TRACEY SHELTON

A woman works at the headquarters of Acleda Bank, which will hire 1,700 graduates this year.

The steady expansion of the banking and microfinance sector has created a wealth of job opportunities for graduates with the right qualifications.

In an indication of the demand throughout the sector, Acleda bank will employ 1,700 graduates this year and the same number in 2009, says the deputy head of its human resources division, Chhorn Sopha.

“Employment prospects are good because there are a lot of banks and microfinance enterprises in our country,” Sopha said.

CamEd, which in 2003 established the first training program in Cambodia for certified public accountants, says many of its CPA program students find jobs in the financial sector.

“I can say that 90 percent of students at our school get jobs with banks or with some NGOs, either as graduates or undergraduates,” said Sam Sokuntheary, the office manager at CamEd’s CPA training program.

Among those keen to pursue a career in the industry is Um Sophea, 21, a third-year student at the Royal University of Law and Economics, where she is majoring in finance and banking.

“I decided to study finance and banking because I see that a job in a bank will be a good career move; there are so many banks now,” said Sophea, who hopes to eventually have her own financial enterprise.

Du Sreyroth, a fourth year student at the National University of Management, said she had wanted to study medicine but opted instead for a career in banking after being advised that job opportunities were better in the financial sector.

Her classmate, Chea Prakoth, 23, has also set his sights set on a job in the financial sector.

“There are many banks and financial enterprises in our country; that’s why I want to study banking and finance,” he said. “It is a good job opportunity.”