Declan Moloney, 02 July 2009
Graduates who wish to work in finance and banking are turning to careers in accountancy.

According to the Financial Times there has been a rise of 20 percent in the number of people enrolling for the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s main award. It is thought that students have a lack of trust in banking roles and are looking for security of public sector roles.

These jobs may not offer the financial rewards of city banking but offer stability. Students enrolling in courses will be gaining an accredited qualification that will allow them to find work within the state that is a relatively stable employer in the economic downturn.

Adrian Pulham, Cipfa’s director of education and training said: “If history can be any guide, the last two recessions demonstrated that at a time of [relative] contraction in public spending, you actually need not necessarily more, but at least an equivalent number of highly skilled financial managers to manage the process.”