Financial manager : Entry requirements

Although this area of work is open to all graduates, the following subjects may increase your chances and entitle you to exemptions from some professional examinations:

• business/management;
• economics;
• accountancy and finance;
• maths/statistics.

A relevant postgraduate course may be useful, but is not essential. In certain niche areas, specialised knowledge gained through a postgraduate programme may offer you a competitive advantage. Graduate schemes in finance and related areas almost always require further study for professional qualifications.

Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

• commercial and business awareness;
• excellent communication skills;
• an analytical approach to work;
• high numeracy and sound technical skills;
• problem-solving skills and initiative;
• strong attention to detail and an investigative nature;
• the ability to balance the demands of work with study commitments;
• good time management skills and the ability to prioritise;
• the ability to work as part of a team and to build strong working relationships;
• the ability to make quick but rational decisions;
• the potential to lead and motivate others;
• good IT skills.

Some employers run vacation placements or short, work experience taster courses. Early application is advised. Professional accountancy bodies produce vacancy publications with details of traineeships and registration with professional bodies is open to individuals with A-levels (or equivalent) or above, such as HND/HNC.  Many employers also offer industrial placement years. Your university careers service should be able to offer you support with finding these. It is also worth approaching organisations directly for work experience even if they have not advertised placements.

Entry into the profession is also possible with A-levels (or equivalent) or HND/HNC, generally by studying with an institution such as Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)  or The Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA)  for an accounting technician qualification before proceeding to professional accountancy training. See the Financial Skills Partnership  website as well as the ACCA and IFA sites for more information.

A variety of organisations offering finance graduate training schemes, as well as accountancy professional bodies, hold presentations on campus and have stands at careers fairs where you can talk to representatives and recent graduate trainees in order to get real insight into the nature of the work and tips on what helped them to succeed.

The recent economic downturn has affected all sectors, including finance, and City-based jobs have been hit, meaning there is now greater competition for fewer jobs. You might like to consider alternative entry into the finance sector rather than concentrating on graduate scheme opportunities. Accountancy firms, for example, are still recruiting actively, particularly in the smaller/medium size end of the market, offering useful starting points for 'growing' a career in the larger financial sector. Similarly, while finding a job in the City may be particularly difficult, there are openings throughout the UK.

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.