Banking jobs

Banking jobs are on the rise and our degrees can help you ride the wave.

Around the world, finance is one of the most rapidly evolving industries. As a result, banking and financial services careers hold enormous opportunities for security, growth and exciting challenges for your future.

Jobs in finance and banking are varied. Ranked number 1 in Australia for Finance (QS World University Rankings by Subject), UNSW degree programs blend high-level theory with hands-on experience to prepare you for a rewarding career. You’ll be equipped with creative problem-solving skills, as well as analytical and finance skills that will put you in high demand for any number of banking roles out there.

Not sure what all this means for you? Let’s break down the types of banking jobs available for graduates in Australia.

The Big Four banks in Australia

You might hear the term ‘the Big Four’ often in the world of finance and banking – and this is shorthand for the largest four banks in Australia. These banks are:

• Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ)
• Commonwealth Bank
• National Australia Bank (NAB)
• Westpac.

These Big Four banks typically take up to 100 graduates per year for graduate roles in banking (according to Grad Australia) – so it can be competitive. Thankfully, UNSW degrees in finance give you the edge with extensive work-integrated learning opportunities. Not to mention UNSW Business School’s Career Accelerator program, which provides students with real-world experiences to enhance their employability through internships, global business practicum and consultancy projects as well as social entrepreneurship practicums. Our partner organisations include the Big 4 banks, investment banks and financial consultancy organisations.

Commercial banking vs investment banking

There are two main types of banks: retail/commercial banks, and investment banks. The big four banks listed above are retail banks, so they primarily service individuals: helping customers deposit money, save, lend, etc. Most commercial banks have attractive graduate programs, where you can rotate through different sectors of the bank to learn more about the company and where your skills and passions lie.

Investment banks are a little more complex, and exist mainly to link businesses with investors. They help customers to issue securities, sell to investors, safely invest capital in stocks, and provide advisory services. The three primary functions of investment banks are: corporate finance, wealth management for private clients, and capital markets. Just like retail banks, Australia has a Big Four of investment banking:

• JPMorgan
• Goldman Sachs
• Citigroup
• Morgan Stanley.

In a high-risk, high-reward industry like finance, investment banking roles can be exciting. Opportunities for graduates range from working across financial markets and hedge funds to the stock exchange, as an investment banker, portfolio manager, asset management adviser and more.

Many UNSW graduates now hold excellent positions at the Big Four commercial and investment banks.

So what types of jobs are available in banking?

A UNSW degree in finance and banking will set you up for a stellar career. We’re known for academic and industry experts who are forward-thinking in their teaching and on the forefront of innovation. Your career options can range from asset management to stockbroking, and from financial advice to corporate finance.

If it’s a role in banking you’re looking for, one of the most common banking jobs available for graduates is a credit analyst in a retail or commercial bank. Credit analysts work with lenders and other bank employees to review individual and business loan applications, and assess individual and business ability to repay a loan.

As a finance graduate, you might also become a branch manager, overseeing all aspects of a bank branch’s operations. Trust officers are also in demand, which means you’d be working with high net-worth customers in investment, estate planning or taxes. Within the retail banking sector, roles such as commercial lenders and mortgage bankers are also available.

If your interest is in investment banking, career paths can include finding a role as an Investment Banking Analyst, and other associate roles in areas of finance, legal and management controls, compliance, investment research, private equity and operations, investment management, and merchant banking. 

How do you get a job in Banking?

Australia’s economy is one of the fastest growing in the world, meaning there’s no shortage of banking jobs to give you entry into the financial services industry. Better still – UNSW’s School of Banking and Finance is ranked number 1 in Australia for Finance.

Jobs in banking offer a bright future for graduates. To prepare you for a successful career in banking, UNSW degree programs have a particular focus on in-built work experience. This means you’ll have opportunities to network and understand the realities of a role in the banking sector, before you’re out in the real world! 

Good study options for students wanting to pursue jobs in banking include UNSW's Bachelor of Commerce with Finance and Financial Technology major options, as well as masters level study in the Master of Commerce, Master of Financial Analysis and Master of Finance.