Financial products

The different types of instruments that apply to the management of cash flow that are available on the market, such as shares, bonds, options or funds.

financial instruments
financial product
fiscal products
monetary product
financial instrument
financial securities
monetary products

knowledge

cross-sector

Financial products is an essential knowledge of the following occupations:

Actuarial consultant: Actuarial consultants analyse, manage and provide guidance on financial impact of risks. They can work in fields related to insurance, pension, investment, banking, healthcare etc. Actuarial consultants apply technical and statistical models and theories to give strategic, commercial, and financial advice.
Securities analyst: Securities analysts perform research activities to gather and analyse financial, legal and economic information. They interpret data on the price, stability and future investment trends in a certain economic area and make recommendations and forecasts to business clients.
Investment manager: Investment managers administer the portfolio of investments that a company has. They perform close follow up of the investments looking for the most profitable solutions represented in financial products or securities. They analyse behaviour in financial markets, interests rates, and the companies’ position in order to advise on risks and profitability for the client.
Credit adviser: Credit advisers offer guidance to customers related to credit services. They assess the customer’s financial situation and debt issues arisen from credit cards, medical bills and car loans in order to identify optimal credit solutions for customers and also provide debt elimination plans to adjust their finances if needed. They prepare qualitative credit analyses and decision-making material in respect of defined customers in conformity with the bank’s strategy on credit policy, ensure the credit quality and follow up on the performance of the credit portfolio. Credit advisers also have expertise in debt management and credit consolidation.
Energy trader: Energy traders sell or buy shares of energy, sometimes from different sources. They analyse the energy market and investigate trends in prices to decide when to buy or sell shares and ensure the most profit. They make calculations, and write reports on energy trades procedures, and make predictions on the development of the market.
Bank teller: Bank tellers deal most frequently with customers of the bank. They promote the banks products and services, and provide information about the customers personal accounts and related transfers, deposits, savings etc. They order bank cards and checks for the customers, receive and balance cash and checks and ensure compliance with internal policies. They work on client accounts, deal with payments and manage the use of vaults and safe deposit boxes
Financial markets back office administrator: Financial markets back office administrators perform administrative tasks for all the transactions registered in the trading room. They process transactions involving securities, derivatives, foreign exchange, commodities, and manage the clearing and settling of trades.
Investment adviser: Investment advisers are professionals who offer transparent advice by recommending suitable solutions on financial matters to their clients. They advise on investing pension or free funds in securities such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds to customers. Investment advisers serve individuals, households, families and owners of small companies.
Stock trader: Stock traders use their technical expertise of financial markets performance to advise and make recommendations to asset managers or shareholders for a profitable investment strategy, keeping in mind the company’s performance. They use stock market trading operations and deal with a wide array of taxes, commissions and fiscal obligations. Stock traders buy and sell bonds, stocks, futures and shares in hedge funds. They perform detailed micro- and macroeconomic and industry specific technical analysis.
Financial trader: Financial traders buy and sell financial products such as assets, shares and bonds for private clients, banks or companies. They monitor the financial markets closely and aim to maximise profit and to minimise risk through their transactions.
Insurance product manager: Insurance product managers set and direct the development of new insurance products, following the product lifecycle policy and the general insurance strategy. They also coordinate the marketing and sales activities related to the specific insurance products of the company. Insurance product managers inform their sales managers (or the sales department) about their newly developed insurance products.
Securities underwriter: Securities underwriters administer the distribution activities of new securities from a business company. They work in close connection with the issuing body of the securities in order to establish the price and buys and sells them to other investors. They receive underwriting fees from their issuing clients.
Stock broker: Stock brokers act on behalf of their individual or institutional clients in order to buy and sell stocks and other securities. They are in close contact with their clients and ensure that what they buy or sell through the stock exchange market is according to their clients’ wishes. Stock brokers undertake analyst research to make recommendations to their clients and expand their client base through various methods.
Investment fund management assistant: Investment fund management assistants provide clients with financial planning advice on financial products and serve as the main contact point for new and old clients. They assist and perform preparatory work in the creation and administration of funds and help with the implementation of fund management decisions made by the portfolio or fund manager.
Investment analyst: Investment analysts undertake research to make informed recommendations to fund managers. They research investments globally but depending on the nature and field of their employer they can specialise in fields like retail, infrastructure, energy, banking and financial services. They focus on financial and economical information such as the political and economic developments that can impact financial markets, the financial performance of the target companies and use the interpretation of data from different sources to understand how it affects investment decision making.
Investment fund manager: Investment fund managers implement and monitor the investment strategy of a fund. They manage the fund’s portfolio trading activities and supervise the financial, securities, and investment analysts in charge to perform research on the investments and then make buying and selling recommendations. They make decisions on when to buy or sell the assets included in a portfolio. This manager works in a variety of settings such as banks, companies and stockbroking companies; working closely with the investment analyst. This occupation manages strategy and does not always work with relations between shareholders or investors.
Financial broker: Financial brokers undertake financial market activities on behalf of their clients. They monitor securities, financial documentation of their clients, market trends and conditions and other legal requirements. They plan buying and selling activities and calculate transactions costs.
Securities broker: Securities brokers create the connection between the investors and the available investment opportunities. They purchase and sell securities on their clients’ behalf, based on their expertise in the financial markets. They monitor the performance of their clients’ securities, assessing their stability or speculative tendencies. Securities brokers calculate the securities’ price and place orders.
Banking products manager: Banking products managers study the market of banking products and adapt the existing ones to the characteristics of this evolution or create new products to suit clients needs. They monitor and evaluate the performance indicators of these products and suggest improvements. Banking products managers assist with the sales and marketing strategy of the bank.
Mutual fund broker: Mutual fund brokers handle and raise cash from shareholders in order to invest them in stocks, bonds and money-market securities. They engage with investors by making inquiries about the client’s mutual funds account status and transaction procedures. Mutual fund brokers make use of their expertise in investment theory, market experience, and research to pick the most approapriate investments for their fund portfolio. They ensure that the mutual fund’s operations are in compliance with legal requirements.
Corporate banking manager: Corporate banking managers offer advice on a broad range of financial goods and services such as securities services, credit services, cash management, insurance products, leasing, information on merges and acquisitions and capital markets activities, to institutions and organisations.
Relationship banking manager: Relationship banking managers retain and expand existing and prospective customer relationships. They use cross-selling techniques to advise and sell various banking and financial products and services to customers. They also manage the total relationship with customers and are responsible for optimising business results and customer satisfaction.

