A Critical Guide to Working in the Financial Services Industry, 4e provides students who are completing Certificate III and Certificate IV qualifications from the FNS10 Financial Services Training Package with an understanding of the industry, and the interpersonal and written communication skills required to succeed in a clerical or administrative role in the financial services sector.

Packed with international case studies and examples, the book begins with a detailed analysis of the state of CRM and e-business in the financial services globally, and then goes on to provide comprehensive and practical guidance on: making the most of your customer base; systems and data management; risk and compliance; channels and value chain issues; implementation; strategic implications.

Financial services are an ever increasing part of the infrastructure of everyday life. From banking to credit, insurance to investment and mortgages to advice, we all consume financial services, and many millions globally work in the sector. Moreover, the way we consume them is changing with the growing dominance of fintech and Big Data. Yet, the part of financial services that we engage with as consumers is just the tip of a vast network of markets, institutions and regulators – and fraudsters too. Many books about financial services are designed to serve corporate finance education, focusing on capital structures, maximising shareholder value, regulatory compliance and other business-oriented topics. A Practical Guide to Financial Services: Knowledge, Opportunities and Inclusion is different: it swings the perspective towards the end-user, the customer, the essential but often overlooked participant without whom retail financial services markets would not exist. While still introducing all the key areas of financial services, it explores how the sector serves or sometimes fails to serve consumers, why consumers need protection in some areas and what form that protection takes, and how consumers can best navigate the risks and uncertainties that are inherent in financial products and services. For consumers, a greater understanding of how the financial system works is a prerequisite of ensuring that the system works for their benefit. For students of financial services – those aspiring to or those already working in the sector – understanding the consumer perspective is an essential part of becoming an effective, holistically informed and ethical member of the financial services community. A Practical Guide to Financial Services: Knowledge, Opportunities and Inclusion will equip you for both these roles. The editors and authors of A Practical Guide to Financial Services: Knowledge, Opportunities and Inclusion combine a wealth of financial services, educational and consumer-oriented practitioner experience.

*** READERS: I am incredibly pleased my book has sold well and made it into the curricula of some top tier universities. Notwithstanding, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK ON AMAZON. In an effort to provide more bang for your buck, I've started a blog (WallStreetJobPrimer.com) where I will answer any questions you have directly. Alternatively, you can email me directly (address is at the end of the Preface section on page XI, Thank you! >>>Overview (more complete description below)### Industry overview in layman terms### Investment banks, money managers, hedge funds and the jobs within### Chapter 5 dedicated exclusively to quantitative roles in the industry### Strategies and insights for landing jobs and maximizing success (including compensation!)###I wrote this book to help those who aspire to or already work in the financial services industry. While my original intention was to help out aspiring quants (like myself a bit over 10 years ago), I have geared most all of the topics so that they will be helpful to anyone that is relatively new to the financial sector. Indeed, the content is presented in a manner that requires no prior knowledge. I have done my best to describe each topic from scratch and use examples/diagrams to illustrate many points.###The first half of the book (three chapters) provides an introduction to capital markets and the financial institutions within. I start with an overview of these topics in the first chapter. Chapters two and three then describe investment banks (the sell-side) and the institutions that manage people's money (collectively known as the buy-side) in detail.###The latter half of the book focuses more on the actual jobs within these financial institutions. Chapter four provides detailed descriptions (overview, career potential, key factors, pro & cons) for most of the typical roles. It also includes a job compatibility scoring system that should help individuals figure out which roles they are best suited for. Chapter five is dedicated to quants. It discusses who quants are, theory versus practice, essential quantitative concepts, and specific roles where quantitative skills are required or highly desired.###Chapter six, the last chapter, provides a variety of useful tips and insights focused on landing the right job and then succeeding once you get your foot in the door. In the context of landing the right job, I discuss internships, advantages of advanced degrees, job searches, resumes and cover letters, follow-up, interview techniques, job offers, and more. I then discuss 'on the job' topics that will help you navigate the internal politics and move you along your career path. I give particular focus to what I label 'the fundamental theorem of the bonus system' which can help you maximize your compensation and promotion. Lastly I discuss strategies for career mobility since many people prefer jobs other than their own.

Operations in Financial Services establishes a framework for this research area from an operations management perspective. The first section presents an introduction and provides an overview of the topic. The second section establishes links between the current state of the art in relevant areas of operations management and operations research and three of the more important aspects of operations in financial services - (i) financial product design and testing, (ii) process delivery design, and (iii) process delivery management. The third section focuses on the current issues that are important in the financial services operations area. These issues center primarily on mobile online banking and trading in a global environment. The fourth section discusses operational risk aspects of financial services. The final section concludes with a discussion on research directions that may become of interest in the future.

The financial services industry is constantly changing and you needto respond Change is a constant in the financial services industry (FSI). Thequestion is, "What should you do to survive?" Whether you work inor sell to the industry, you'll benefit from the in-depth insight,professional knowledge, and practical tools found in J.K. LasserPro Survival Skills in Financial Services. Advanced Praise for J.K. Lasser Pro Survival Skills in FinancialServices "The challenges of surviving and succeeding in the financialservices industry have never been greater. . . . J.K. Lasser ProSurvival Skills in Financial Services provides a practical guide todealing with the tough realities of change. The result is anenjoyable, down-to-earth, and interactive resource that providesthe knowledge, skills, and human understanding to deal with theforces of change." -Keith T. Darcy, Executive Vice President, IBJ Whitehall Bank &Trust Company "This book will help my staff work through the most difficulttransition in the financial services industry. . . . Julian speaksin a nontechnical, light-handed style to every member of my staff.. . . He draws on his relationships with some of our industry'smost important leaders to reinforce his logical and practical viewson how to get through the day, the year, and the decades ahead. Hisbook is crisp, easy reading from cover to cover. But his sectiontitled 'Survival Skills Greatest Hits' must be committed to memory.It will be the core of my survival strategy for the rest of mycareer. I can't wait to put this book in the hands of my wholestaff." -John Adams Vaccaro, CFP, CLU, President, Westport ResourcesInvestment Services, Inc. Don't get left behind in the whirlwind of change impacting thefinancial services industry. Pick up J.K. Lasser Pro SurvivalSkills in Financial Services and take control of your professionallife within this dynamic and challenging business environment.

From the author of the Vault Guide to the Top 50 Banking Employers, now in its 9th edition, this Guide profiles 55 employers, including American Express, AIG, Capital One, Fidelity, FleetBoston, GE Capital, Prudential, Vanguard Group, and Visa. The inside scoop on what it's like to work and what it takes to get hired there. Based on interviews and surveys of actual employees.