T he financial sector is one of the UK's largest and most successful. It employs over a million people and in 2018 it contributed £132bn to Britain's economy. Although a significant proportion of the industry is concentrated in London - which is, after all, a global financial centre - more than half of all those billions were generated outside the capital, so it's a truly nationwide industry with jobs available in every region. And while you might think of finance as high street banks and the stock market, in fact there's a wide range of careers to choose from in this sector, from accounting and financial planning to tax and investments. There's a lot of hard work required to get into the sector, but once there the rewards are good, with senior financial roles among the best-paid in the country. If you have a head for figures, read on to find a career that suits you. JOBS & CAREERS /// 277