r/FinanceCareersUK

-I am 17 years old studying A-Level Maths, biology, chemistry.

-Do I need further maths to get into high finance?

-Should I go to university or try to land a degree apprenticeship?

- I am torn between IB and PE and wondering what my position would favour?

Edit: My GCSE grades are 8777777666

I graduated last summer with a 2:1 in Accounting & Finance and I'm struggling to get my first permanent accounting/finance role.

I have some practical experience from an accounts internship, including processing purchase invoices, bank reconciliations, working with Excel and an accounting system. I also did some ad-hoc finance work for several months afterwards.

I've been applying for graduate schemes as well as Accounts Assistant, Finance Assistant, AP/AR and junior accounting roles. I've had some interviews but haven't received an offer yet.

My long-term goal is to qualify through ACCA/ACA/CIMA and build a career in accounting, but I'm starting to wonder whether I'm approaching the job search incorrectly.

If you were in my position, would you:

• Focus almost entirely on Accounts Assistant/AP/AR roles?
• Continue applying for graduate schemes?
• Take a non-finance job temporarily?
• Get more practical experience or qualifications first?
• Consider temporary finance work?
• Do something else entirely?

I'd especially appreciate advice from people who recruit accountants or graduated recently themselves. I'm happy to hear blunt criticism of my approach.

Secured a Blackstone offer within Private Equity Strategic Partners. No connections or referrals, just good grades and work ethic. Really want to help answer some of the questions I had during recruiting, as Claude was really my only mentor!

After graduating, I joined a bulge bracket in their European office and have since covered most aspects of TMT but primarily tech.

• Over a decade of experience in IB now: in London, New York and multiple European offices
• Previously led assessment centres and have a very strong understanding of precisely what interviewers seek
• I have conducted 100s of interviews and screened 1000s of CVs

Now MD. Ask me anything---will avoid answering anything doxxing though, sorry. Happy to cover lifestyle, trajectory, networking, hours, conditions, career strategy, ups and downs, etc.

I'll respond via comments and DM.

(also started a consulting prep platform with a friend who's ex-consulting, we'll both be conducting AMAs. We started this subreddit to combine finance and consulting, and will both be answering posts/comments here.)

Looking for advice on next steps in this difficult (and strange) job market. Been in accounting for the past decade working for some large Fortune 500 companies and have moved to the UK a few years ago from America. Made redundant and now looking for a finance role in London but can't get any bites as I do not hold any accounting qualifications (in the US, you don't need a qualification if you've moved up in industry). Looking for advice on next steps, referrals, and even suggestions on what to to do next. Have been applying for Finance Manager and Finance Controller roles but only getting rejections. Last role paid £130K

Hello, I currently go to a non target studying maths and I got A*AA in my a levels. I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice about how should I spend my 4 years at uni as someone who’s considering working in finance as a risk analyst or wanting to work as a catastrophe modeller

SO I am a Third year student from a tier 2 college in India currently studying IT engineering and want to make career shifts in finance and maybe entreprenurship later on. Should I go for Ms in finance after my graduation?? My main aim is to get placements in top finance companies and have a good network because I dont really want to continue in engineering fields and I dont really want to wait to have 3 to 5 years of work ex to get an mba degree. Open to any thoughts and suggestions!! Mainly targeting colleges in Europe and US.

https://preview.redd.it/2usfv6nv7hth1.png?width=1444&format=png&auto=webp&s=95e1a7efc43bdc596899cba28719149c881f96d4

This was quite hard to make... I have no real work exp so I feel that might put be at a disadvantage.

Im hoping uni name will be enough to carry me through.

Worth noting that I am technically not in the finance society yet (will be in two days), but it will be on my CV when applying, and am looking for advice sooner ideally since some of my deadlines are in 2-3 weeks for spring weeks

Many thanks!

Hello i am a year 13 student and i am wondering how useful and viable my degree choices are for finance. (Not sure what career to pursue, maybe economist, will do much more research after my A level examinations.)

I have been predicted 4 A* across economics, maths, geography and history.

In such turbulent times with great uncertainty I have settled on applying for a joint degree in economics and history which I am passionate about and (hopefully) provides me a suitable pathway into a career with reasonable pay.

I am applying to:

1. Oxford history and economics

2. Warwick economics, politics and international studies/ LSE economics and economic history

3. St Andrews economics and modern history

4. Edinburgh history and economics

5. Durham combined honours in social sciences

6. How suitable are these degrees for a career in finance (provided i make smart module choices).

7. Would you say that Warwicks course is that much removed from LSEs in terms of employability.

8. Less important but do you have any advice for someone in my position or suggestions on degree choice.

- Not applying for economics pure as it seems to be mainly a maths degree which is not attractive.

- personal statement mainly based around development and organisational economics and economic history, work experience i PwC tax and in a small Kenyan safari business.

Any advice is welcome and greatly appreciated, thank you very much for your time and have a good day!

Hi all,

I work for HMRC in a tax compliance role. I effectively work as a relationship manager and tax compliance checker some of the wealthiest people in the UK (think billionaires and other companies). I am looking to go over to the private sector as joined HMRC after graduating from Cambridge because I wasn't sure what I wanted and I now need a change. Just wondering apart from big 4? What can else can I target? I have also done work in international taxes (transfer pricing and others work).

I am currently in my final year of engineering at a top 10 uni and after internships and assessing the graduate market, engineering seems extremely dull and the pay doesn’t match the effort it takes, even after 5-10 years.

I have been considering pivoting into accounting to provide me with a strong base, and the hybrid work seems much more attractive. Do I need to get an MSc in accounting for this? Has anyone made the switch and how did you find it? My friends doing those roles seem to be having a much better time.

Currently applying to any audit roles I see.

Any advice! :)

I am an international student and was considering Msc finance at Bath university for january intake . My profile = CFA level 3 candidate(Feb 2027) but i have gap years and no work ex and i missed the fall intake for all the major targets should i consider bath or apply next year for targets. My goal is to atleast secure an internship for IB / Equity research at a Tier 1 firm

Main interest is corp banking and IB.

Deciding between this and Econ&Philosophy at the same university.

It differs from a normal business management degree as it’s more mathematical but I’m not sure employers will care.

I’m scared it will be seen as a bit of a joke degree and not nearly as academic/rigorous as Philosophy&Econ

Can I get to asset management, wealth management or IB with a level 4 AAT? Especially in like a Corporate banking or investment company. As an apprentice I feel like I’d wanna do so much more now and like get to a good place in 5 years? Any advice?