The Aspire Guide - Flipbook - Page 36
Over the next 15 pages you can learn more about a variety of different career sectors, including the
typical roles that are available in each sector, what qualifications you need, and what skills employers
will be looking for. You can also see the average salary you can expect to receive as a graduate,
the amount you could earn after 5 years’ experience and - if you work very hard and become a top
performer in your field - what your salary could look like after 10-15 years.
Accountancy, Audit and Financial Management
A career in Professional Services means that you will use your expertise to advise clients,
helping their businesses to succeed. The most common services are Audit, Tax, Financial
Advisory, Risk Advisory and Consulting. Professional Services firms pay their employees to
sit professional qualifications, and have offices all over the country.
What they’re looking for:
Many professional services firms offer School Leaver Programmes, Apprenticeships and graduate
schemes. These are suitable for people with strong problem-solving and communication skills, and they
will take graduates from all disciplines with a variety of experience.
Salary expectations:
Typical graduate salary: £24,000-£30,000
Potential salary (after five years experience): £45,000-£70,000
Top earners (10-15 years experience): £100,000-£500,000+
Actuarial Industry
Actuaries are experts in risk management. They use statistical information to assess the
probability of financial risks to businesses and insurance companies. Becoming an actuary
gives you a wide range of business areas to work in, as risks affect many different sectors. It
also requires you to use your mathematical ability in a practical sense, applying probability to
real-world situations.
What they’re looking for:
Actuaries need to have a good understanding of maths and be effective problem-solvers. They also
need to be willing to work hard for their qualifications, which can take between 3-6 years to gain postgraduation. Finally, actuaries need strong communication skills in order to be able communicate complex
actuarial ideas to clients and non-experts.
Salary expectations:
Typical graduate salary: £24,000-£30,000
Potential salary (after five years experience): £45,000-£70,000
Top earners (10-15 years experience): £100,000-£500,000+
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