Employability skills
Studying within the Accounting and Finance department you will have the
opportunity to develop specific subject knowledge alongside a set of highly valuable
and transferable employability skills, including:

Business and commercial awareness: a first-rate understanding of business
procedure and the nature and functionality of organizations and the
commercial world
 Strong numerical skills: the ability to understand, manipulate and interpret
complex numerical and statistical data
 Advanced analytical thinking and problem-solving skills: applying a
methodical approach to analyse information critically, assessing all aspects of
a situation and evaluating possible solutions.
 Organizational skills: learning to think logically, pay attention to detail and
organise your time and work efficiently.
 Excellent communications skills: enabling you to present complex data
verbally and in writing
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/graduateDestinations/accountingAndFinance/whatdo
.htm#generated-subheading3
Further study options
Many Accounting graduates go on to pursue further study via on-the-job training or
part-time study. In particularly large numbers of graduates go on to complete
professional qualifications, including the ACA, ACCA, ATT, CFA and CIMA
qualifications. A few graduates also choose to undertake the Graduate Diploma in
Law in order to convert to a career in law.
Others have chosen to undertake postgraduate courses, for example:





MSc courses in Economics, Accounting & Finance and Real Estate
Economics & Finance at LSE
MSc in Management at HEC Paris
MSc in Information Systems Management at the University of Warwick
Business School
MPhil courses in Management Studies and Geostate Finance at the University
of Cambridge
MPhil in Economics at the University of Oxford
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/graduateDestinations/accountingAndFinance/undergr
aduatecareers.htm
In recent years undergraduates from the Accounting department at LSE have pursued
a range of careers six months after graduation, including:
Employers
Typical Job Roles
ABN AMRO
Analyst
Accenture
Accountant
Anderson Young
Auditor
Barclays Capital
Financial Analyst
Bloomberg
Graduate Trainee
Citigroup
Tax Administrator
Conde Nast
Intern
Deloitte
Auditor
Ernst & Young
Trainee Chartered Accountant
Flag Telecom
Treasury Assistant
General Electric
Financial Analyst
Goldman Sachs International
Financial Analyst/ Business Analyst
Gortons
Graduate Trainee Accountant
Grant Thornton
Trainee Accountant/ Tax Assistant
HBOS Treasury Services
Graduate Analyst
Inland Revenue
Revenue Assistant
JP Morgan Chase
Analyst
KPMG
Audit Assistant/ Trainee Chartered
Accountant
Lazard
Financial Analyst
Lehman Brothers
Research Assistant
M & G Investments
Tax and Compliance Administrator
Macquarie Bank
Business Analyst
Morgan Stanley
Analyst
National Audit Office
Assistant Auditor
Price Waterhouse Coopers
Associate/ Auditor/ Assistant Consultant
Royal Bank of Scotland
Portfolio Finance Manager
Shell Oil
Business Analyst
Signet
Investment Analyst
Smith & Williamson
Trainee Tax Assistant
SVB Holdings
Assistant Group Internal Auditor
Torch Partners
Research Analyst
In our experience many employers look favorably on students who can demonstrate
their abilities in more than one field. Newcastle graduates will have acquired the
ability to research, evaluate and communicate information, alongside developing
specialist subject knowledge, practical and technical skills.
This provides graduates with a range of educational and career opportunities,
especially if the skills you have developed during your degree have been further
enhanced by work experience.
Many of our students go on to pursue careers in a scientific field. Past students have
entered fields such as scientific research, scientific publishing or journalism, sales or
laboratory work.
Graduates who wish to pursue a career in teaching will find that they are suitably
qualified to study for a PGCE in either discipline. Those graduates who enter
employment outside their discipline find a flexible degree of this nature is highly
valued in professions such as IT, management, commerce and the civil service.
Mathematicians and statisticians have always been highly valued by employers for
their general analytical and problem-solving skills and their ability to think logically
and quantitatively. Our courses and university life also provide many opportunities for
you to develop skills such as communication, team work, planning and organising, all
of which are essential for the employment market.
There are some careers for which a degree in mathematics is usually specified, for
example, teaching mathematics, statistical work, actuarial work, some types of
research and development, and some areas of computing. Mathematics graduates are
also strong candidates for other job sectors such as management consultancy, finance,
accountancy, information technology, logistics and transportation. Industry too is
always looking out for specialists with an interest in the applications of mathematics
to engineering. In short, Mathematics graduates can be found in a very wide crosssection of careers, and in both the private and public sectors.
Approximately 60% of graduate jobs advertised in the UK do not specify any
particular degree subject. Many employers are more interested in the skills and
personal qualities you have acquired at university than in the degree course you have
studied. The University has very good links with employers. Many companies come
on campus to give presentations, attend job fairs and carry out interviews. Some of
them are specifically targeting mathematicians. Examples of some of the well-known
companies that our recent graduates have gone into are, Ernst and Young, Barclays,
Halifax, NHS, Civil Service, BAE Systems, Northern Rock, Watson Wyatt.
We enjoy a good reputation for producing highly employable graduates. In addition to
technical skills, we teach our students to use their initiative and be self-reliant. We
also develop the key skills employers are looking for, such as communication skills,
the ability to work in a team, computer literacy and numeracy.Knowledge of
accounting, finance, economics and law, together with the analytical and interpersonal
skills that you will acquire while studying at Newcastle, provide you with a good
foundation for the future.
There is a clear difference between the Business Accounting and Finance programme
and the Accounting and Finance degree, in that the former offers a fast track to one
particular destination, qualification as a Chartered Accountant, whereas the latter
leaves your options much more open and could lead to different sorts of accounting
traineeships (such as public sector, management accounting, Certified Accountant), as
well as to finance, financial services and careers in business. Graduates in accounting
and finance do not have to become accountants, although in practice many of our
graduates do. There are different types of accountant and within accounting firms
there are a number of specialisms which you can choose, such as audit and assurance,
taxation, and sometimes insolvency and corporate finance. Some students also choose
to undertake further study, often here in Newcastle.
It is worth stressing that a professional accounting qualification can open the door to a
wide range of senior positions. A significant proportion of those accountants who
train in a professional firm later work in industry, commerce and finance, some in the
finance area, but many in general management. For example, a high proportion of the
chief executive officers of FTSE-100 companies are accountants by training.
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/course/NG43/employability
Alternative careers
There are many other occupations which Accounting and Finance graduates can enter:
over 40% of graduate vacancies are open to graduates in any degree discipline. A
further 10% may specify a numerate or business-related degree, increasing your
opportunities still further.
Some careers open to graduates in any subject, where Accounting and Finance
graduates may be able to successfully apply the skills mentioned earlier, include:
Advertising
Civil Service
Computing
 Law
Library and Information
work





