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Career Cluster : Finance


Planning, services for financial and investment planning, banking, insurance, and business financial management.

Workforce Region(s): All States Combined

*** = Insufficient Data

Finance Pathways

Pathway Description: Accounting encompasses careers that record, classify, summarize, analyze, and communicate a business's financial information/business transactions for use in management decision-making. Accounting includes such activities as bookkeeping, systems design, analysis, and interpretation of accounting information.

Secondary CTE Courses

Business Essentials: This is a core course designed to give students an overview of the Business, Marketing and Finance Career Cluster occupations. Students will develop an understanding of how academic skills in mathematics, economics, and written and oral communications are integral components of success in these occupations. Students will examine current events to determine their impact on business and industry and legal and ethical behavior, acquire knowledge of safe and secure environmental controls to enhance productivity, determine how resources should be managed to achieve company goals, and identify employability and personal skills needed to obtain a career and be successful in the workplace. As students learn about different types of business ownership, they will interpret industry laws and regulations to ensure compliance, identify principles of business management, and analyze business practices to determine ethics and social responsibilities. This may be taught as a career exploration course in conjunction with other foundation Career Cluster courses.

Business Technology Applications: This course is designed for those students who have not mastered knowledge and skills related to business technology applications prior to entry into high school. This course is designed to assist students in developing technological proficiencies demanded by business. The course should utilize various forms of input technologies to cover units of instruction that may include word processing applications, spreadsheet development, database management, presentations, electronic communications, Internet services, graphics, desktop publishing, basic Web design, interactive media, ethical issues, and careers in business using technology applications. Students may be given opportunities for completing industry certification requirements.

Business Finance: This course introduces principles of business and management. Topics include basic business principles, personal finance, management, systems thinking, quality management and the current environment for business in a multinational marketplace.

Accounting: This course includes knowledge and skills necessary for success in modern accounting environments. The content includes generally accepted accounting procedures, production and interpretation of financial statements, maintenance of payroll, maintenance of accounts payable and receivable, billing, data entry and maintenance of accounting files.

Other Courses and Elective Activities: Local student organization activities, including public speaking, record keeping and work-based experiences.

Pathway Description: Primarily concerned with accepting deposits, lending funds, and extending credit, banking services include cash management, short-term investments, mortgages and other loans, credit cards, and bill payment. Banking services are delivered via a number of different institutions, from commercial banks (the largest group) and other traditional means (savings and loans associations, credit unions, and local banks) to newer ventures through insurance companies, brokerage houses, and the internet.

Secondary CTE Courses

Business Essentials: This is a core course designed to give students an overview of the Business, Marketing and Finance Career Cluster occupations. Students will develop an understanding of how academic skills in mathematics, economics, and written and oral communications are integral components of success in these occupations. Students will examine current events to determine their impact on business and industry and legal and ethical behavior, acquire knowledge of safe and secure environmental controls to enhance productivity, determine how resources should be managed to achieve company goals, and identify employability and personal skills needed to obtain a career and be successful in the workplace. As students learn about different types of business ownership, they will interpret industry laws and regulations to ensure compliance, identify principles of business management, and analyze business practices to determine ethics and social responsibilities. This may be taught as a career exploration course in conjunction with other foundation Career Cluster courses.

Business Technology Applications: This course is designed for those students who have not mastered knowledge and skills related to business technology applications prior to entry into high school. This course is designed to assist students in developing technological proficiencies demanded by business. The course should utilize various forms of input technologies to cover units of instruction that may include word processing applications, spreadsheet development, database management, presentations, electronic communications, Internet services, graphics, desktop publishing, basic Web design, interactive media, ethical issues, and careers in business using technology applications. Students may be given opportunities for completing industry certification requirements.

Business Finance: This course introduces principles of business and management. Topics include basic business principles, personal finance, management, systems thinking, quality management and the current environment for business in a multinational marketplace.

Accounting: This course includes knowledge and skills necessary for success in modern accounting environments. The content includes generally accepted accounting procedures, production and interpretation of financial statements, maintenance of payroll, maintenance of accounts payable and receivable, billing, data entry and maintenance of accounting files.

