Where could finance take you?

What do you actually do?

You build the financial model that says what a company is worth, then the document that persuades a board to act on it. Most of the job is analysis, checking and rewriting — deals take months and the detail matters because the numbers end up in front of regulators.

Typical environments

Investment banks · boutique advisory firms

Typical first-year pay

£85–130k approximate first-year total in London — the breakdown is below

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Maths

Often useful

Economics · Business

Helpful

Any strong essay subject

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

What it pays in year one

Base salary

£50–70k

Bonus

50–100% of base

Total, year one

£85–130k

Pretraga Partners London survey (Sep 2024) and published London market guides (2026). The previous £60–70k figure on this page was a base salary in a field meant for total pay.

University route

The dominant route. Most entrants come through a spring week in first year, then a summer internship in the penultimate year, which converts into a graduate offer.

Apprenticeship route

A small but growing number of banks run school-leaver and degree apprenticeships, mostly in operations, technology and some advisory teams.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

No professional qualification is required to enter. Some people take the CFA later. Nothing you can study at 18 guarantees a place — the internship is the gate.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Follow one industry closely and learn why its companies are worth what they are
• Read a set of company results and work out what changed
• Practise explaining a number clearly in two sentences
• Apply for insight days and spring weeks the moment you reach sixth form
• Get comfortable in a spreadsheet

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You buy and sell against a risk limit, deciding in seconds with incomplete information. Sales is the other half of the desk: talking to the institutions who want to trade and understanding what they need. You find out whether you were right the same day.

Typical environments

Investment banks · trading firms · market makers

Typical first-year pay

£80–150k+ approximate first-year total in London — the breakdown is below

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●○Medium
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Maths

Often useful

Further Maths · Economics · Physics

Helpful

Computer Science

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

What it pays in year one

At a bank

£80–110k

At a proprietary trading firm

£150k and above

Published London market guides (2026): base £60–70k plus a bonus commonly 70–100% of base. Proprietary trading firms pay well above bank desks and hire far fewer people.

University route

A numerate degree then a summer internship is the standard path. Trading firms in particular run their own maths and puzzle-heavy assessments.

Apprenticeship route

Rare on the trading desk itself. More common in trade support and operations, which some people move across from.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

You sit regulatory exams (usually CISI) once employed, paid for by the firm. They follow the job; they do not open the door to it.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Get very quick and very accurate at mental arithmetic
• Learn what moves a price — supply, news, rates, expectations
• Follow one market daily and write down why you think it moved
• Try probability puzzles; they appear constantly in assessments
• Practise staying calm when you are wrong

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You decide what a fund owns and defend each holding to a committee. The horizon is years rather than days, and much of the work is reading: company reports, industry data, and the argument against your own position.

Typical environments

Asset managers · pension funds · insurers

Typical first-year pay

£40–60k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●●High
• Problem solving●●○Medium
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●○Medium
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Economics · Maths

Helpful

History · English — the writing genuinely matters

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree, through a graduate scheme at an asset manager. Firms recruit from a wider range of universities than investment banking does.

Apprenticeship route

Several large asset managers run investment apprenticeships, though the analyst route is still mostly graduate.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

The CFA is close to an expectation over time — three exams, typically about three years, usually while working.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Pick one company and follow it for a year
• Learn to read an income statement and a balance sheet
• Write a page arguing why a company is worth more or less than its price
• Read widely outside finance; context is the job
• Practise changing your mind when the evidence does

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You cover one industry until you know it better than almost anyone, build forecasts for the companies in it, and publish a view that investors trade on. Being interesting is not enough — you have to be right often enough to be trusted.

Typical environments

Investment banks (sell side) · asset managers (buy side)

Typical first-year pay

£45–60k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●●High
• Problem solving●●○Medium
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Economics · Maths

Helpful

English · A science if you want to cover pharma or energy

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree into a graduate scheme. Specialist knowledge is valued — biology graduates end up covering healthcare.

Apprenticeship route

Uncommon as a direct route; some enter via operations or data roles and move across.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

The CFA is the usual investment qualification. Regulatory registration is required to publish research.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Read a company’s annual report end to end, however slow it feels
• Compare two competitors and explain why one earns more
• Practise writing 200 words that a busy person would actually finish
• Learn what a P/E ratio does and does not tell you
• Follow an industry you already care about

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You look for businesses worth owning, model the purchase — usually funded largely with debt — and then work with management for years. It is investing and operating at once, and the feedback loop is measured in years rather than days.

