Financial services refer to a broad range of businesses that manage money. They include banks, credit-card companies, insurance companies, accountancy firms, consumer-finance businesses, stock brokerages and investment funds.
The financial industry helps channel cash from savers to borrowers and redistributes risk by pooling capital and investing it. For example, a bank or an insurance company will invest cash from depositors and then use the funds to finance loans to customers. It’s a cost-effective way to ensure the bank or insurance company gets its money back and does not lose too much of it to a defaulted loan.
Jobs in the finance industry require a wide range of skills. Many are specialized, while others are general in nature. For example, there are roles in research and analysis, business management, and client relationships.
Job satisfaction is high among professionals in the financial services sector. In fact, a recent survey found that professionals in this field rated their jobs on average as 9.6 to 10.
The finance sector plays a crucial role in developing economies and promoting economic growth. It enables producers to access more loans at lower interest rates, thus increasing their production capacity and enabling them to expand their operations further. It also promotes domestic as well as foreign trade by ensuring the availability of cheaper credit.