Charting your career path forward

Charting your career path forward

Once you decide to start your career in financial services, you have access to an exciting range of jobs that may fit your unique personality and strengths. However, with such a wide range of different disciplines to choose from – ranging from financial advice to regulatory roles – charting your path forward is by no means a clear-cut decision. When deciding on the next step in your career, it’s important to remember that you bring distinct skills and passions that can already be applied to certain job streams.

Identifying the financial services jobs that fit you

To help you map out the best way forward, here’s a helpful breakdown of some of the most popular job streams in the financial services industry, along with applicable skills and job titles.

Client services, administration, and assistance – Starting out your career

This job stream is centred on providing support to clients, advisors and dealers. In these entry-level roles, you’ll perform various administrative duties, such as relaying and resolving requests, generating new business opportunities and preparing documentation.

• Key skills or attributes: Personable, detail oriented, computer proficient, client focused
• Common job titles: Client services representative, life insurance agent assistant, financial advisor assistant

Planning, advice and consulting – Helping clients reach their goals

Professionals in this job stream are focused on helping clients improve their financial situation by understanding their individual circumstances, analyzing information and evaluating alternatives, and recommending possible solutions. For instance, they may recommend products such as investment funds or insurance plans.

• Key skills or attributes: Excellent communication skills, critical thinking, problem solving
• Common job titles: Financial advisor, life insurance agent, exempt market dealing representative, mutual fund representative

Compliance and risk management – Meeting regulatory requirements

People in these roles ensure businesses are acting in accordance with industry regulations through real-time monitoring and promoting ethical standards. These individuals may be responsible for creating the compliance regime, supervising advisors, monitoring transactions and trades or ensuring accounts are properly set up and maintained.

• Key skills or attributes: Deep industry/regulatory knowledge, attention to detail, superior decision-making skills
• Common job titles: Chief compliance officer, compliance officer, branch manager, branch compliance officer

Operations and back office – Performing essential functions

These professionals are responsible for carrying out processing and reconciliation of transactions in timely and efficient ways. Among other critical activities, operations staff process mutual fund orders, ensure trades are correctly settled and keep precise records of unitholders.

• Key skills: Keen eye for detail, multitasker, responsive, problem solver
• Common job titles: New account administrator, client services representative, mutual fund administrator, settlement administrator, reconciliation administrator

Take your next step

Do any of these career paths sound right for you? If you’re interested in learning more, visit our interactive graphic: Career Pathways. If you’re interested in getting started on your career, check out our course catalogue.