Financial products is optional for these occupations. This means knowing this knowledge may be an asset for career advancement if you are in one of these occupations.

Foreign exchange trader: Foreign exchange traders buy and sell foreign currencies in order to secure a profit on fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. They undertake technical analysis of economic information (market liquidity and volatility ) to predict the future rates of currencies on the foreign exchange market. They trade on their own name or for their employers.
Financial auditor: Financial auditors collect and examine financial data for clients, organisations and companies. They ensure the financial data is properly maintained and free of material misstatements due to error or fraud, that it adds up, and functions legally and effectively. They review lending and credit policies or numbers in databases and documents, evaluate, consult and assist the source of the transaction if necessary. They use their review of the client’s financial governance as assurance to give testimony to the shareholders, stakeholders and board of directors of the organisation or company that all is up to par.
Financial planner: Financial planners assist people dealing with various personal financial issues. They are specialised in financial planning, such as retirement planning, investment planning, risk management and insurance planning, and tax planning. They advise a strategy tailored to the client’s needs. They ensure the accuracy of bank and other financial records while maintaining a customer-orientated approach and following ethical standards.
Middle office analyst:
Middle office analysts work in the treasury of a financial company, ensuring compliance with company policy and legal legislation, providing research and analysis on financial matters, measuring risk and supporting operations in the front office.
Commodity broker:
Commodity brokers act as intermediary between buyers and sellers of movable and immovable property such as raw materials, livestock or real estate. They negotiate prices and receive a commission from the transactions. They research market conditions for specific commodities in order to inform their clients. They make bid offers and calculate the cost of transactions.
Financial manager: Financial managers handle all the matters in reference to the finance and investments of a company. They manage financial operations of companies such as the assets, liabilities, equity and cash flow aiming to maintain the financial health of the company and operative viability. Financial managers evaluate the strategic plans of the company in financial terms, maintain transparent financial operations for taxation and auditing bodies, and create the financial statements of the company at the end of the fiscal year.
Securities trader: Securities traders purchase and sell securities such as stocks, bonds and shares on their own account or on their employers account based on their expertise in the financial markets. They monitor the performance of the securities traded, assessing their stability or speculative tendancies. Securities brokers calculate the securities price and place orders. They record and file all securities transactions and take care of their financial documents.
Bank account manager: Bank account managers advise prospective clients on the type of banking accounts suitable for their needs. They work with clients to set up the bank account and remain their primary point of contact in the bank, assisting with all necessary documentation. Bank account managers may recommend their clients to contact other departments in the bank for other specific needs.
Policy manager: Policy managers are responsible for managing the development of policy programs and ensuring that the strategic objectives of the organization are met. They oversee the production of policy positions, as well as the organization’s campaign and advocacy work in fields such as environmental, ethics, quality, transparency, and sustainability.
Post office counter clerk: Post office counter clerks sell products and services at a post office. They assist customers with picking up and sending mail. Post office counter clerks also sell financial products.
Personal trust officer: Personal trust officers monitor and administer personal trusts. They interpret trust and testamentary documentation accordingly, interact with financial advisors to define the investment goal for the achievement of trust objectives, coordinate the purchase and sale of securities with account executives and review clients’ accounts regularly.
Bank manager: Bank managers oversee the management of one or several bank activities. They set policies which promote safe banking operations, ensure the economic, social and commercial targets are met and that all the bank departments, activities and commercial policies are in compliance with legal requirements. They also manage employees and maintain an effective working relationship among the staff.