Fundamentals of Banking and Financial Services: Students will develop skills related to banking and related services as they perform teller functions to process customer transactions, maintain cash drawer to reflect teller activity, process documents to facilitate the check collection processes, and respond to requests to provide other customer services. Students will employ technical skills to perform data processing functions as well as to perform new account functions. Technical and people skills will be practiced as students perform lending functions including aiding the customer to determine the best loan alternative, processing the customer's application to include appropriate information, and processing the loan to complete transactions.

Advanced Accounting: This course includes partnership accounting, adjustments in inventory control systems, budgetary control systems and further enhancement of accounting skills.

Other Courses and Elective Activities: Local student organization activities, including public speaking, record keeping and work-based experiences.

Pathway Description: The business finance function in a company is to manage policy and strategy for (and the implementation of) capital structure, budgeting, acquisition and investment, financial modeling and planning, funding, dividends, and taxation.

Secondary CTE Courses

Business Essentials: This is a core course designed to give students an overview of the Business, Marketing and Finance Career Cluster occupations. Students will develop an understanding of how academic skills in mathematics, economics, and written and oral communications are integral components of success in these occupations. Students will examine current events to determine their impact on business and industry and legal and ethical behavior, acquire knowledge of safe and secure environmental controls to enhance productivity, determine how resources should be managed to achieve company goals, and identify employability and personal skills needed to obtain a career and be successful in the workplace. As students learn about different types of business ownership, they will interpret industry laws and regulations to ensure compliance, identify principles of business management, and analyze business practices to determine ethics and social responsibilities. This may be taught as a career exploration course in conjunction with other foundation Career Cluster courses.

Business Technology Applications: This course is designed for those students who have not mastered knowledge and skills related to business technology applications prior to entry into high school. This course is designed to assist students in developing technological proficiencies demanded by business. The course should utilize various forms of input technologies to cover units of instruction that may include word processing applications, spreadsheet development, database management, presentations, electronic communications, Internet services, graphics, desktop publishing, basic Web design, interactive media, ethical issues, and careers in business using technology applications. Students may be given opportunities for completing industry certification requirements.

Business Finance: This course introduces principles of business and management. Topics include basic business principles, personal finance, management, systems thinking, quality management and the current environment for business in a multinational marketplace.

Accounting: This course includes knowledge and skills necessary for success in modern accounting environments. The content includes generally accepted accounting procedures, production and interpretation of financial statements, maintenance of payroll, maintenance of accounts payable and receivable, billing, data entry and maintenance of accounting files.

Other Courses and Elective Activities: Local student organization activities, including public speaking, record keeping and work-based experiences.

Pathway Description: The insurance industry, which exists to protect individuals and businesses from financial losses, delivers services that transfer risk from an individual or business to an insurance company.

Secondary CTE Courses

Business Essentials: This is a core course designed to give students an overview of the Business, Marketing and Finance Career Cluster occupations. Students will develop an understanding of how academic skills in mathematics, economics, and written and oral communications are integral components of success in these occupations. Students will examine current events to determine their impact on business and industry and legal and ethical behavior, acquire knowledge of safe and secure environmental controls to enhance productivity, determine how resources should be managed to achieve company goals, and identify employability and personal skills needed to obtain a career and be successful in the workplace. As students learn about different types of business ownership, they will interpret industry laws and regulations to ensure compliance, identify principles of business management, and analyze business practices to determine ethics and social responsibilities. This may be taught as a career exploration course in conjunction with other foundation Career Cluster courses.

Business Technology Applications: This course is designed for those students who have not mastered knowledge and skills related to business technology applications prior to entry into high school. This course is designed to assist students in developing technological proficiencies demanded by business. The course should utilize various forms of input technologies to cover units of instruction that may include word processing applications, spreadsheet development, database management, presentations, electronic communications, Internet services, graphics, desktop publishing, basic Web design, interactive media, ethical issues, and careers in business using technology applications. Students may be given opportunities for completing industry certification requirements.

