The world is your playground
Employment prospects for Otago Accounting and Finance graduates are exceptional. Otago’s strength in research and education, and the influence of its unique campus environment, mean our graduates have excellent career prospects in the international marketplace.
Remember: it is never too early to begin thinking about your future career! Your major subject, the additional papers you take, and your social, cultural and sporting achievements can all influence your career choices.
Find out more about:
Career options in Accounting
Accounting provides a good general undergraduate business degree that many employers find desirable. Our graduates can be found in a wide variety of roles – in many places across the globe.
Chartered Accountant or Certified Practising Accountant (CPA)
Many graduates seek professional accreditation and work for Chartered Accounting (CA) firms, or for Certified Practising Accounting (CPA) firms.
Entry level roles include:
- Taxation
- Auditing
- General accounting work
- Business advisory services
In addition to further training, CA and CPA firms offer graduates the opportunity to see a variety of businesses in a short period of time.
Business sector
Alternatively, graduates may go into manufacturing, banking, retailing, government departments or work overseas. Currently opportunities in Australia and the United Kingdom are very good for qualified accountants.
Education sector
Accounting graduates are also highly sought in the education sector. Universities and Polytechnics offer a range of additional academic qualifications and good prospects for teaching careers.
Career options in Finance
The range of careers in Finance is wide and varied.
Graduates work in areas such as:
- planning and budgeting
- portfolio management
- investments
- securities' trading
- risk management
- foreign currency trading
In demand from large and small firms – across the world
Graduates are employed by corporations, investment banks, accounting firms, stock broking firms, in the educations sector and in many other fields. In their first year of employment, our most highly-paid postgraduates earn about $100,000, while a good BCom graduate could expect to earn $50,000 or more.
In large firms, specialised career paths are developing as the value of financial analysis is increasingly recognised. In small firms, financial skills are applicable in many areas of the business, especially if they are supported by a knowledge of complementary areas such as marketing and management.
Because a Finance degree is relevant to economic structures worldwide, it is highly exportable. There are many job opportunities overseas and Otago graduates compete well in many international markets.
Chartered Financial Analyst
In addition to a Finance degree, if you are interested in investments or fund management, the CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst) programme enhances your qualification and is becoming an increasingly important professional qualification in the global marketplace.
Career development at Otago
Launching a successful career can be a daunting task for graduates. Fortunately, the University Career Development Centre is here to assist you.
The Career Development Centre assists intending students, current students, graduates and alumni with a wide range of career enquiries. This includes information on employer presentations, job openings, and application closing dates.
A note regarding using your lecturer as a referee
Most students begin their job hunt early in their final year. If you would like a lecturer to be your referee, see them early in Semester One to seek approval. Do not put someone down without permission.