Typical environments

Private equity firms · growth equity · infrastructure funds

Typical first-year pay

Usually entered after 2–3 years elsewhere approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Maths

Often useful

Economics · Business

Helpful

—

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Almost nobody joins straight from university. The normal path is two or three years in investment banking or a Big 4 deals team first.

Apprenticeship route

Not a direct route. People arrive via accountancy, which apprenticeships do reach.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None required. The ACA or banking experience is what firms actually screen on.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Understand what debt does to returns — both directions
• Learn how a business actually makes money, not just what it sells
• Follow a takeover in the news from rumour to completion
• Build the accounting foundations early
• Treat this as a destination, not a first job

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You meet founders, form a view on whether a small company could become a very large one, and invest knowing most of your bets will be worth nothing. Returns come from a handful of outliers, which makes judgement about people as important as analysis.

Typical environments

Venture funds · corporate venture arms

Typical first-year pay

Varies widely; often entered later approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●○○Low
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●○Medium
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Business · Economics

Helpful

Computer Science if you want to invest in software

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

No single route. Entrants come from banking, consulting, startups and engineering. Networks matter more here than in most of finance.

Apprenticeship route

Very rare as a direct route.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None. There is no qualification that opens this door.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Build something small and try to get one stranger to use it
• Follow how a startup you like actually makes money
• Learn the vocabulary: seed, Series A, dilution, runway
• Talk to people building things
• Accept that this is usually a second or third job

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You research a narrow set of companies or markets in enormous depth and put forward positions that can be bet on in either direction. Teams are small, tenure is short, and the measurement is unforgiving because your contribution is visible.

Typical environments

Hedge funds · multi-manager platforms

Typical first-year pay

£90–180k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

Octavius Finance London survey (Sep 2024) and Levels.fyi London (2026). Survey bands cover 1–3 years, so year one sits at the lower end.

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●○Medium
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Maths

Often useful

Economics · Further Maths

Helpful

Computer Science

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Usually a strong numerate degree, then either a graduate programme or a move from banking or research.

Apprenticeship route

Essentially non-existent at analyst level.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None required. Some hold the CFA.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn to argue the opposite side of your own view
• Get comfortable with the idea of being measured
• Follow one sector obsessively
• Build strong spreadsheet and data habits
• Read about how funds have failed, not only how they succeeded

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

Analysts bring ideas; you decide position sizes, manage overall risk, and answer for the result. The job is as much about what not to own and how much to hold as it is about picking well.

Typical environments

Asset managers · pension funds · hedge funds · wealth managers

Typical first-year pay

Reached after several years approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●●●High
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●○Medium
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Economics

Helpful

—

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Not an entry-level job. People arrive after years as an analyst.

Apprenticeship route

Not a direct route, though apprentices in asset management can progress towards it.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

The CFA is common. Experience and a track record matter more.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn what diversification does and does not remove
• Understand why position size matters as much as the pick
• Follow a fund’s published holdings over time
• Study a famous investment mistake in detail
• Be patient — this is a role reached, not applied for

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You build the models that value derivatives and measure their risk, then implement them in production code. The mathematics is genuinely hard — stochastic calculus and numerical methods — and the code has to be correct because real money depends on it.

Typical environments

Investment banks · hedge funds · trading firms

Typical first-year pay

£70–200k approximate first-year total in London — the breakdown is below

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●○Medium
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●●●High

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Maths · Further Maths

Often useful

Physics · Computer Science

Helpful

—

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

What it pays in year one

At a bank

£70–110k

At a hedge fund or trading firm

£120–200k

Octavius Finance London survey (Sep 2024) and Levels.fyi London (2026). Survey bands cover 1–3 years, so year one sits at the lower end.

University route

Maths, physics, engineering or computer science, very often followed by a master’s or PhD. This is one of the few areas of finance where postgraduate study is close to standard.

Apprenticeship route

Rare for core quant work; more common in quant development and technology.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

No professional qualification. Your degree and what you can demonstrate are the qualification.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Push your maths as far as it will go, especially probability
• Learn Python properly, not superficially
• Study statistics as a subject in its own right
• Try a maths olympiad or an open problem set
• Read about why models fail as well as how they work

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You search large datasets for a small, repeatable edge, then test it hard enough to convince yourself it is not noise. Most ideas fail, and the discipline of killing your own promising result is the core skill.

