The Finance Cluster prepares learners for Careers in financial and investment planning, banking, insurance and business financial management. Occupations in the Finance cluster would involve keeping track of money. You might provide financial services to a business or individual. Your work could include maintaining records or giving advice to business executives on how to operate their businesses. You could work in financial planning, banking, insurance and business financial management.
Learning finance skills often appeals to people who take an interest in how products are marketed and sold to consumers; who enjoy tracking financial details; who are not afraid to take a risk when making decisions; who appreciate the fact that working with numbers provides information that helps businesses succeed or fail; and who are comfortable spending time indoors, working closely with others to get the job done.
Students interested in this cluster need to focus their high-school academics around courses in math, English, marketing and business. Computer literacy is a necessary skill in this cluster.
Some entry-level jobs, such as a bank teller, can be entered directly from high school. In most cases, however, employers prefer to hire those who have had additional education after high school.
Pathways are grouped by common knowledge and skills required of occupations in these career fields. There are three pathways in the Finance Career Cluster:
Learners need a solid background in math, science and technical skills. Education and training can be obtained in high schools, technical colleges, two-year community colleges, four-year colleges and career-technical schools or institutes.
Students who want to pursue any of these career pathways should investigate the following Cincinnati Public School school:
The Academy of Finance Program at Withrow International High School has a college connection that students are encouraged to follow which is called Tech Prep. Students work with local colleges that connect them to college services and credits that will help them succeed in the field of entrepreneurship and financial-management careers. In addition, students take college-level technical classes that are on target with college courses.
Successful completion of this program, while still in high school, affords the students the opportunity to participate in internships and earn college credit. These benefits are evident in the reduction of college-tuition costs and hours of repetitive study.