Working in finance with GCSEs | Pearson UK (2024)

FAQs

What GCSE do you need for finance? ›

If you want to apply directly for jobs you'll usually need GCSEs, including maths and English. A levels in maths, business studies or economics may also be useful.

In most cases, a career in finance requires at least a four-year degree, with some roles requiring graduate degrees. Many finance careers also require extensive knowledge in business management, mathematics, statistics, economics and accounting principles.

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

The CFA designation is reputed to be the most difficult certification to obtain, which works to the benefit of those who succeed. The focus of the program is on investment analysis and portfolio management.

Some of the main math-related skills that the financial industry requires are: mental arithmetic (“fast math”), algebra, trigonometry, and statistics and probability. A basic understanding of these skills should be good enough and can qualify you for most finance jobs.

Getting a job in finance is lucrative, but the field can be extremely competitive. That's especially true if you recently graduated with a bachelor's degree but lack real-world experience. Getting a job in finance with no experience is possible, but it requires some homework and a plan.

Some finance careers pay exceptionally well, including attractive benefits and bonuses. Whether you're working in an entry-level or senior role, you can expect to earn a good salary.

What is the average salary in finance UK? ›

The average salary for Finance is £45,977 per year in the London. The average additional cash compensation for a Finance in the London is £5,966, with a range from £1,143 - £31,139.

Associated Chartered Accountant (ACA)

The ACA qualification is an important and highly valued financial services course. There are around 5,000 accountancy firms, private businesses and public sector organisations in the UK that recognise and train employees to become an ACA qualified accountant.

While many consider maths to be a difficult subject, with the right teaching and preparation it can be one of the easier subjects to do well in, as it's not based on the subjective opinion of an examiner like some other subjects are.

GCSE Maths can be difficult, especially when you've only got a week to prepare for it! If you have left your revision to the last minute, or need a quick refresher before your exam, fear not! These mini-guides will take you through the Maths GCSE Higher Tier curriculum, in an easy to digest format.

It may be unlikely that you will need to calculate pi or solve trigonometry equations as a chef, but learning basic maths skills at GCSE level help to build up essential skills that are used on a daily basis. Skills such as problem solving, analyzing data, communication, logical thinking and attention to detail.

While both finance and accounting can be difficult majors, accounting is considered more difficult because it requires more discipline and a lot of math. Accounting is more complex because it relies on precise sets of arithmetic principles.

Is finance or accounting harder? Taking into account those personality differences, there are also differences in the content of finance and accounting that can determine that one is harder than the other. Generally speaking, people consider accounting majors to be more difficult to study and pass than finance majors.

While finance requires some mathematics training and some knowledge and skills in accounting and economics, it's not necessarily more difficult than any other field of study, particularly for people with an aptitude for math.

While you won't need to learn complex advanced mathematical theories, you will need to develop strong analytical abilities and enough of a background in algebra, calculus and statistics to apply concepts of these math branches to the finance field.

Algebra. Many banking and investment financial models require a financial management professional to solve for variables. Today, programs like Excel take most of the work out of this process, but a sound understanding of the basic principles of algebra is still widely considered to be extremely helpful.

Is there calculus in finance? ›

Calculus can be considered as the mathematics of motion and change. It is a BIG topic with applications spanning the natural sciences and also some social sciences such as economics and finance.

The positions that some financial recruiters have identified as the hardest and most competitive jobs to fill include controllers (including hedge fund controllers), tax managers, fund and senior-level accountants, and valuation analysts.

A financial career can be very rewarding. If you have a head for numbers and a passion for financial planning, the financial sector might be the perfect fit. However, there are some things you should know about a career in finance before deciding to pursue it.

Salaries in the finance industry

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics, careers in finance pay a median salary of $76,570 — 67% higher than the median salary for all occupations in the nation ($45,760).

This usually isn't set in stone, but you may have trouble getting an interview with under a 3.5 GPA is you simply apply through normal channels and hope. For target schools and semi-targets, there is a bit more leeway given to GPA. For a non-target you will probably want to aim for a 3.7+ GPA.

A job as an accountant may be a good option for those who have strong analytical skills, are good with numbers and pay close attention to details, suggests the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Introverts tend to do well in accounting positions because many require little to no contact with others.

An apprenticeship as a mortgage advisor and a Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP) is what you will need to get started in the role, and gain the right knowledge with a qualification recognised by employers and clients alike.

The easiest finance certification is the Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) certification. There is no authoritative exam required nor does it require any educational qualifications. The FMVA is an easy resume building finance certification that looks more professional than it is.

Earning a Master's in Finance With a Different Undergraduate Background. At many of the best affordable finance graduate schools, you don't need an undergraduate degree in finance to earn a graduate finance degree online.

What classes should I take to go into finance? ›

You can expect to take several math classes like accounting, calculus, and business math. These courses establish a foundation for finance courses that cover valuation, investing, international banking and finance, econometrics, and buyouts and acquisitions.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need: 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths. 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree. a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course.

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®)

In passing these exams, candidates demonstrate their competence, integrity and extensive knowledge in accounting, ethical and professional standards, economics, portfolio management and security analysis.

While finance requires some mathematics training and some knowledge and skills in accounting and economics, it's not necessarily more difficult than any other field of study, particularly for people with an aptitude for math.

Is finance or accounting harder? Taking into account those personality differences, there are also differences in the content of finance and accounting that can determine that one is harder than the other. Generally speaking, people consider accounting majors to be more difficult to study and pass than finance majors.

Is Finance a Hard Major? Finance is a somewhat difficult major. It is much harder than certain liberal arts majors, such as history and philosophy; however, it is not as hard as the "STEM" majors: science, technology, engineering, and math.

CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)

Each level involves a complicated six-hour exam consisting of 240 questions. After clearing all three levels, a candidate also needs to gain 48 months of professional experience to earn the CFA charter by clearing CFA Level 1, CFA Level 2 and CFA Level 3.

This usually isn't set in stone, but you may have trouble getting an interview with under a 3.5 GPA is you simply apply through normal channels and hope. For target schools and semi-targets, there is a bit more leeway given to GPA. For a non-target you will probably want to aim for a 3.7+ GPA.

Banker Salaries in London

The average salary for Banker is £46,861 per year in the London. The average additional cash compensation for a Banker in the London is £15,514, with a range from £1,231 - £195,589. Salaries estimates are based on 87 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Banker employees in London.

How do I become a banker UK? ›

You will generally need a degree in order to become an Investment Banker. However, Investment Banks hire graduates from all disciplines, not necessarily just those with a finance background. However, a good knowledge of current financial markets and a relevant course will be essential to get started in the industry.

There's addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division… and occasionally built-in Excel functions like IRR, Mean, and Median. You never use calculus or differential equations or even geometry / trigonometry. Just arithmetic and sometimes algebra.

Getting a job in finance is lucrative, but the field can be extremely competitive. That's especially true if you recently graduated with a bachelor's degree but lack real-world experience. Getting a job in finance with no experience is possible, but it requires some homework and a plan.

The Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation is the standard for financial planning. One must hold a bachelor's degree, evidence-relevant coursework, pass a 10-hour board exam, and satisfy an ethics and work experience requirement.