The interview is your chance to “sell” yourself. It is advisable to tell stories (not too long, that is) rather than stating facts. As Bonnie Lowe says, “facts tell, but stories sell”.

Prepare your lines and make it “sound like you” – avoid sounding like a scripted announcer. Be concise, and emphasize positive traits such as:

Communication skills. Cite writing and public speaking experiences.

Honesty / integrity. Emphasize how these values are important to you in both personal and professional aspects.

Teamwork skills. Being able to work with a team of different personalities is a plus.

Decision-making skills. Having the initiative and making a stand shows leadership.

Interpersonal skills. Having the flexibility to jive with people who have different personalities and values will make a team more effective.

Organization / project management skills. Efficiency is the key.

Among the best graduate jobs in the UK are graduate Finance jobs and graduate jobs in Accounting. Commerce degree holders have a large pool of employment opportunities waiting for them. There are plenty of these graduate jobs that they can go out and hunt for. Whether they have taken up Mathematics, Economics, Accounting or Statistics in their universities or colleges, they have already revved up their chances of landing a job that will secure them a more or less stable financial status and a promising career.

Despite having a large option for employment, however, job seekers should acknowledge that the hunt for the best professional or graduate job in the UK is getting tougher and tougher. The number of qualified candidates is soaring, which makes the competition even fiercer. The key is for you to look for the right job for yourself where you can use your qualifications on the job and then later on advance to the kind of career you have always dreamed of.

The UK has the best graduate finance job opportunities. Those jobs are even found in some of the largest and most established financial companies all over the world – Bank of America, Capital One, Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse, Fidelity International and Edward Jones Limited, to name some.

The job openings from these companies vary. Below are some of the best graduate jobs in Banking and Finance in the UK, and their primary responsibilities:

1- Financial Managers – provide financial advise to clients;
2- Stockbrokers and Traders – on behalf of the clients, stockbrokers and traders invest on various financial products;
3- Corporate Treasurers – they are in charge or improving and maintaining the finances of the respective companies that they are working for;
4- Investment Bankers – they are financiers for different companies, institutions and even government agencies;
5- Commodity Brokers – they buy and sell physical commodities;
6- Investment Analysts – they do the research and they gather information on investment opportunities for the Fund Managers;
7- Investment Fund Managers – getting the information they need from the Investment Analysts, they then assist their clients and give them advise on where to invest their money.

Before applying for a graduate job in the UK, you must first spend a lot of time on research, gathering as much information as you can to find out which of these career options is the best for you. Take the time to review each job’s description and responsibilities in order to make you decide whether or not you are capable and willing to take the job. Chances are, there might be one or more of the job opportunities mentioned above that attracts you. If you are still undecided, you must try to asses yourself and your qualifications, and find out which one would be the best for you. If the excitement of buying and selling physical commodities attracts you, for example, then you might be picturing yourself as a Commodity Broker. Or, if you wish to help people invest their money, an Investment Fund Manager position is probably the best for you. There are more graduate banking and finance jobs in the UK that you can apply for. All you have to do is look.

A large number of graduates of Accountancy and Actuarial find themselves taking jobs in public accounting firms. These jobs are paid internships that give the employees a great chance of gaining good experiences by working with different local agencies and companies. After gaining as much experience as they can in the field, helping out clients prepare their taxes and file their tax refunds, most of these employees make their way to advance into higher or principal positions. In order to do that, however, they must acquire a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license. However, the best accounting graduate job is still to become your own boss. A lot of Accounting graduates and CPA’s all over the world put up their own accounting firms after years of public service.

Do not allow yourself to get disheartened or confused when job hunting. Get your spirits up and take the whole race as a great learning experience. The options are endless for you and your fellow Commerce degree holders. The key to having the very best graduate job in the UK is looking for something that you imagine yourself doing. Ultimately, the decision is yours.

There are numerous accounting jobs throughout the world for professionals or for those who just have to start their careers.

Accounting jobs are related with the financial operations of a company. Those who completed their college studies must look for starting-level jobs like pay clerk or account clerk in school, colleges or in a company. After gaining experience from these levels, they will be able to get good supervisory level jobs. But those with higher qualifications like Master’s degree in Accountancy can directly enter the supervisory rank and manages accounting functions, prepares reports of financial transaction of the company. Focusing on accounting functions, will enhance the employee’s experience. After gaining more experience, the job applicant can find more interesting and better paid jobs.

