Can you hear that noise from thousands of keyboards typing “how to get a job in online finance”?

The number of such searches has indeed increased due to the pandemic and digital transformation provoking students to eagerly look for online jobs.

Why is a financial career so popular, in the first place, and how do you break into it distantly? What tools should you use to do it successfully? What work-from-home jobs are the most reachable in finance?

No need to google or bing it any further. This guide can save you much time and give you all the answers to your why's, how's, and what's.

So, let’s begin with the main “why”, do you mind?

 

Work-from-home Job in the Finance Sector: Key Advantages

Remote jobs are great per se, as they open new possibilities for university graduates. Besides, you can establish a cosy atmosphere and a professional work environment at home simultaneously.

When it comes to work-from-home jobs in finance, they are even more beneficial than any occupation in any other field, because they can offer you the following advantages:

• Great earning potential – the projected salary growth rates for some jobs are as high as 17% and 21%
• Better job satisfaction – the level of work happiness is the highest in the financial domain
• Room for improvement and ever-expanding opportunities for growth
• Stability and security – the majority of those employed in finance feel either secure or very secure in their current roles
• A wider range of career choices, and more

But how do you step into the financial realm and gain a firm footing in it to enjoy the above benefits?

Keep reading to find out.

 

How to Land a Job in Online Finance Without Leaving Home

Follow the below guidelines and take the six steps for getting a great remote job in finance.

 

• Research the job market

If you research the remote employment market in the UK, you’ll see that the financial sector has been experiencing a record-high vacancy rate lately. In London, for example, the number of financial vacancies has jumped almost twice compared to the pre-pandemic level. And the majority of firms offer remote positions.

What else is worth knowing?

You may also be interested in the names of large financial giants that actively hire graduates. The list of them is here:

• Deloitte
• Lloyds Banking Group
• Barclays Investment Bank
• KPMG
• Ernst & Young

Then there’s a list of smaller companies that are employing strictly for remote positions at the moment:

• HRS International
• EBI Portfolios
• ITC Secure
• Metro Bank PLC
• Spencer Clarke Group

What financial specialists do they hunt for?

Have a closer look at the most profitable careers for first-timers in online finance.

• Consider the top five entry-level jobs

Here’s a rundown of entry-level finance positions for distant employment that may be of preference to you:

• Financial Advisor

Average salary: £45,000–£65,000

As a financial advisor, you’ll need to analyse clients’ financial profiles, provide strategic planning, do reports, etc. Consider some other things to learn for a financial advisor role.

• Forex trader (Fx trader)

Average salary: £60,000–£80,000

Usually, fx traders do the following: monitor financial markets, analyse trends, calculate risk, trade currencies, negotiate with fx brokers to set prices for trades, etc.

Read the best books on forex trading that will help you understand what activities foreign exchange traders perform daily.

• Investment banker

Average salary: £50,000–£60,000

The responsibilities of investment bankers concern issuing debt and selling equity to raise clients’ capital, conducting research on investment, offering expert advice on the best investment methods, buying, selling, and managing stocks, bonds, and other investments on behalf of clients, etc.

• Accountant

Average salary: £35,000–£45,000

Accountants typically deal with accounting transactions, taxes and tax returns, auditing, budget forecasting, timely bank payments, etc.

As a chartered accountant, for example, you should also learn financial modeling.

• Financial analyst

Average salary: £45,000–£55,000

It’s one of the top finance jobs in the market right now. The duties of a financial analyst are: creating financial forecasts, tracking operational metrics, developing financial models, preparing analysis-based projections, performing variance analysis, etc.

Decided on the best suitable variant for you?

Great! Now let’s promote your skills and competencies by taking the next step.

 

• Enhance your financial savviness with courses and certifications

In the UK, you can get into finance even if you’re a non-financial graduate.

But!

You can’t do without proper qualifications and certificates that go hand in hand with apprenticeships (you’ll read about the latter in a few paragraphs). For any apprenticeship in finance, the necessary requirement is GCSE.

If you want to enter an accounting career, the most popular route to launch one is by getting one of the qualifications depending on your specific needs:

• Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)
• Association of Chartered Accountants (ACCA)
• Certified Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

If you’d like to obtain a better-paid position in online accounting, you definitely need an additional certification. For example, Xero certified accountants are in high demand in the UK now. In case you choose this path, Xero training courses are obligatory.

To harness practical skills and improve your chances of getting a financial job, an internship/apprenticeship becomes handy. Go to the next step and get trained remotely.

• Get remote internships or apprenticeships

COVID-19 has played its own game and forced organizations to reconsider the way they address work, training, and education. UK employers are now shifting to a “reskilling approach”, as they experience a shortage of talent. That’s why they have started delivering both internships and apprenticeships virtually. You can become a remote trainee without leaving your home and harness the required skills for a career in finance.

Apart from searching for great virtual internships/apprenticeships on the web, you can contact the career center at your university and inquire about possible options. Some universities may have a dedicated Internship Office like Oxford University, or Careers & Internships page like Richmond American University London, for instance.

After the internship is finished, indicate it in your curriculum vitae and boost the likelihood of getting a high-paid job in finance from home.

 

• Create an outstanding CV + portfolio

Your CV should literally “wow” recruiters.

Focus on your transferable skills. Why do they matter? In fact, three quarters of UK employers prioritize portable skills equal to or even above technical skills when looking for the top talent.

It’s not enough just to enumerate them. You should make transferable skills count on your CV by backing them up with figures and facts. That’s when your portfolio comes into play, if you want to illustrate your achievements and progress. For example, you can showcase your work samples on your personal website or financial blog.

Your professional career portfolio should include the following:

• Cover page
• CV
• Resume
• Cover letter
• Degrees, certifications, licenses, etc.
• Samples of your work (financial analytics and reports, studies, forecasts, presentations, etc.)
• List of software and systems you used for your projects
• References

In order to prepare for a job hunt in the financial industry, gain solid knowledge, and record your practical experience, use some specific tools and software.

• Arm yourself with tools and practice more

Grab the following list of instruments that will help you get ready for a job in finance without leaving your home:

• For crafting a CV: free CV builder
• For building a portfolio: Wix, Portfoliobox, Dribbble, JournoPortfolio, Behance, etc.
• For brushing up on the industry jargon: glossary of financial terms or jargon buster
• For understanding and practising calculations: financial calculators
• For teaching yourself about investing without risking your money: stock market simulator
• For mastering accounting: Xero or QuickBooks
• For personal effectiveness: productivity apps

Now you’re well-armed and ready to knock on the e-door of the finance sector and get a good job in finance remotely.

Ready to Break Into the Finance Industry from Home?

This article has addressed the essential steps for landing a job in online finance.

After all the preparation is done, the only thing left for you will be to break into the finance sector easily and gracefully.

On you go and good luck! Find your dream job and get employed right from your couch!