Career Focus 2023/24
Business & Finance
Trust Careers Adviser
Part of the Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust
Business & Finance
Business offers students the opportunity to study different types of businesses in different industries. It looks at why they exist, how they are set up and how they are run.
Everyone works in an organisation which is a business of some sort – so studying business is useful as you develop skills that are found in most jobs.
Business Studies will give you the skills of coming up with business ideas, using maths skills to analyse data, making decisions and developing your communication skills through presentations and reports - all highly transferable skills.
What Business and Finance careers are available to you?
Skills required for a job in Business or Finance
Work Experience
A business management degree prepares you for a career in business, which can apply to any sector or industry. Try to decide on the area you want to work in and aim to get relevant work experience.
You can gain experience at university through extracurricular activities, such as club membership or taking a role on a society that will develop your team-building, business or finance skills. You could also try to get a part-time job in an area related to your chosen career. Something that provides commercial skills or gives you knowledge in business functions and how organisations operate will be helpful.
Labour market Information for the future of Business and Finance careers
Business Analyst
Salary: £21,000 to £100,000
As a business analyst you'll work within an organisation, helping to manage, change and plan for the future in line with their goals. This could be for one specific project, or as a permanent feature of the organisation. You'll need to understand the current organisational situation, identify future needs and create solutions to help meet those needs, usually (but not always) in relation to information and software systems.
You'll need to demonstrate an excellent understanding of the way the organisation works and the sector it operates in, as you'll be helping to develop its functions, services and products to meet goals with internal and external stakeholders.
You'll also play a key role in communicating between internal departments and external parties, acting as a 'translator' where necessary to convey how information technology can support the organisation's needs.
Labour market Information for the future of Business and Finance careers
Forensic accountant
Salary: £33,000 to £50,000
As a forensic accountant, you'll use your accountancy skills to investigate financial discrepancies and inaccuracies such as fraudulent activity, financial misrepresentation, or misconduct and disputes.
The role involves a combination of accounting, auditing and investigative skills. You will carry out detailed investigations to uncover information, identify irregularities in financial documents and reports, calculate the exact losses, and trace and recover illegitimate funds. You'll provide reports of your findings, offering reconstructions and insights into how activities were carried out, and will also provide evidence at court as an expert witness.
A common misunderstanding is that forensic accountants spend the majority of their time carrying out research in order to uncover criminal activity. In reality, there is a range of work that forensic accountants can carry out, such as:
Labour Market Information for the future of Business and Finance careers
Corporate Investment Banker
Salary: £35,000 to £150,000
As a corporate investment banker, you'll provide a range of financial services to companies, institutions and governments with the aim of helping them to achieve their financial goals and implement long and short-term financial plans.
You'll manage corporate, strategic and financial opportunities, including:
You may also advise and lead management buyouts, raise capital, provide strategic advice to clients and identify and secure new deals.
You'll work in dedicated teams, focusing on specific transactions or market sectors. Corporate investment bankers also work alongside other related professionals such as lawyers and accountants.
What is a Data Analyst
£23,000 to £70,000
Average UK salary in 2019 was £30,378 (source Office for National Statistics)
37 to 39 a week
You could work: evenings; occasionally
Will increase by 4% in the future
There will be 4% more Data analyst-statistician jobs in 2026.
Data Analyst-Statistician
Data Analyst-Statistician