1. They usually cover the areas of markets, customers, finance, operations,
communication and information technology, and business policy and strategy.
Jobs directly related to your degree
• Management consultant - provides objective advice, expertise and
specialist skills with the aim of creating value, maximising growth or
improving the business performance of their clients. Consultants operate
across a variety of services and are primarily concerned with the strategy,
structure, management and operations of an organisation.
• Systems analyst - examines existing business models and flows of data to
help decide whether new IT solutions will improve productivity and
efficiency. Working closely with the client, they design an appropriate
improved IT solution and give costings.
• Chartered accountant - provides trustworthy information about financial
records. They may be involved in financial reporting, audit/assurance, tax,
corporate finance or accounting systems and processes. Generally, they
play a strategic role by providing professional advice, aiming to maximise
profitability on behalf of their client or employer.
• Chartered management accountant - analyses business performance and
provides financial information to set policy necessary for the planning and
financial protection of organisations. They establish and maintain financial
policies and management information systems. The role combines
accounting skills with business management skills.
• Insurance underwriter - decides whether to accept insurance cover
applications and what the terms of acceptance are. They assess a risk
according to the likelihood of a claim being made by weighing up a
number of factors and asking for detailed information from prospective
clients (policyholders).
• Logistics and distribution manager - manages the supply, movement,
distribution and/or storage of goods and materials. They handle
processes involved in a supply chain, liaising with a variety of parties
including suppliers of raw materials, manufacturers, retailers and
consumers.
• Corporate financier - provides investment and advisory services to client
companies, institutions and governments. They manage corporate,
strategic and financial opportunities, including mergers, acquisitions,
issuing bonds and shares, and overseeing initial public offerings (IPOs).
Jobs where your degree would be useful
• Marketing executive - develops marketing campaigns that promote a
product, service or idea. The role includes planning, advertising, public

2. relations, organising events, product development, distribution,
sponsorship and research.
• Human resources officer - develops, advises on and implements policies
for the effective deployment of an organisation’s human resources (HR).
The work may involve recruitment and selection, training and
development, employee relations and discipline, pay and conditions,
departmental restructuring and diversity.
• Advertising account executive - works for an advertising agency that
serves outside clients, acts as a link between client and agency and
coordinates the client’s campaigns.
• Retail merchandiser - responsible for retail product planning and works
closely with buying teams to forecast trends, plan stock levels and monitor
performance.
• Banker - provides financial services to individual and business customers
including bank accounts, cash handling, cheque clearing, credit and debit
cards, loans and mortgages, foreign currency, and insurance products.
• Sales executive - maximises sales of a company’s goods or services in
designated markets at home or overseas. Opportunities include those in
FMCG, consumer durables (e.g. clothing, footwear, domestic equipment,
toys) and in specialist industrial supply.
Business studies : Career areas
More in this section
1. Your skills
2. Job options
3. Career areas
4. Further study
5. Contacts and resources
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Case studies
• Business development manager: Edward
In 2010, over 64% of business studies graduates were in paid employment,
suggesting this broad course of study is vocationally relevant.
Business studies graduates are found in almost every employment sector but
around 20% typically enter employment in commercial, industrial and public
sector management. Commercial roles exist in all types of industry, including:

3. • retail;
• distribution;
• hospitality and leisure;
• financial institutions;
• sales;
• marketing;
• production management.
Around 17% of business studies graduates enter employment in business and
finance professional roles. Relevant opportunities include those in:
• professional services (chartered accountancy, business consultancy, law
and tax);
• finance (banking, city markets, insurance);
• major industrial and manufacturing organisations.
Significant numbers of business graduates also head for the media sector and
take up administrative positions.
Where are the jobs?
Industries as diverse as chemicals, utilities, fashion, health, grocery and
construction all require functional managers with a clear understanding of
systems, efficiency and operational issues. Apart from the private sector,
suitable opportunities also exist in the public and voluntary sectors.
Graduate training schemes offered by large employers frequently focus on
‘commercial’ roles and may be of interest to business studies graduates.
Many give experience in several departments but others encourage
specialisation from the outset. These recruitment schemes are advertised in
directories available free from your careers service as well as online.
For more detailed information about the range of options, check out the
following employment areas:
• Accountancy and business services - covers areas such as audit, tax,
insurance, actuarial and accounting.
• Banking, investment and insurance - includes employers such as
investment and commercial banks, building societies, independent
financial advisers, broking firms, insurance and reinsurance companies.
• Human resources and recruitment - roles may be based either in-house or
in a consultancy position.

4. See industry insights for further information on possibilities in other
employment areas.
Statistics are collected every year by the Higher Education Statistics Agency
(HESA) to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These
can be a useful guide but, in reality, with the data being collected within just
six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a
course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they
want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment
commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out what do
graduates do? and your degree...what next?