Management Services
Market Research
 Personnel
 Retail Management
 Purchasing.

In the longer term, qualified accountants can and do move into many areas of
business, management, finance, sport, media and the public sector.
For further information on careers for Accounting and Finance graduates, see
Prospects.ac.uk www.prospects.ac.uk/links/AccountFinDeg
Specific skills which you may develop include:









knowledge and awareness of business organizations, including how
they operate and are managed. This enhances your commercial
awareness, particularly if the course involves a work placement or case
studies;
understanding the technical language and practices of accountancy
and finance;
gaining an insight into the contemporary theories and the practice of
financial institutions;
numerical and quantitative skills - developed from understanding,
recording and evaluating figures within a business context;
problem-solving and analytical ability - developed from the numerical
aspects of your studies and from exercises and project work;
oral and written communication skills - from producing reports and
assignments on business issues;
working on group topics and discussing business problems will
enhance your ability to argue your case and negotiate with others;
knowledge of global business issues and language skills, particularly if
you study European or international finance;
Entrepreneurship - particularly if your course includes mock exercises
in self-employment.
Consider the skills developed on your course as well as through your other
activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport,
membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be
used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to
market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and
consider how to improve your profile. Take a look at applications, CVs and
interviews for some useful tips.
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Options_with_your_subject/
Your_degree_in_accountancy_and_finance/Your_skills/p!ecdXfei
Postgraduate Study
The percentage of Accounting and Finance graduates continuing into full-time
postgraduate study is under 10% - about half of the figure for graduates overall. Most
will study for a professional accountancy qualification through part-time study while
working rather than a Masters degree. Higher degrees in Accounting and Finance tend
to be academic rather than vocational, although there are exceptions such as the MSc
in International Securities, Investment and Banking at the University of Reading.
Graduates who do not wish to follow a finance-related career may consider a general
postgraduate business degree, such as the MBA; however, as noted above, many
graduate employers are happy to recruit Accounting & Finance graduates into general
business functions straight from their first degree.
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/accountancy.htm