MONEY TALKS IF YOU'RE GOOD WITH FIGURES, A CAREER IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR COULD BE FOR YOU T he finance industry is a key driver of the UK economy and a major employer. It's estimated the industry accounts for 12% of the UK's economic output and employs 2.2 million people. But while London has a reputation as the financial centre of Europe - if not the world - two-thirds of the nation's finance jobs in the sector are located outside the capital, so there are plenty of opportunities regardless of where you live. That's not to say the uncertainty surrounding Brexit doesn't pose challenges to the industry. The Bank of England recently announced that tens of thousands of jobs in finance could be lost if there is no Brexit deal, although experts remain optimistic not only that a deal will be reached in time but also that leaving the EU could create new opportunities for the UK's financial services. Read on to discover more about the types of job available. THE KEY AREAS Private practice accountant As a PPA, your day-to-day duties may include preparing financial statements, business plans and budget reports, producing accounts, auditing, 1 8 4 /// J O B S & C A R E E R S 184 J&C JC17 Finance & Banking jw2.indd 184 20/11/2017 15:39