Typical environments

Systematic hedge funds · proprietary trading firms

Typical first-year pay

£80–200k approximate first-year total in London — the breakdown is below

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●○Medium
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●●●High

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Maths · Further Maths

Often useful

Computer Science · Physics

Helpful

—

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

What it pays in year one

At a bank

£80–115k

At a hedge fund or trading firm

£130–200k

Octavius Finance London survey (Sep 2024) and Levels.fyi London (2026). Survey bands cover 1–3 years, so year one sits at the lower end.

University route

Maths, statistics, physics or CS; PhDs are common though not universal.

Apprenticeship route

Not a typical route.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn statistics deeply — overfitting is the whole problem
• Get fluent in Python and pandas
• Find a public dataset and test an idea honestly
• Learn what a p-value does and does not mean
• Practise being sceptical of your own results

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You sit between the quants and production: turning research code into systems that are fast, correct and maintainable. Latency, testing and reliability matter as much as the mathematics.

Typical environments

Banks · trading firms · hedge funds

Typical first-year pay

£60–170k approximate first-year total in London — the breakdown is below

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●○Medium
• Commercial awareness●○○Low
• Coding●●●High

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Computer Science or strong Maths

Often useful

Maths · Further Maths

Helpful

Physics

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

What it pays in year one

At a bank

£60–95k

At a hedge fund or trading firm

£100–170k

Levels.fyi London entry level (2026): average £116.8k, middle half £84.6k–£166.5k. Morgan McKinley London (2026) puts all levels at £105–150k.

University route

Computer science, maths or engineering. A master’s is not usually needed here.

Apprenticeship route

A genuine route. Software and technology degree apprenticeships at banks are well established.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None. A portfolio of real code counts for more.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn one language properly — Python or C++
• Build something and put it on GitHub
• Learn how computers actually handle numbers
• Practise reading other people’s code
• Try a competitive programming site

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You put together instruments that solve a specific problem for a client — hedging a currency exposure, restructuring a debt — and work out how to price and risk-manage the result. It sits between quantitative work and client-facing structuring.

Typical environments

Banks · structured products desks · insurers

Typical first-year pay

£55–70k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Maths

Often useful

Further Maths · Economics

Helpful

Physics

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Numerate degree; specialist master’s programmes in financial engineering exist and are common.

Apprenticeship route

Uncommon directly.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None required; the CQF and similar exist but are not gates.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Understand what a derivative is and why anyone wants one
• Learn compound interest and present value properly
• Practise explaining something technical to a non-technical person
• Strengthen algebra — it never stops being useful

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You model how likely something is and what it would cost, then set premiums or pension reserves so the institution survives a bad year. The work is deeply mathematical and the professional exams run alongside the job for years.

Typical environments

Insurers · pension consultancies · reinsurers · regulators

Typical first-year pay

£32–38k, rising sharply on qualification approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●○Medium
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Maths

Often useful

Further Maths

Helpful

Economics · Computer Science

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Actuarial Science, Maths or Statistics. An IFoA-accredited course can exempt you from some professional exams, which is worth more than league-table position.

Apprenticeship route

A real and growing route — Level 7 actuarial apprenticeships at insurers take you to the same qualification without a degree first.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

IFoA exams, typically three to six years alongside work. You cannot call yourself an actuary without them, and employers normally pay and give study leave.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Take Maths, and Further Maths if you enjoy it
• Learn probability beyond the syllabus
• Try Excel and then a little Python
• Look up which universities are IFoA-accredited
• Look at Level 7 apprenticeships as a serious alternative

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You quantify exposure, run stress tests against recessions and rate shocks, and cap what traders and lenders are allowed to do. It is deliberately independent of the people making money, which is the point of the role.

Typical environments

Banks · asset managers · insurers · regulators

Typical first-year pay

£38–45k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Maths

Often useful

Economics · Further Maths

Helpful

Computer Science

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

A numerate degree into a graduate scheme.

