the financial sector
Finance
- American Bankers Association (ABA)
- American Academy of Financial Management
- Bank Administration Institute (BAI)
- Institute of International Bankers (IIB)
- Association for Financial Professionals – offers an online job center with access to finance jobs at Fortune 500 companies
- Financial Management Association International
- The Financial Services Roundtable
- Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards
- National Association of Real Estate Brokers
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
Accounting
- American Accounting Association
- Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
- Association of Government Accountants
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Information Systems Audit and Control Association
- Institute of Management Accountants
- National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
- The Institute of Internal Auditors
- Virginia Board of Accountancy
- Virginia Society of CPA's