Regulatory affairs manager: Regulatory affairs managers are in charge of regulatory and legal affairs in several sectors such as the healthcare, energy and banking industries. They oversee the development of products and services from inception to market release by making sure everything complies with the local legislation and meets regulatory requirements. They have experience in the different phases of regulatory processes and act as an interface between business and government legislation or regulatory boards.
Financial analyst:
Financial analysts conduct economic research and elicit valuable analyses on financial matters such as profitability, liquidity, solvency, and asset management. They provide recommendations on financial matters for decision-making processes. Financial analysts work in both the public and the private sector.
Financial fraud examiner: Financial fraud examiners undertake anti-fraud investigations including financial statement irregularities, securities fraud and market abuse detection. They manage fraud risk assessments and prepare forensic reports including the analysis and verification of evidence. Financial fraud examiners liaise with regulatory bodies.
Insurance broker: Insurance brokers promote, sell and provide advice on various insurance policies such as life insurance, health insurance, accident insurance and fire insurance to individuals and organisations. They also work as intermediaries between individuals or organisations and insurance companies, and negotiate the best insurance policies for their clients, arranging insurance cover where needed. Insurance brokers engage with new prospective clients, provide them with quotes for their policy needs, assist them in the signing of new insurance contracts and propose specific solutions to their specific problems.
Risk manager: Risk managers identify and assess potential threats and risks to a company, and give advice on how to deal with them. They create preventive plans to avoid and reduce risks, and put plans in place for when the company is threatened.
Back office specialist: Back office specialists perform operation of administrative and organisational nature in service of running a financial company. They process administration, take care of financial transactions, perform supportive tasks and other diverse back office operations in coordination with other parts of the company.
Bank treasurer: Bank treasurers oversee all aspects of the financial management of a bank. They manage the liquidity and solvency of the bank. They manage and present current budgets, revise financial forecasts, prepare accounts for audit, manage the bank’s accounts and maintain accurate record-keeping of financial documentation.
Pension scheme manager: Pension scheme managers coordinate pension schemes in order to provide benefits in retirement to individuals or organisations. They ensure the daily deployment of the pension fund and define the strategic policy for developing new pension packages.
Commodity trader: Commodity traders use negotiation techniques to sell and buy physical goods and raw materials such as gold, cattle, oil, cotton and wheat on the trading floor. They receive and implement purchasing and selling instructions and negotiate the terms of sale and delivery of commodities. Commodity traders do research about market conditions of specific commodities, their price trends and demand in order to inform their employers, they make bid offers and calculate the cost of transactions.
Human resources manager: Human resources managers plan, design and implement processes related to the human capital of companies. They develop programs for recruiting, interviewing, and selecting employees based on a previous assessment of the profile and skills required in the company. Moreover, they manage compensation and development programs for the company’s employees comprising trainings, skill assessment and yearly evaluations, promotion, expat programs, and general assurance of the well-being of the employees in the workplace.
Foreign exchange broker: Foreign exchange brokers buy and sell foreign currencies on behalf of their clients in order to secure a profit on fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. They undertake technical analysis of economic information such as market liquidity and volatility, to predict the future rates of currencies on the foreign exchange market.
Futures trader: Futures traders undertake daily trading activities in the futures trading market by buying and selling futures contracts. They speculate on the futures contracts’ direction, trying to make a profit by buying futures contracts they foresee to rise in price and sell contracts they foresee to fall in price.
Investment clerk: Investment clerks assist with the administration of investments such as stocks, bonds or other securities and perform general clerical duties in the investment sector of a financial company.

References

1. Financial products – ESCO