Apprenticeship route

Well established — most large banks run risk apprenticeships.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

The FRM is the recognised qualification and is useful, though not usually required to enter.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn what standard deviation actually measures
• Read about a real financial failure and what was missed
• Practise explaining risk without frightening people
• Get comfortable with large datasets

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You monitor exposure to rates, equities, currencies and commodities, calculate potential losses, and challenge the desk when positions drift beyond appetite. Close to the trading floor, but independent of it.

Typical environments

Investment banks · trading firms

Typical first-year pay

£38–45k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Maths

Often useful

Further Maths · Economics

Helpful

—

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Numerate degree, graduate scheme.

Apprenticeship route

Available at several large banks.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

FRM is common later.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Understand why a portfolio’s risk is not the sum of its parts
• Learn what a “value at risk” number leaves out
• Follow a volatile market for a month

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You read a company’s accounts and judge whether it can repay, spotting the warning signs everyone else skimmed. The answer is yes, no, or yes at a higher price — and you have to justify it in writing.

Typical environments

Banks · credit funds · rating agencies

Typical first-year pay

£35–42k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●○Medium
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Economics · Business

Helpful

—

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any numerate degree into a bank graduate scheme.

Apprenticeship route

A very common apprenticeship route at high-street banks.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

In-house credit training; the CFA is sometimes taken later.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn to read a cash flow statement
• Understand the difference between profit and cash
• Look at why a well-known company got into trouble

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You take a model someone else built, rebuild or test it, and find where it breaks. Regulators require this independence, which is why it exists as its own function.

Typical environments

Banks · insurers · regulators

Typical first-year pay

£40–50k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●○○Low
• Coding●●●High

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Maths

Often useful

Further Maths · Computer Science

Helpful

—

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Strong quantitative degree; master’s common.

Apprenticeship route

Uncommon directly.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None required.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn to test things rather than trust them
• Get good at statistics
• Practise writing precise criticism politely

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You turn messy national data into a view on where the economy is heading, then write and present it so a committee, a trader or a minister can use it. You will be wrong in public and have to explain why.

Typical environments

Bank of England · Treasury · banks · consultancies · think tanks

Typical first-year pay

£35–70k approximate first-year total in London — the breakdown is below

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●●●High
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●○Medium
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Economics · Maths

Often useful

Further Maths

Helpful

History · Politics

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

What it pays in year one

Bank of England, civil service or think tank

£35–50k

Bank or asset manager

£55–90k

Octavius Finance UK economist benchmarks (May 2025) for private sector; published graduate scheme salaries for public sector. The private-sector band is for 2–3 years in, and usually follows a master’s.

University route

An economics degree, very often followed by a master’s — this is one area where postgraduate study is close to standard.

Apprenticeship route

The Bank of England and the civil service run apprenticeship and analyst schemes.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

No professional exams. The master’s is effectively the qualification.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Take Economics and Maths together if you can
• Follow the Bank of England’s rate decisions and read the minutes
• Learn to read a chart critically
• Try some basic statistics with real ONS data
• Practise writing clearly about uncertainty

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You build the economic argument in a merger review, a competition case or a regulatory pricing decision. It is economics used as evidence, often in front of regulators or courts, so rigour and clarity both matter.

Typical environments

Economic consultancies · competition authorities · law-adjacent advisory

Typical first-year pay

£35–45k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●●●High
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Economics · Maths

Often useful

—

Helpful

Further Maths

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Economics degree; master’s common and often expected.

Apprenticeship route

Rare.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn what causation requires beyond correlation
• Read a competition authority decision — they are public
• Get comfortable with regression as a concept

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You assess options, model their effects and write the advice ministers read. The constraint is that the answer must be usable — defensible, timely, and honest about what is not known.

Typical environments

Civil service · regulators · think tanks · charities

Typical first-year pay

£30–38k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●●High
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●○○Low
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Economics

Often useful

Maths · Politics

Helpful

History

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Economics or a related social science; the Government Economic Service has its own entry requirements.

Apprenticeship route

The civil service runs well-regarded apprenticeship schemes.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Read a government impact assessment
• Follow one policy debate properly, from both sides
• Learn to summarise an argument in one page

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

A broad role that exists across finance, consultancy and industry: define the question, find the data, work out what it supports, and present it honestly. Often a route into a more specialised research career.

Typical environments

Consultancies · asset managers · think tanks · corporates

Typical first-year pay

£30–40k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Economics

Helpful

Any essay subject

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Wide range of degrees.

