How to Write SOP for Accounting and Finance with Sample SOP

“Numbers are the language of business; students, the eloquent speakers.” - Robert Johnson

Since I was young, I’ve been surrounded by the world of numbers because of my family’s background. My father worked as an investment banker, and my mother had a successful career as a chartered accountant. During my school days, my mother used to take me to her office where I interacted with her colleagues. While interacting with her colleagues, I got exposed to how analyzing finances can give insights into the well-being of a company. I found it fascinating how examining financial statements helps to understand a company’s condition and predict market patterns. This fascination sparked my interest in accounting and finance which led me to pursue a Bachelor of Accounting and Finance.Following the path of my parents, I also aspire to pursue a career in the field of accounting and finance, I aim to become a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for global financial giants like Barclays, Citibank, etc. Another reason why I want to pursue a career in the finance field is because of my passion for helping people. A person's or business's financial decisions are very likely to influence their entire future, and I'd like to take the responsibility of helping them make the right choices that lead to their growth.My bachelor's introduced me to the concepts of Financial management and systems, corporate accounting, and business economics. So, to learn more about these concepts, and further advance my knowledge of the field, I decided to pursue an MSc in Accounting and Finance, UK.

Academic excellence and perseverance have been the cornerstones of my educational journey, which is evident from my 9 CGPI in my Bachelor's in Commerce. My undergraduate course provided me with knowledge of core finance concepts like financial accounting, business economics, international finance, management accounting, and many more, which acted as the building blocks for my journey. During the final semester, I worked on a project on Ratio Analysis of PepsiCo and Coca Cola which involved conducting an in-depth comparison of the two MNCs by calculating financial statement ratios to gain deeper insights into the performance of the companies. During the project, I learned the skills of identifying market structures, understanding and relating information from financial statements, and employing risk management. After the completion of my degree, I got the opportunity to intern at Morningstar India Ltd, where I worked in the portfolio management team. There, I assisted in the preparation of standard operating procedures for effective operating controls. From covering the basics of the Portfolio management scheme, how it works, the business model, and industry regulations to researching different products and mutual funds types, business models, ecosystems, etc. In a short time, I gained operational knowledge of managing portfolio business and was instrumental in validating and opening investor accounts as well as tracking execution according to desired objectives. My experience during my internship taught me how to work in teams, fostered critical thinking, helped me become a better communicator, and improved my decision-making.

Apart from gaining hands-on industry experience, the internship made me think beyond the classroom curriculum, focusing on complex financial systems. My brief industry experience through internship and my academic pursuits have instilled a desire to gain deeper insights into the financial world. For the success of any business, treading a delicate balance in financial decisions requires an understanding of market trends, in-depth business analysis, and financial acumen. I believe that a Masters in Finance and Accounting will empower me with financial tools and strategies like Corporate Finance and Asset Markets, Accounting, Strategy and Control, Management Accounting for Decision Making, and many more.

In the short term, I aim to widen the scope of my knowledge and skills by undertaking the international study program at LSE and then working for an investment and finance company as a finance manager. The research-based and market-focused curriculum at LSE will aid me in my long-term goal of pursuing a career in financial management and strategy analysis. In the long term, I aim to work with global financial companies like Barclays, Citibank, etc. as CFO or finance director, and make sustainable financial decisions. I believe a Masters in Finance and Accounting from the London School of Economics and Political Science will be the best option for me to help me achieve these goals. The university is famous for its leading-edge education in finance and economics. Also, I look forward to joining LSE’s Systemic Risk Centre and Financial Markets Group and learning from leading finance researchers. I am especially drawn towards the options to take up courses in Portfolio Management, Financial Engineering, Risk management in financial markets, Corporate investment, and Financial Policy. Additionally, the professional development program at LSE will enable me to gain a foothold in the industry with application advice, CV workshops, and an opportunity to network with recent alumni. I am keen to experience the diversity of the student experiences at LSE, I aim to join the “93% club” and work towards transforming society by supporting students through skill workshops, networking events, and employability training.I wish to add to the rich fabric of the student body at LSE opening myself to novel ideas, new influences, and new ways. After completing my education, I aim to join the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) NGO to help underprivileged children by teaching them basic mathematics and finances.

