| Don't be misled by the title of this fifth workplace | | | | accounts making things simpler and more convenient |
| sector. We certainly know that a financial function | | | | for all. The obvious diversification of the larger |
| exists for all business enterprises but it also covers a | | | | companies makes them stronger and more able to |
| range of career paths in the following fields: banking | | | | withstand these "ups and downs" of economic |
| (investing and lending), insurance, accounting, securities | | | | fluctuations. The advantage of "cross-selling" newer |
| (trading and analysis), and financial or money | | | | yet related products to existing clients makes for |
| management. | | | | smart moves for such companies looking to broaden |
| In the wake of recent financial scandals alone, there | | | | their horizons. Unfortunately, these moves have also |
| have been enormous upswings in the accounting and | | | | necessitated extensive changes in the workforce |
| actuarial disciplines as well as more rigorous oversight | | | | needed to meet these new, broader services provided |
| and reporting requirements causing new standards for | | | | under one roof. |
| these professions. | | | | The U.S. Dept. of Labor has invested over $6M to |
| The industry has also been marked by numerous | | | | assist the financial services industry by developing |
| mergers in recent times which has, in turn, led to | | | | strategies to meet the challenges for hiring, training and |
| companies of increasing sizes, but with a resulting | | | | retention of an adequate workforce. The Employment |
| decrease in the total number of firms available in these | | | | & Training Administration (ETA) under the U.S. |
| fields. Part of the reason for this, of course, comes as | | | | Dept of Labor has, in turn, invested most of this money |
| a result of the economic necessities of the time as | | | | in the High Growth Job Training Initiative which has |
| evidenced during the credit crises of 2008-9 and the | | | | helped open more avenues for good paying jobs and |
| downturn in the real estate markets. | | | | career paths for the industry. |
| Examples are abundant where banks have merged | | | | If you're looking for a re-vitalized career path with a |
| (or reorganized) with securities and insurance firms in | | | | fast-paced advancement potential, this may be one to |
| order to give their clients not only broader coverage of | | | | investigate now. |
| products but are able to consolidate their client | | | | |