Apprenticeship route

Available in several sectors.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn to build a clear chart
• Practise finding the flaw in a statistic in the news
• Get comfortable with spreadsheets

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You audit accounts and sign off that they are fair, or advise on tax, deals and performance. It is the broadest qualification in finance — people move from it into almost everything else.

Typical environments

Big 4 · mid-tier firms · industry · public sector

Typical first-year pay

£30–35k, rising on qualification approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●○Medium
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Economics · Business

Helpful

Any three strong subjects

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree into a graduate scheme.

Apprenticeship route

One of the strongest apprenticeship routes in finance. PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, EY and mid-tier firms all run school-leaver and degree apprenticeships to the same qualification.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

ACA (ICAEW), ACCA or CIMA, typically around three years, funded by the firm with study leave. Qualification genuinely changes your options — but it does not by itself place you in a job.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn what the three financial statements do
• Take any opportunity to work with numbers accurately
• Look seriously at school-leaver programmes as an alternative to university
• Practise explaining a number to someone who finds numbers dull

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You test evidence behind the numbers a company publishes and form a view on whether they are fair. It is where most chartered accountants start, and it teaches you how businesses actually work from the inside.

Typical environments

Big 4 · mid-tier and smaller firms

Typical first-year pay

£30–35k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●○Medium
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Business

Helpful

—

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree.

Apprenticeship route

Very strong apprenticeship route.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

ACA or ACCA.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Get meticulous about detail
• Learn how a business makes and records money
• Practise asking awkward questions politely

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You interpret rules that change every Budget and apply them to real situations. Specialists — international, VAT, private client — become hard to replace, and the work is more like applied law than arithmetic.

Typical environments

Big 4 · law-adjacent tax firms · HMRC · industry

Typical first-year pay

£28–34k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Economics

Helpful

Law · History — the reading load is real

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree; law and economics graduates are common.

Apprenticeship route

Strong school-leaver and degree apprenticeship routes at the large firms.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

ATT then CTA, often alongside the ACA.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn how income tax actually works — start with your own future payslip
• Practise reading dense rules carefully
• Follow what changes at a Budget and why

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You build the budget and forecast the business runs on, and answer "can we afford this?" with a model rather than an opinion. Every company has this function, which makes it one of the most portable careers here.

Typical environments

Companies of every kind · NHS · manufacturers · retailers

Typical first-year pay

£30–36k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Business · Economics

Helpful

—

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree into a company graduate scheme.

Apprenticeship route

Widespread degree apprenticeships across industry and the public sector.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

CIMA or ACA, funded by the employer.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn budgeting on something small and real
• Understand fixed versus variable costs
• Get genuinely good at spreadsheets

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You own the numbers that management steers by: budgets, forecasts, and the analysis of variance between plan and reality. Closer to decision-making than accounting, and increasingly data-heavy.

Typical environments

Corporates · technology firms · retail · healthcare

Typical first-year pay

£30–38k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Business

Helpful

Computer Science

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree.

Apprenticeship route

Common.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

CIMA is the natural fit.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn to forecast something and then check how wrong you were
• Get strong in spreadsheets, then learn a BI tool
• Practise presenting numbers to people in a hurry

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You manage cash, borrowing, and exposure to interest rates and currencies. Profitable companies still fail by running out of cash, which is the problem treasury exists to prevent.

Typical environments

Large corporates · banks · public bodies

Typical first-year pay

£30–38k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●○Medium
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Economics

Helpful

—

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any numerate degree.

Apprenticeship route

Available in large corporates.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

ACT (Association of Corporate Treasurers) qualifications.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn the difference between profit and cash — it matters more than it sounds
• Understand what an exchange rate does to an importer
• Follow interest rate changes

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

Titles vary enormously between firms. In practice you gather financial data, build analysis, and support a decision — which makes it one of the most common first jobs in finance and a good place to work out what you actually enjoy.

Typical environments

Banks · corporates · asset managers · consultancies

Typical first-year pay

£30–40k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Economics · Business

Helpful

—

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Very wide range of degrees.

Apprenticeship route

Common across sectors.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

Depends entirely where you land — CIMA, ACA or CFA are all possible.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn spreadsheet modelling properly
• Practise checking your own work for errors
• Try explaining a chart out loud

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You judge risks nobody has priced before — ships, satellites, film shoots — and commit the firm’s capital to them. Lloyd’s of London is still the world centre for the more unusual end of this.

