The availability of finance skills in Australia and the quality of Australian education in finance are among the country’s strengths. Australia is ranked fifth in the world – above the United Kingdom and United States – and is ranked first in the Asia-Pacific for the availability of finance skills in the country's workforce in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2009.

Australia's education system produces high calibre finance graduates with excellent theoretical and practical training in finance. A number of global finance firms have established training partnerships with Australian providers and actively recruit graduates from Australian institutions.

Australia’s key role as a higher education provider to the Asia Pacific ensures that course curricula and content retain an international focus.

New South Wales generates more than 44% of Australia's finance and insurance industry income in value added terms. The State is the location of 31 of the top 50 finance companies by revenue in Australia and Sydney is the base of more than 83% of foreign and domestic banks in Australia.