The success or failure of a company depends upon accounting. The accounts manager should have full knowledge so that he/she must keep pace with the changing accounting practices that the government or the governing bodies announce from time to time. The job applicants having a masters’ degree in accountancy will get managerial level positions directly. An accounts job consists mainly with the posting, processing and verification of all receipts, credit claims, refunds, interest charges and others. It is very necessary to maintain accounts in a regular manner and the accounting manager also manages the preparation of filings and submits them in time to the regulatory authorities. Such work brings employee satisfaction and increase employee morale. And the company will in turn reward such people with better pay and perks from time to time.

Accounting jobs can be rewarding, both financially and in terms of job satisfaction. To attain a higher position in the field, the applicant will need to have a Masters Degree or on-the-job training. Accounting Managers must work closely with all financial departments in the company, and make sure to follow legal guidelines. This is an important job, which improves the functioning of the company and working conditions for its employees.

There are various jobs in accounting field like accountant, accounts-manager, financial advisor, account assistant, credit controller, chartered accountant, sales accountant, audit supervisor etc. The interested candidates with master degrees in accountancy or with other account courses can also apply online for their jobs. After fulfilling the conditions means submitting resumes then candidate will get interview call from different companies. After passing tests or interviews, he/she will get good job in this field.

The accounting salary range can vary quite a bit throughout the field, but even at the lower end of the pay spectrum, there are great opportunities in this field. Accounting careers have experienced rapid growth in recent years, with jobs ranging from accountants to auditors to CPAs in all types of urban, suburban and rural areas of the country. There is a need for accounting professionals everywhere, and it is a great time to train for a solid career in this important field.

The salary range for accounting careers depends on the area of accounting that the individual in question is employed in, as well as the part of the country where they work and reside. A Certified Professional Accountant in a large metropolitan area like New York City will earn more than an accountant in a smaller city like Fresno, California, for example. Taking all the different salaries into account, the average accountants and auditors earn roughly between $40,000 and $70,000 annually, with the bottom ten percent earning as little as $32,000 and the top ten percent earning as much as $90,000. Salaries often depend on factors such as the cost of living in the area and the relative experience of the particular accounting professional.

The industries that employ accountants and professionals include the United States government, accounting firms, tax preparation services, bookkeepers, payroll service providers, local governments and state governments. The highest median earnings are in the Federal Executive Branch of the government and the United States Postal Service, where salaries of approximately $60,000 are the norm. Jobs in accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services, and management of companies and enterprises have median wages in the mid-$50,000s. Local and state government accounting positions have the lowest median salaries, which are still at below $50,000 (in the mid-$40,000s for state government jobs).

So the accounting salary range does vary, but with the opportunity to move ahead and earn more money in metropolitan areas, there is clearly a good opportunity for a solid career in this industry. The current growth and need for accounting professionals makes this a wise professional choice indeed.

What You Can Count On: Job Security

For the 2007 fiscal year, Microsoft reported an annual revenue of $51.2 billion. Behind any company’s revenue numbers–big or small–are accountants and financial managers who balance the books. In 2002, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act added further scrutiny to corporate procedures. Between government regulations and the thousands of companies that need to manage finances, the immediate benefit of a career in accounting is a reasonable amount of job security. Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts strong growth for accountants and auditors through 2016.

What You Can Take to the Bank: Strong Earnings

Another benefit for an accountant is that the median annual salary for accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services is $57,020. Going further into the financial services industry, you could become a financial manager for a major corporation and earn in the neighborhood of $105,410 a year according to the BLS. You can also work your way up the corporate ladder to financial director, corporate controller, or even chief financial officer (CFO).

What Education You Need: Accounting Degree and Certification

A college degree and certification are almost essential for advancement and a long term career in accounting. A bachelor’s degree in accounting or a finance related topic is a solid start, and earning a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential furthers your employability prospects. You can even take it a step-further by earning a specialized certification such as a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Accredited Tax Advisor (ATA), or other credential. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants reports on a survey finding that candidates with a professional certification can earn 10% more than other accountants. A graduate degree can also help you stand out from the crowd.

If keeping track of the nickels and dimes is your passion, then accounting may be what you can count on for a career.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, also known as the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act of 2002 and commonly called SOX or Sarbox, is a United States federal law signed into law on July 30, 2002 in response to a number of major corporate and accounting scandals including those affecting Enron, Tyco International, Peregrine Systems and WorldCom. These scandals resulted in a decline of public trust in accounting and reporting practices. Since the implementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, an entirely new field of accounting jobs has been developed.

SOX is currently known as the “hot skill” of the accounting profession. Jobs involving this “hot skill” run the entire gamut from SOX testers to SOX Senior Manager positions. Jobs involving Sarbanes-Oxley are known as Sarbanes-Oxley Jobs. Learn about Sarbanes-Oxley and you can easily find an accounting job.

With Sarbanes-Oxley compliance so important nowadays, there are a multitude of online sites offering training and certification.