Typical environments

Insurers · Lloyd’s syndicates · reinsurers

Typical first-year pay

£28–34k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Economics · Business

Helpful

Geography for catastrophe risk

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree into an insurer graduate scheme.

Apprenticeship route

One of the most open apprenticeship routes in finance — Level 4 and 6 programmes are widespread.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

CII: Certificate, then Diploma, then ACII, taken while working.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn how insurance actually pools risk
• Follow a natural catastrophe and think about who pays
• Practise judging a situation with incomplete information
• Look at Lloyd’s and what happens there

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You work for the buyer, not the insurer: understanding what a client needs to protect, then negotiating cover and price. Relationships are the job, and a book of clients tends to follow you between firms.

Typical environments

Brokers · Lloyd’s market

Typical first-year pay

£26–32k plus commission approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●○○Low
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●○Medium
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Business · Economics

Helpful

Psychology · Any three

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree — or none.

Apprenticeship route

Level 3 and 4 apprenticeships are a mainstream route straight from school.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

CII exams on the job.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Practise listening properly before offering a solution
• Get comfortable talking to adults you do not know
• Learn what a policy actually covers and excludes

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You look for patterns in claims and pricing that improve how risks are selected and priced. It sits between underwriting and actuarial work, and is increasingly a data role.

Typical environments

Insurers · brokers · reinsurers

Typical first-year pay

£28–35k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●○Medium
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Maths

Often useful

Further Maths

Helpful

Computer Science · Geography

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Numerate degree.

Apprenticeship route

Available.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

CII, or actuarial exams if you move that way.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn statistics and a little Python
• Practise turning a table into a clear chart

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You investigate what happened, apply the policy wording, and settle — fairly and quickly. It is the part of insurance customers actually experience, and complex claims involve real investigative work.

Typical environments

Insurers · loss adjusters · brokers

Typical first-year pay

£24–30k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●○○Low
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Any three

Helpful

Business · Psychology

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Not required.

Apprenticeship route

A very accessible route straight from school.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

CII.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Practise dealing with people who are upset
• Learn to read carefully and precisely
• Consider this as an entry point that leads elsewhere in insurance

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You interpret FCA rules and turn them into things colleagues must actually do, then check they are doing them. It requires saying no to people who earn more than you and making it stick.

Typical environments

Banks · asset managers · insurers · fintechs

Typical first-year pay

£32–40k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●○○Low
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Law · History · Politics · English

Helpful

Economics

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree — law is common but far from required. No maths requirement.

Apprenticeship route

Level 3 and 6 compliance and risk apprenticeships exist at most large firms.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

ICA diplomas, taken while working.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Practise reading rules precisely and spotting ambiguity
• Follow an FCA enforcement case
• Develop the confidence to disagree with someone senior

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You investigate suspicious patterns, decide whether to report them, and build the systems that flag them in the first place. Part investigation, part data analysis, and increasingly automated at the first stage.

Typical environments

Banks · fintechs · payment firms · regulators

Typical first-year pay

£30–38k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●○○Low
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●○○Low
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Any three

Helpful

Law · Computer Science · Psychology

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree.

Apprenticeship route

A growing apprenticeship route, especially at fintechs.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

ICA financial crime qualifications.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn how a payment actually moves between banks
• Read about a real money laundering case
• Practise noticing when something does not add up

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

At the FCA, PRA or Bank of England you supervise firms, investigate failures and design rules. Lower pay than the firms you regulate, unmatched training, and the widest view of the system available anywhere.

Typical environments

FCA · PRA · Bank of England · international regulators

Typical first-year pay

£30–38k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●●High
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Economics · Maths · Politics

Helpful

Law · History

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Wide range; economics is common.

Apprenticeship route

The Bank of England and FCA both run apprenticeship schemes.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None required.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Read an FCA consultation paper — they are written to be readable
• Follow what regulators did after 2008
• Learn why rules exist before arguing about them

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You draft and negotiate the documents behind financings, fund launches and regulatory matters. It is law rather than finance, but you cannot do it without understanding the finance.

Typical environments

City law firms · in-house legal teams · regulators

Typical first-year pay

Trainee rates vary widely approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●○○Low
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

History · English · Politics

Helpful

Economics · Maths

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

A law degree, or any degree plus a conversion course. Training contracts are competitive and applied for years ahead.

