Financial Careers

Scotland has a thriving, internationally respected financial services industry. It currently ranks as the fifth largest in Europe and as the biggest in the UK outside London. In the last five years over 60,000 new jobs have been created in the business and financial sectors in Scotland. This means that currently around 5% of all Scottish jobs exist in the financial services area; with over 80% of these being based in Edinburgh and Glasgow where the main Scottish strengths in banking, insurance, pensions, investment management/operations and corporate finance are prevalent.

The size of the industry in Scotland, its worldwide reputation, the outstanding companies based here and the quality of life on offer, make a career in Scotland’s financial services sector highly respected and sought after. Change Recruitment Group on this site can help with career opportunities in the industry, as can other specialist firms listed along with them in the SFS Yearbook: eFinancialCareers, Hudson, Joslin Rowe and Odgers Ray and Berndtson.

http://www.sfsyearbook.com/jobs.htm

SFS Business

Welcome to the SCOTTISH FINANCIAL SERVICES YEARBOOK website.
The current edition of this independent publication was published in December 2007 and is widely recognised as THE most comprehensive reference source available on the companies and the people who operate in Scotland’s financial services sector. The circulation is spread throughout the financial and business communities in Scotland and the UK with additional copies also sent to major financial districts throughout the world. The current edition includes special articles on banking, insurance, fund management and professional services by renowned Scottish business writers Kenny Kemp and Ian Fraser.

http://www.sfsyearbook.com/index.htm

Who's Who

Who are the key people who make it all happen in Scotland’s financial services sector? Who are the main players in the companies operating in the industry? Who are they and what exactly do they do? Our who’s-who section will tell you that and more. Their education, their career positions, their hobbies, a picture and even perhaps their date of birth! Over 30 pages of personal details on key contacts are included in the 2007-08 edition.

http://www.sfsyearbook.com/whoswho.htm

SFS Portfolio of Companies

Find out all you want to know about the banks, insurance companies, fund managers, lawyers, accountants, the professional institutions and the industry suppliers etc. Who can advise you? What services do they provide? Who are the key contacts? How do I contact them? You’ll find all this information in our “Portfolio”. All the main companies are profiled and listed alphabetically, within their appropriate business category, with their contact details, the main services they provide and the names of their key people right at your fingertips.

http://www.sfsyearbook.com/portfolio.htm

As 2008 slides into the past many of us will not be unhappy to see the back of it. Certainly it has been a tough year by any standards. The global financial market has seen turbulent times, but will come through it. Powerful forces have taken steps to ensure that it does.

Scotland has seen its Edinburgh banking foundations rocked like never before. However, as one of the world’s leading financial centres our reputation, honesty and sound professional business sense will prevail. The financial sector is no different to anywhere else. Our bankers now know the reality of “the only thing that stays the same is that everything changes”. CHANGES indeed. We cannot stand still. Many amongst us have been through this before and come out the other side stronger. The Scottish businessman is resilient. Adversity is not an unfamiliar enemy of his. He knows that new doors will be opening in 2009. New opportunities will surface and those who are ready will profit.

Good staff, business relationships and excellent customer service skills will be key in 2009. These are inherent to the Scottish business community. We are renowned for them throughout the world. A leading Scottish business figure last week reminded me of Oscar Wilde’s words “we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars”. Perhaps a tad over-dramatic for the Insider’s liking, but I see the relevance. Reach up Scotland!

Best Wishes to you all at Christmas and New Year

The Insider