Australia has particular strengths in financial education and skills. Australia was recently ranked above the United Kingdom and the three largest Asian economies – Japan, China and Korea – for the availability of finance skills in the country's workforce by the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2007.

The 2007 IMD survey ranked Australia eighth in the world on the suitability of finance education to the needs of enterprises. Australia's education system produces high calibre finance graduates with strong, practical training in finance. Its experience in providing education to the Asia Pacific ensures that course curricula and content are internationally focused. Australia's strengths in finance education are well recognised, with a number of global finance firms establishing training partnerships with Australian providers and actively recruiting graduates with Australian qualifications.

New South Wales generates more than 44% of Australia's finance and insurance industry income. The State is the location of 28 of the top 50 finance companies by revenue in Australia and Sydney is the base of 80% of foreign and domestic banks in Australia.