Apprenticeship route

Solicitor apprenticeships now exist and reach qualification without a degree first.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

SQE and a period of qualifying work experience.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Read something long and argue with it in writing
• Follow a big corporate legal dispute
• Look at solicitor apprenticeships as a real alternative

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

Roles span engineering, product, data, risk and operations at firms building payments, lending and banking apps. Smaller teams, faster change, and you are usually closer to the actual customer than in a bank.

Typical environments

Payment firms · challenger banks · lending platforms

Typical first-year pay

£35–50k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●○Medium
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●●○Medium

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Computer Science · Maths · Business

Helpful

Economics

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree, depending on the function.

Apprenticeship route

Widespread and genuine — fintechs hire apprentices across engineering, data and operations.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None generally.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Build something small that works
• Learn how a payment actually reaches a merchant
• Follow a fintech and work out how it makes money

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You pull data from systems nobody documented, clean it, and answer a business question with it. Most of the job is the cleaning and the framing; the analysis itself is often the quick part.

Typical environments

Banks · insurers · fintechs · corporates

Typical first-year pay

£32–42k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●●●High

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Computer Science

Helpful

Economics · Geography

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Numerate or computing degree; also entered from other fields.

Apprenticeship route

One of the most established data apprenticeship routes.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None; certifications exist but a portfolio matters more.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn SQL — it is the single most useful skill here
• Then Python and pandas
• Find an open dataset and answer a real question with it
• Practise saying what your analysis cannot show

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You frame a business problem as a prediction, build and validate a model, and then face the harder question of whether it should be deployed at all. In finance, explainability and fairness are constraints, not afterthoughts.

Typical environments

Banks · fintechs · insurers · asset managers

Typical first-year pay

£40–50k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●●●High

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Maths

Often useful

Computer Science · Further Maths

Helpful

Physics

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Maths, statistics, CS or physics. Master’s common but not universal.

Apprenticeship route

Level 6 data science degree apprenticeships exist at most large banks.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None. A public portfolio of real projects counts for more.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn statistics before machine learning
• Get properly fluent in Python
• Build a project end to end and write up what went wrong
• Learn why a model can be accurate and still unfair

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You write software where mistakes are expensive and downtime is visible. Payments, settlement, trading platforms and reporting all have to be correct, auditable and fast.

Typical environments

Banks · exchanges · fintechs · market infrastructure

Typical first-year pay

£45–60k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●○Medium
• Commercial awareness●○○Low
• Coding●●●High

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Computer Science or Maths

Often useful

Further Maths

Helpful

Physics

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Computer science or a related degree.

Apprenticeship route

Very strong — software degree apprenticeships are widespread at banks.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None. Your code is the evidence.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn one language deeply
• Build and publish a project
• Learn version control
• Try contributing to something open source

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You build systems for fraud detection, document processing, credit decisions and trading signals — under constraints most ML roles do not face, because a regulator may ask you to explain any individual decision.

Typical environments

Banks · hedge funds · fintechs · insurers

Typical first-year pay

£50k+ approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●●High
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●○Medium
• Coding●●●High

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Maths

Often useful

Computer Science · Further Maths

Helpful

Physics

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Maths, CS or statistics; postgraduate study common.

Apprenticeship route

Emerging through data and software apprenticeships.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn the maths under machine learning, not just the libraries
• Build a model and then try to explain its decisions
• Read about where automated decisions have gone wrong

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You join a team for a few months, learn an industry quickly, structure a messy problem, and recommend what to do. The variety is real and so is the travel, and you are frequently the least experienced person in the room being asked for a view.

Typical environments

Strategy houses · Big 4 consulting · boutiques · in-house strategy

Typical first-year pay

£45–55k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●○Medium
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Economics

Helpful

Any strong subject — variety is normal here

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree. Case interviews are the real filter and can be practised.

Apprenticeship route

Big 4 firms run consulting apprenticeships; strategy houses mostly do not.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Practise breaking a big question into parts
• Try a case interview framework — plenty are public
• Learn to estimate a number from scratch out loud
• Read about an industry you know nothing about

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

Inside a company rather than advising it: you analyse markets, evaluate acquisitions, and help set direction. Often filled by ex-consultants and ex-bankers, though internal promotion happens too.

