Career Paths, Education, Work Experience, Online Courses and Progression Routes

Overview

The UK financial services sector generates more than £170 billion for the UK economy per year and provides more than a million jobs. Specialisms within the sector include retail and investment banking, insurance, accounting, asset and wealth management and fintech.

Whilst most of the business is based in London, there are growing satellites in Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds and Bristol, offering opportunities for school leavers, graduates and experienced professionals from other spheres.

Many jobs allow for international travel to financial centres all over the world.

Best Subjects to Study

 At A-Level

Any subjects requiring analytical and commercial thinking, for example

• Maths (critical for quantitative roles)
• Economics
• Business Studies
• Further Maths
• Sciences
• English, History, Geography, RS, Philosophy, Politics, Languages (for research and communication skills)

At Degree Level

Any subject is acceptable if the graduate is numerate and demonstrates commercial awareness. The following subjects are likely to contain modules relevant to the work:

• Finance
• Accounting
• Economics
• Business Management
• Maths
• Law
• Computer Science (especially relevant for data and fintech careers)

Apprenticeship Routes

Apprenticeships are available at Levels 3-7, depending on the seniority of the role.

Entry points to apprenticeship and training programmes are available at:

• Level 3 (Advanced) e.g. Finance Assistant, Claims Handler
• Level 4/5 (Higher) e.g. Banking Analyst, Insurance Technician
• Level 6 (Degree) e.g. Banking roles
• Level 7 (Postgraduate) e.g. Chartered Accountant, Financial Risk Manager

Top Employers Offering Apprenticeships

In the accountancy and consulting sector:

• PwC
• EY
• KPMG
• Deloitte

In the banking sector:

• Lloyds Banking Group
• Barclays
• HSBC
• Santander
• Bank of England

In the insurance sector:

• Aviva
• AXA
• Zurich

 In the asset management sector:

• Schroders
• BlackRock

Work Experience Opportunities

Work experience is crucial to gain insight into the industry and improve employability. Opportunities range from in-school programmes to paid summer placements.

For 16–18 Year Olds

• Insight Days – Half or full-day events offering introductions to finance e.g., EY’s Business Academy
• Virtual Work Experience – Free online experiences via platforms like Springpod:
• Forage
• RateMyPlacement
• Bank of England Pathway to Success

Internships for University Students

Internships offer increased chances of employment in full-time graduate roles. They usually take place during the summer after the second year of university and last 6–10 weeks. Students need to apply between September and January of their second year at university. Early preparation is essential as the process is competitive and has many stages, each with an interview.

Types of Internships:

• Investment Banking Internships – Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, HSBC
• Consulting/Professional Services Internships – Deloitte, EY, KPMG
• Technology & Fintech Internships – Finastra, Revolut, Monzo
• Insurance and Risk Internships – Aviva, Zurich, Allianz
• Asset Management Internships – BlackRock, Schroders, M&G Investments

Some Major Employers in the UK Financial Sector

Job Roles

There are many different job roles in Finance, each requiring different skills. This makes a financial career attractive to a broad range of candidates.

• Investment Analyst / Banker – research, deal-making, financial modelling
• Risk Manager / Compliance Officer – ensuring firms meet regulations and manage exposure
• Actuary – using statistics to assess financial risks in insurance and pensions
• Financial Adviser / Wealth Manager – guiding individuals and businesses on investments
• Auditor / Accountant – analysing financial statements and compliance
• Fintech Specialist – developing digital financial products and data solutions

Further Information on Job titles and roles within the sector

Some jobs, like those in Private Equity (PE) (which involves buying or investing in private companies and working to increase their value), recruit from MBA programmes, investment banks and management consultancy firms. Perhaps the best route into Private Equity is to work in an analyst role in an investment bank or management consultancy straight from university and build a network of contacts in PE. The work requires stamina, analysis and good communication. Look at Bright Network for an explanation.

Skills Required

Underlying their qualifications, professionals in the financial sector often demonstrate the following:

• Numerical reasoning & quantitative skills
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Analytical problem-solving
• Commercial awareness
• Communication & teamwork
• Time management and adaptability
• Digital literacy – Excel, data visualisation, coding (Python, SQL)

Online Courses

• For structured learning with certificates: Coursera finance specialisations
• For foundational knowledge from top universities: edX finance courses

Conclusion

The finance world is constantly evolving, and so are the opportunities within it. A career in finance is not just about numbers, it’s about problem-solving, strategy and creating value.  It’s important to stay adaptable and invest in your future.

Start by researching different roles and the companies you could work for, speaking to people in the industry, and gaining experience in the field, through work experience or an internship.

At FutureSmart Careers, we have fully qualified careers advisers ready to help. Our mission is to provide careers guidance, knowledge and resources so that young people can make confident and informed choices about their futures. If you would like careers guidance or support for students in your school, college or child, please get in touch at enquiries@futuresmartcareers.co.uk.

Images sourced from Freepik