Gone are the days when working in finance meant sitting in front of a computer from 9 am to 5 pm and inputting values into an Excel sheet, not seeing any real impact of your work. Finance jobs today require more from people than just being good with numbers. They also give back more than solely the job security and mundane routine usually associated with these professions. The financial sector of Bangladesh has seen significant changes and innovations over the past few years. This has made finance a popular career choice for many young people.
"Contributing to the economic development of rural Bangladesh and providing financial services to the unbanked population of our country has given me a sense of fulfilment. We have taken it as a challenge to shift the urban banking facilities to rural areas and reach the milestone of establishing a financial kiosk in every village in the country," says Suman Roy, a first assistant vice president (FAVP) working in the Post Office Agent Banking of Bank Asia Limited. He believes that the youth of Bangladesh are hard workers and risk-takers who generate innovative ideas, making them invaluable assets for the financial sector of the country.
Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have influenced the lives of millions of people living in low-income households in Bangladesh for nearly four decades. They have played a critical role in dispersing loans and capital to those who are unable to access mainstream banking and financial services owing to income and credit constraints. MFIs give their employees the opportunity to work closely with rural communities and build lasting relationships that connect them to the roots of Bangladesh. The satisfaction of actually being of help to many small and medium entrepreneurs and playing a role in the financial liberation of women in remote, underprivileged areas often attracts people to work for organisations like BRAC and SAJIDA Foundation, which provide microfinance services to micro, small and medium entrepreneurs all over the country.
Technology has always been a central aspect of the financial sector. Still, recent times have seen the growth of the fintech industry, an amalgamation of finance and technology, on a level not seen before. The introduction of bKash by BRAC Bank Limited revolutionised the fintech industry of Bangladesh and was soon followed by many banks introducing their own mobile financial service (MFS) offerings. Additionally, IT and software firms are now working more closely with banks to facilitate the provision of financial services. One such company is Hishab Limited, a Dhaka-based IT company with a global presence. Hishab recently partnered with a commercial bank to roll out voice banking services, which will allow customers to carry out transactions through conversation, without the need for any app or even the internet. Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Hishab, Fayadan Hossain, said that the agile culture of the fintech industry creates a lot of growth opportunities that can be utilised by people looking to progress in finance careers. When asked which aspect of his work motivated him the most, he said, "In this fast-paced industry, not being on edge will leave you behind the crowd. The thrill of having to come up with innovative solutions, to challenges from competitors, and the satisfaction of being able to serve millions of customers through my work are what motivate me the most."
Of course, the monetary and fringe benefits associated with finance jobs are attractive, and so are the growth opportunities. These are often the only reasons why people take up a career in finance, but there is much more to this seemingly narrow career path. Today, working in the financial sector enables you to think beyond your own self and actively give back to your country and community through your everyday work. You can see the visible impact that your job has on the lives of the people who are not even directly connected to you, which is inspiring. Banks, MFIs and fintech companies are working towards a more inclusive and integrated financial ecosystem, and the youth of this country can prove to be an essential part of this change.
The writer is a third-year BBA student at the Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka.
tasmiah.disha@gmail.com