Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is one of the most crucial roles in any company. It is one of the four C-Suite positions that play a pivotal role in operations.
In general, a CFO is the third-most senior position in the company, reporting directly to the CEO. The CFO advises the CEO on forecasting, funding allocations for critical initiatives, and other financial operations, and so is a key contributor to the company’s success.
To land this senior executive position, you’ll need specific skills, qualifications, and experience. Foundational awareness and expertise in investment, accounts, and business intelligence are also critically important.
Accountant
According to recent figures, the UK finance industry will need to hire 80,000 accountants by 2050 in order to meet market demand.
An accountant is responsible for keeping financial records in order. However, accountants may also perform a range of other finance-related tasks for individuals or organisations.
As an accountant, your role and responsibilities can vary dramatically depending on where you work. However, here are some of the tasks that an accountant may typically do:
- Generating financial documents according to applicable laws and regulations.
- Creating financial reports and keeping them in order.
- Arranging tax returns while ensuring that all required taxes are paid in accordance with the law.
- Assessing financial activities to address issues and come up with solutions to problems.
- Developing plans to increase revenue and cut unnecessary expenses.
- Making risk assessments.
In addition to a degree in accounting or a finance-related field, accreditations such as a CFA may be required depending on the role. Certain skills, such as attention to detail, technical knowledge, and communication skills, are also important for accountants.
Investment Banker
Investment banking is one of the highest-paying jobs in the financial sector, and roles can be highly-competitive. An investment banker assists private or public organisations raise funds through bonds, stocks, venture funding, along with other methods. They may also provide financial advice to businesses and individuals.
Becoming an investment banker is not easy, especially given the competitive nature of the field. To stand out from other candidates, you may need a little extra flair. Besides an appropriate qualification, and numeric and analytical skills, an investment banker needs to be a top-notch communicator. Ultimately, the majority of an investment banker’s time is spent engaging with clients, so communication is crucial.
How to Pursue a Career in Finance
To secure one of the key jobs in finance, you’ll need to have the right qualifications. Our distance learning centres online courses allow you to gain the skills and knowledge you need to excel in the industry with the flexibility to study on your own schedule around your other commitments.