Business Finance: This course introduces principles of business and management. Topics include basic business principles, personal finance, management, systems thinking, quality management and the current environment for business in a multinational marketplace.

Accounting: This course includes knowledge and skills necessary for success in modern accounting environments. The content includes generally accepted accounting procedures, production and interpretation of financial statements, maintenance of payroll, maintenance of accounts payable and receivable, billing, data entry and maintenance of accounting files.

Principles of Marketing: This course introduces the general principles and practices underlying the processes of marketing. Specific content includes the role of marketing in society, working with customers, product management, channels of distribution, pricing concepts, promotional activity, research and planning within an economic and business environment.

Fundamentals of Insurance Services: Students will develop skills related to insurance services including life, health and property insurance as they gain product knowledge of the industry. Students will examine the characteristics of insurance policies and learn insurance terminology used to explain insurance risks and benefits. Students will examine characteristics to distinguish between policy types and coverage, and create and/or complete insurance-related documents to process information. This course presents effective techniques used to gather client information. Students will utilize available techniques to serve customers including providing timely, accurate information to meet customer needs and utilize a process to resolve customer complaints or answer their questions effectively.

Other Courses and Elective Activities: Local student organization activities, including public speaking, record keeping and work-based experiences.

Pathway Description: The securities and investments industry consists of brokerage firms, investment banks, and stock exchanges, all of which support the flow of funds from investors to companies and institutions. Related services include financial planning, asset management, hedge fund management, and custody services.

Secondary CTE Courses

Business Essentials: This is a core course designed to give students an overview of the Business, Marketing and Finance Career Cluster occupations. Students will develop an understanding of how academic skills in mathematics, economics, and written and oral communications are integral components of success in these occupations. Students will examine current events to determine their impact on business and industry and legal and ethical behavior, acquire knowledge of safe and secure environmental controls to enhance productivity, determine how resources should be managed to achieve company goals, and identify employability and personal skills needed to obtain a career and be successful in the workplace. As students learn about different types of business ownership, they will interpret industry laws and regulations to ensure compliance, identify principles of business management, and analyze business practices to determine ethics and social responsibilities. This may be taught as a career exploration course in conjunction with other foundation Career Cluster courses.

Business Technology Applications: This course is designed for those students who have not mastered knowledge and skills related to business technology applications prior to entry into high school. This course is designed to assist students in developing technological proficiencies demanded by business. The course should utilize various forms of input technologies to cover units of instruction that may include word processing applications, spreadsheet development, database management, presentations, electronic communications, Internet services, graphics, desktop publishing, basic Web design, interactive media, ethical issues, and careers in business using technology applications. Students may be given opportunities for completing industry certification requirements.

Business Finance: This course introduces principles of business and management. Topics include basic business principles, personal finance, management, systems thinking, quality management and the current environment for business in a multinational marketplace.

Accounting: This course includes knowledge and skills necessary for success in modern accounting environments. The content includes generally accepted accounting procedures, production and interpretation of financial statements, maintenance of payroll, maintenance of accounts payable and receivable, billing, data entry and maintenance of accounting files.

Other Courses and Elective Activities: Local student organization activities, including public speaking, record keeping and work-based experiences.


The Perkins crosswalk of educational programs of study to occupations identifies a number of programs relevant to this career cluster:

30.1601 Accounting and Computer Science.
52.0301 Accounting.
52.0302 Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping.
52.0303 Auditing.
52.0304 Accounting and Finance.
52.0305 Accounting and Business/Management.
52.0399 Accounting and Related Services, Other.
52.0801 Finance, General.
52.0803 Banking and Financial Support Services.
52.0804 Financial Planning and Services.
52.0806 International Finance.
52.0807 Investments and Securities.
52.0808 Public Finance.
52.0809 Credit Management.
52.0899 Finance and Financial Management Services, Other.
52.1304 Actuarial Science.
52.1601 Taxation.
52.1701 Insurance.
52.1908 Business and Personal/Financial Services Marketing Operations.

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