Accountancy, Banking and Finance
Accountancy, banking and finance is one of the most diverse and influential sectors in the global economy, and one of the most popular among University of Exeter graduates. Careers in this sector place you at the centre of how organisations, industries and economies function, where you could be advising clients, managing risk, supporting financial decision-making or navigating international markets.
The sector spans a wide range of roles, including audit, tax, insurance, risk, investment, banking, financial advice and more. Many roles are open to graduates from any degree discipline, with employers offering structured training, professional qualifications and clear progression routes. Whether you’re drawn to working with numbers and financial data, developing insight into how organisations operate, solving problems, or developing relationships with clients, there are varied opportunities to explore. A common thread to succeeding in any role within this sector is strong commercial awareness and a keen interest in finance. Every news story of the day has a potential impact on the world of finance, so you should be interested in following current affairs, listening to opinions and developing your own ideas.
Emerging trends also continue to reshape the financial sectors, creating new opportunities and influencing the skills employers value. The growth of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing is placing sustainability at the heart of financial decision-making, meanwhile advances in artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and automation are transforming how financial institutions operate, from risk modelling to customer service. Staying informed about these developments and their impact on the sector will help you demonstrate commercial awareness and align your skills with future demand.
As a leading global financial centre, the UK is home to more than 300 banks ranging from global bulge bracket firms to specialist boutiques, and over 35,000 accountancy firms, including the ‘Big Four’ (PwC, Deloitte, EY and KPMG) professional services firms and a wide range of regional practices. London is also a world-renowned centre for insurance, home to the historic Lloyd’s market and a hub for corporate and specialist insurance.
The demand for skilled graduates in accountancy, banking and finance remains consistently high. These sectors represent the largest source of graduate employment in the UK (High Fliers, Institute of Student Employers), with many employers recruiting nationally across multiple locations. While entry into some areas is highly competitive, especially in banking and investment, early engagement and well-informed preparation can significantly boost your chances of success in this challenging and lucrative field.
If you are interested in this area of work, these sectors might also be of interest to you:
If you would like to do further research into this sector, the following webpages may be useful.
- Prospects, Bright Network, and TargetJobs provide useful sector-specific information and advice on Accounting, Banking and Finance for students and graduates.
- eFinancialCareers is a leading global careers site for professionals working in financial markets. It provides job listings, employer insights, and career advice tailored to the finance industry.
- The Financial Careers Insight Series provided by University of Exeter Business School and Opening City Doors gives detailed guidance and advice on many areas of the financial markets.
- AmplifyME University Pathways offers real-world simulation experiences in Banking, Markets and Quant. The University of Exeter Business School has unlocked the Explore tier, which means you get access to an unparalleled range of immersive workshops, careers sessions and on-demand learning.
Making contacts is essential for success in this and other sectors. Many jobs in this field come through networking and speculative applications. You could start by speaking with the experts, find out what they did after graduation and contact them for advice. You might also find it helpful to read our Researching employers page.
Making contacts for work shadowing, informational interviews and speculative applications
To help increase your networks who may also be able to suggest ways to gain experiences look at:
- Ask an Alum: A fuss-free way to connect with University of Exeter alumni to ask careers questions.
- Career Mentor Scheme: A popular employability scheme which matches a student or graduate with an experienced professional, for sector insight and one-to-one careers advice and guidance, over a 6-month period.
- Attend events as outlined below, to explore making contacts with professionals who can inform your thinking.
Recruitment fairs, careers fairs, open days, talks, and events give insights and opportunities to make contacts. For details of future events visit Handshake. If you have not yet activated your account, select the Single Sign On (SSO) option and follow the onscreen instructions.
Other annual events of interest include ‘Careers in Finance’ Week which usually takes place in week 2 of the Autumn term. Keep an eye on Handshake and emails from Career Zone.
Many major graduate recruiters have policies and processes that are proactive in recruiting graduates from diverse backgrounds. To find out the policies and attitudes of employers that you are interested in, explore their equality and diversity policies and see if they offer Disability Confident Employer Scheme or are recognised for their policy by such indicators as Mindful Employer or as a Stonewall’s Diversity Champion.
The UK law protects you from discrimination due to your age, gender, race, religion or beliefs, disability or sexual orientation and more. For further information on the Equality Act and to find out where and how you are protected, as well as information on what you need to do if you feel you have been discriminated against, visit the Government’s webpages on discrimination.
To learn more about how to share details of a disability with an employer and the support you can receive applying for jobs and work experience visit our equality and diversity page.
Further information
- upReach supports students from less-advantaged backgrounds to access top graduate jobs, including within the finance and professional services sectors, through mentoring and skills development.
- Women in Finance Charter is a UK government initiative where signatory firms commit to improving gender diversity in roles across financial services.
Action
Explore roles in the sector by visiting the areas of work below. Each profile covers typical duties and responsibilities, entry requirements, key skills required, professional development opportunities and links to finding both work experience and graduate roles.