HereÂ’s a list of some training sites:

http://grc.soxinstitute.org/

http://thecaq.aicpa.org/Resources/Sarbanes+Oxley

http://www.cfainstitute.org/centre/sarbanesoxley.html

http://www.soxinstitute.org/certification.htm

Accounting executive search firms basically help in providing financial staff. Or more specifically, they help companies recruit financing and accounting staff. If you’re looking for an accounting career, then it will do you a whole lot of good if you sign up with an accounting executive search firm.

Starting Out

If you’re looking for employment in executive accounting search firms, let me tell you, your first few months are not going to be easy at all. This is simply because you have to start right from the bottom here – as is the case with any other form of employment. But over here, it is especially difficult, because a good firm always works around its clients’ schedules and not the other way around.

As a result, being a newbie, you might have to do a lot of running around in odd hours, because really, when are busy executives free, except for maybe Sundays, and that too, very rarely do they not bring work home!

Setting up appointments, interviews and meetings when it is convenient for your client will be a major responsibility. After that, you will slowly be promoted to more lucrative positions and will have your own subordinates in turn.

Starting out is especially difficult because all of these firms are known for their incredibly short response time, so you might have to run from one busy office from another all day everyday. So the starting months might feel like one big slaving experience, but it’s totally worth it!

Positions

So what positions can you hold in executive accounting search firms? The most obvious one is that of a recruiter, where your job will be to find the most suitable candidates for your clients. In order to be a recruiter, it is helpful if you have a sales driven attitude. An executive recruiter is a senior recruiter who has several recruiters working under him.

You can also be a business development consultant, where you will be responsible for bringing new clients and bettering relations with existing ones. So as you can guess, you’ll probably have to spend the larger part of your time in the field! Management and office administration positions too are a part of working in such an accounting executive search firms.

Firms in executive accounting generally have a large database of prospective candidates who are looking for accounting and financial positions of employment. The firm may reach out to its highly sophisticated database in a matter of minutes, for the clients’ convenience and respond accordingly.

The job of the search firm in executive accounting is to basically find the candidate who meets the clients’ criteria completely, or fits the bill as closely as possible. If you’re looking for executive accounting work, then definitely do try signing up with accounting executive search firms.

There are a number of categories in the field of accounting jobs for the job applicant. All of them focus on the financial operation of a company, and offer various and rewarding opportunities.

Those coming straight out of the college campus must look for entry-level jobs like account clerk and pay clerk. However, by virtue of gaining experience they will be able to move higher in the chain and get supervisory positions subsequently. But those with higher qualifications, like a Master’s degree in Accountancy, can directly enter the supervisory cadre. The supervisory employee supervises accounting functions and prepares reports and statistics detailing financial results. They must coordinate activities and reports with other departments. However, focusing on one or two areas, like Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Payroll, Budget etc., will enhance the employee’s experience. By gaining more experience, the job applicant can find more interesting and better paid jobs.

By having a Master’s degree in accountancy, the job applicant can get managerial positions as well. In fact, the role of an Accounting Manager mainly revolves around managing the Accounts Receivable function within the organization’s established policies. The manager must work closely with other staff and oversee completion of all work including posting, processing, and verification of receipts, credit claims, refunds, interest charges, and others. The manager must also keep pace with the changing accounting practices that the government or the governing bodies announce from time to time. This will help in discharging duties in a proper way and the company will stand to benefit largely.

For instance, to follow the generally accepted accounting principles, the Accounting Manager is required to take special measures. This is mainly to meet the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) stipulations, as this single procedure will not only eliminate fraudulent means adopted by some companies, but will also help the stock- holders to get financial information without any trouble. Therefore the Accounting Manager must oversee the preparation of the filings and submit them in time to the regulatory authorities. Such work not only enhances employee satisfaction in accounting jobs, but also makes them more loyal to the company. And the company will in turn reward such people with better pay and perks from time to time.

Accounting jobs can be rewarding, both financially and in terms of job satisfaction. To attain a higher position in the field, the applicant will need to have a Masters Degree or on-the-job training. Accounting Managers must work closely with all financial departments in the company, and make sure to follow legal guidelines. This is an important job, which improves the functioning of the company and working conditions for its employees.

Vying for a managerial position? Here are some of the job descriptions and qualifications – use this in assessing your skills and experience. Knowing that you are qualified will boost your confidence in facing that tough interviewer.

Generally, accounting managers head the finance department of a company, and supervises all accounts payables and receivables, staff accountants, clerks and the payroll. A certified public accountant is preferred, knowledge in general and cost accounting is a must, and one should have computer skills. Since this is a managerial position, effective written and oral communication skills and ability to interact with all types of people and relevant experience of at least 4 years are important requirements.

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