"Know what you own, and know why you own it." — Peter Lynch

I understood the importance of financial literacy fairly early on in life; due to the lack of adequate planning in managing the costs of commodities and no professional experience in managing finances, our family-run business went bankrupt. Though the turmoil of the event affected us deeply, we were able to recover because of our years of savings. However, the event proved to be a deciding point, as soon after, I developed a keen interest in understanding how businesses are valued and began to gravitate toward its financial management. Due to the financial conditions of our family, I primarily relied on YouTube to familiarise myself with financial concepts. As I gained more knowledge, I began to teach the basics of Finance and Accounting at eVidyaloka, a nonprofit organization. The experience made me realize how profoundly I felt about the discipline and helped me conclude the decision to pursue a career in the finance field. I plan to obtain an MBA degree in finance and then secure a position as a financial manager and equip myself with the knowledge and skills attained from working in a business environment. Once I gain enough experience in my profession and build a qualified network, I aim to start my own private equity and consultancy firm I am confident that my existing knowledge and strong command of mathematical concepts and quantitative aptitude because of my undergraduate degree coupled with my passion for learning and growing in the field of finance, will aid me on this journey.

I obtained my undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from GITAM University. The course of my education predominantly focused on establishing and honing my ability to apply mechanical engineering principles to design, manufacture, and maintain mechanical systems. My inclination into the discipline of Finance actively commenced during my Bachelor’s degree, when I came across the ‘Engineering Economics and Management subject’ offered in the third year. The subject extensively explained concepts like managing fixed and variable costs, balancing ledgers, and calculating depreciation rates in assets, amongst others. To gain deeper insights into the field, I decided to pursue online courses on Coursera in “Finance and Accounting Specialisation,” and “Financial and Quantitative Modelling for Analysts Specialisation,” offered by Wharton Online, University of Pennsylvania. These courses provided me with knowledge of Corporate finance, financial accounting, using spreadsheets to map and predict data, and understanding financial and quantitative models. As required by my course, I opted to advance my knowledge under a project on “Discounted Cash Flow Modelling”. The project involved forecasting the growth of a company in the coming five years for which I used historical financials to calculate equity and enterprise value as well as created free cash flow using Excel. In the final year of my undergraduate, I joined eVidyaloka, a nonprofit organization, and started teaching the basics of Finance and Accounting, I also conducted career workshops and skill development camps for underprivileged students. During my time at the NGO, I was able to develop my interpersonal skills, work more efficiently with teams, and understand the importance of each member’s contribution to achieving desirable results.

Even though, my educational journey was fulfilling, the thought of pursuing engineering as a career option didn’t bring me joy. Also, as I started working for the NGO, my inclination to the discipline of finance became more obvious.So, to create a career in the field of finance, I decided to pursue an MBA in finance from Schulich School of Business - York University. From the MBA I hope to gain knowledge in applying and developing financial instruments, implement risk management schemes, and become capable of financial and investment management.

After completing my education, I aim to secure the position of financial manager for an investment and finance company.In the years to come, once I have gained enough experience and insights into how businesses operate and built a qualified network, I plan to start a private equity and consultancy firm.I believe an MBA in Finance from the Schulich School of Business will help me build a strong network and also provide me with a comprehensive knowledge of financial management. The university is famous for its 17 areas of specialization, and flexible study options that allow students to switch between full- and part-time enrolment. Also, it allows students to complete their MBA in just eight months with its advanced standing option, which I believe will be a great option for an international student like myself.One of the cornerstones of the university is that it combines classroom learning with real-world experience through its two-term strategic consulting project where students work with clients on real business problems and solutions. This experience will provide me with a great opportunity to practically apply my knowledge in real-time scenarios while learning from the best in the world.I believe my knowledge of the basics of financial accounting and passion for learning and growing in the field coupled with my strong foundation in mathematical concepts and quantitative aptitude will prove an asset to the institution’s glory.I also wish to continue being a part of eVidyaloka and employ my skills in spreading financial awareness and literacy among the students of my country.