Typical environments

Large corporates · technology firms · retailers

Typical first-year pay

Usually entered after other experience approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●●High
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●○Medium
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Economics · Business · Maths

Helpful

—

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree; usually not a first job.

Apprenticeship route

Rare directly.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Study how a company you use actually competes
• Practise arguing a recommendation in one page
• Follow an industry through a disruption

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

Due diligence: you check whether the earnings a seller claims are real and sustainable, and flag what a buyer should worry about. Deal-paced work with an accounting foundation.

Typical environments

Big 4 · corporate finance boutiques

Typical first-year pay

£32–40k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●○○Low
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Business · Economics

Helpful

—

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree into a Big 4 scheme.

Apprenticeship route

Available through Big 4 apprenticeships.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

ACA is normal.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn what "adjusted earnings" means and why people argue about it
• Read about a deal that went badly and why
• Get strong on accounting basics

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

Closely related to investment banking — in many firms it is the same job or a team within it. You value the target, structure the deal, and manage a process involving lawyers, accountants and regulators for months.

Typical environments

Investment banks · advisory boutiques · Big 4 corporate finance

Typical first-year pay

£85–130k approximate first-year total in London — the breakdown is below

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

Maths

Often useful

Economics · Business

Helpful

—

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

What it pays in year one

Base salary

£50–70k

Bonus

50–100% of base

Total, year one

£85–130k

Pretraga Partners London survey (Sep 2024) and published London market guides (2026).

University route

Same route as investment banking — internship-led.

Apprenticeship route

Some Big 4 corporate finance apprenticeships reach this work.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None required; ACA is common on the accountancy side.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Follow a live takeover in the news
• Learn how a company is valued, three different ways
• Practise long-form careful work

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You find and execute acquisitions for your own employer rather than advising someone else’s. Longer horizons than banking, and you live with the consequences of the deal afterwards.

Typical environments

Large corporates · technology firms

Typical first-year pay

Usually entered after other experience approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Economics · Business

Helpful

—

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Usually not a first job — banking, consulting or accountancy first.

Apprenticeship route

Not a direct route.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

None.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Understand why most acquisitions disappoint
• Follow a company that grew by buying others
• Build the analytical foundations first

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You assess whether a struggling business can be saved, negotiate with lenders, and manage the outcome — a rescue, a sale, or an orderly wind-down. Counter-cyclical work: busiest when everything else is quiet.

Typical environments

Big 4 · restructuring boutiques · banks · credit funds

Typical first-year pay

£32–45k approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●●High
• Research●●●High
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Maths · Economics · Business

Helpful

Law

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree; accountancy background common.

Apprenticeship route

Reachable through Big 4 apprenticeships.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

ACA, then insolvency qualifications (JIEB).

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn why profitable companies still run out of cash
• Read about a well-known corporate collapse
• Get comfortable with difficult conversations

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.

What do you actually do?

You understand what a family is trying to do, then plan across tax, pensions, property and investments. Trust is built slowly and your income eventually follows your client book rather than your job title.

Typical environments

Wealth managers · private banks · financial advice firms

Typical first-year pay

£28–35k, scaling with clients approximate first-year total, London, varies by employer

A typical day

Illustrative. No two days match and no two firms match.

What skills matter

• Mathematics●●○Medium
• Economics & markets●●○Medium
• Problem solving●●○Medium
• Research●●○Medium
• Attention to detail●●●High
• Communication●●●High
• Commercial awareness●●●High
• Coding●○○Low

Broad indicators, not a checklist. Low does not mean irrelevant.

Subjects that help

Commonly requested

—

Often useful

Economics · Business · Maths

Helpful

Psychology

Requirements vary by employer and by university. Very few finance careers have a fixed A-level list, and people arrive from unexpected subjects.

University route

Any degree, or none.

Apprenticeship route

Level 4 Financial Adviser apprenticeships take you straight in from school.

Two example routes in

Qualifications

CII Level 4 Diploma or CISI — legally required before you can give regulated advice.

A qualification opens doors. It does not guarantee entry, and no exam by itself places anyone in a job.

What you can do at 16 to 18

• Learn how pensions and ISAs actually work
• Practise explaining something financial to a relative
• Develop patience — this career compounds slowly

Related careers

These overlap with this role rather than being separate worlds. People move between them, and some firms use the same title for different jobs.