Accounting, Finance, and Law Sector
What is the Accounting, Finance, and Law Sector? Often called “Professional Services”, the sector covers a range of regulated professions. These workers support businesses and individuals with their finances and legal responsibilities.
What do I need to start my career?
Workplace trends
Average annual salary
• Greater Manchester is one of the largest financial centres outside of London.
£35,600
Apprenticeships are becoming more common in the sector for most roles.
• While many larger firms have a city centre presence, there are a range of companies in each Greater Manchester borough.
Some entry level customer service roles require very little experience.
• Many roles in the sector are now “hybrid”, meaning they are working from home as well as from the office.
Percentage of GM workforce working in this sector
• S ome professions like Lawyers and Accountants have very specific qualification requirements and staff often need to become “chartered”.
23%
(309,000 employed)
Shortage and in demand roles
Approximate number of GM employers
9,265
• Customer Service
• Solicitor
• Paralegal
Roles that GM employers are currently recruiting for
Who might you work for? • PwC
• BNY Mellon
• Aviva
• Ernst Young
• Together Money
• AJ Bell
• Natwest
• Grant Thornton
• BDO
Soft skills
• Accountant
Colleges often offer entry level book-keeping and accounting courses (levels 1-2). Many relevant apprenticeships from levels 2-7. Degrees offered by many universities include Law, Accounting, and Economics
• Customer Service
• Bookkeeper
• Credit Control
• Financial Manager
• Lawyer
• Tax Assistants
What does the future hold for this sector?
• Solicitor
• Data Analyst
• Underwriter
• Paralegal
• Digitalisation – using software and digital methods to manage finances and legal cases.
• Accountant
• Customer service
• Project management • Attention to detail
• Microsoft Office
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Time management
Want to know more? - R ead about the accounting, finance and law industry here or find out about
different routes into the industry here. You can also search law careers online.
2022
Types of qualifications
• Sustainability – using financing solutions to support sustainable businesses and the green economy. • Diversity – many firms traditionally only employed graduates but this is now starting to change.