Financial Services

Over the last couple of years, with the emergence of a global economy, there has been a great revolution in the role of finance and accounting. Every business activity is today measured in terms of bottom-lines. finance departments are looked at more as profit centres than as cost centres.Today there are a host of careers and employment opportunities available within the broad ambit of the term financial services. Mainly, banking, chartered accountancy, company secretary, and stocks & securities.

• Banking
• Chartered Accountancy
• Company Secretary
• Stocks and Securities

Other Financial Services

There are several other financial services that offer good career prospects. These include costs and works accountancy, chartered financial analysis, financial planning, investment planning, business finance, merchant banking, foreign exhcange dealing and so on.

Cost and Works Accountancy

This specializes in stabilizing budgets and standards, evaluating operational efficiency and the effectiveness of production and service management, formulating the profile planning programme, guiding managerial decisions, identifying accountability for cost and profit variance, and thus rendering valuable assistance to the management. The Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWAI), New Delhi, provides training in this area. It has several branches all over the country.

Chartered Financial Analysis

This is basically an additional qualification for financial executives. A financial analyst's areas of expertise include corporate finance, which deals with management accoutning and financial management; investment management, which includes aspects of economics, quantitative techniques, economic legislation and security evaluation; and financial services, which cover project planning, merchant banking services, portfolio management, venture capital, leasing, hire, purchase, new issue management, credit rating and other allied areas. The ICFAI is the premier institution for this programme. Some business management institutes also offer this course.

Financial Planning

Financial planning is required mainly in the financial services serctors of banking, insurance and investment advisory services. the International College of Financial Planning, New Delhi (with branches in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad) provides training in certified financial planning. The Institute of Financial and Investment Planning, Mumbai Offers a diploma course in financial and investment planning.

Business Finance

This is a specilization which not only includes aspects of conventional auditing and accounting but also as vast range of activities like fund raising, foreign exchange, treasury management, investment banking, money market operations and broking. The Department of Financial Studies, University of Delhi (South Campus) offers a master's degree in finance and control essentially to commerce/economics graduates. The Indian School of Finance, New Delhi offers a master's in business finance.

Careers Related to Financial Services

• Business Management
• Business Consultancy
• Cost and Works Accountancy
• Actuarial Science
• Sales and Marketing
• Market Research
• Economics