Financial Services

Financial Services is a huge career area. Once seen as a specialised discipline – associated primarily with mathematical geniuses – it is now more accessible, with advances in computing meaning that it is less about natural numerical skill and more about aptitude and training. Notoriously a stable career amongst any economic conditions, it is seen as an option for many people, particularly students just finished their A-Levels.

Now, South West College is offering a Foundation Degree which provides a sufficiently broad education in financial services that will ensure that degree holders are well equipped for further career enhancement, and which requires 72 UCAS tariff points (new QCF) and 4 GCSE passes including English (C) and Maths (B).

Why Financial Services?

Finance is a business in itself but it’s also necessary in every other industry, because every business needs someone to handle the money and accounts. It’s also needed in every country and with the right qualifications you can work in more than 120 countries, and many big countries tend to transfer employees to different countries. All this means is that there is
constant demand for accountants and a never ending list of opportunities for those who choose to enter the career.

Finance is Flexible. There are different areas – financial, management, auditing and tax – and there are different routes you can take with your career, such as travelling, working in different industries, or even opening your own business. This is just one of the reasons why you’ll never get bored. It’s a bit of a myth that career areas such as accountancy are monotonous, but it’s a crucial career with lots of responsibility, so that’s rarely the case. In reality a career in accountancy allows you to take on an expert role in important tyransactins and businesses. Nothing boring about that.

How to get started

For anyone leaving school, there are several options for getting into financial services. The Foundation Degree in Financial Services Management is available in South West College, Omagh Campus, on a Part Time or Full Time basis. You'll also get an early experience of the workplace, as an integral part of the programme is an industrial placement that includes an appropriate Work-based Learning component. Overall, the degree will equip students with the combination of technical skills, academic knowledge and transferable skills that employers locally are demanding. On-going consultation through the College’s Industrial Advisory Board ensures the industrial relevance of the programme and will ensure that a suitable range of career paths is available to the graduate.

What the tutors say

Siobhan Breen of South West College says: “Accounting is much more accessible now than ever before. Courses at South West College provide specialist tuition in the principles and value of accounting and other areas of financial services.

“We also pride ourselves on producing qualified and ethical finance professionals who have the knowledge and skills that employers expect. South West College has an exceptionally high pass rate of 80% and above, with the global average of 40-45%. Our graduates have gone on to work in accountancy practices, finance departments of public and private companies or as tax advisors.”

Find out more by visiting the SWC A Level Results Open Day on Friday 16th August, 10am-4pm, in Dungannon, Enniskillen and Omagh, or visit the South West College website