Financial Services

Graduates of the Lake Area Technical College Financial Services program are prepared for a wide range of careers across the financial sector. The program blends classroom instruction with hands-on learning and credited internships, resulting in consistently high placement rates.

Students choose from three specialized options—Agri-Financial Services, Business Accounting, or Consumer Financial Services—each aligned with specific career paths in accounting, banking, lending, insurance, investing, real estate, and business operations.

Graduates commonly find employment in roles such as Ag lender, loan officer, accounting assistant, payroll specialist, tax preparer, insurance agent, personal banker, bookkeeper, financial advisor, staff accountant, appraiser, portfolio manager, property manager, business manager, project coordinator, and customer service representative, among many others.

Because the program builds a strong foundation in accounting, finance, customer service, and business operations, graduates gain transferable skills that apply across industries. This versatility allows students to advance in their current organizations, move between sectors, or pursue new career opportunities as the workforce evolves.

Yes. The Financial Services program at Lake Area Technical College emphasizes hands-on learning with the same tools used by today’s employers. All students gain experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.

Students in accounting-focused options also work extensively with QuickBooks Online, tax preparation software such as TaxSlayer, payroll systems, and other industry-standard financial tools. Through applied projects, students prepare financial records, analyze data, process payroll and taxes, and solve real-world business scenarios—ensuring they graduate confident, skilled, and career-ready.

The Financial Services program is designed to be flexible and accessible for students with diverse schedules and responsibilities. The associate degree can be completed in as little as 20 months when taken full time, but many students choose a part-time option to balance work, family, or career transitions.

All students complete the same core coursework during the first year. In the second year, students select one of the three Financial Services options. Some students choose to complete multiple options, which may extend program length depending on course load and prior college credits.

Courses are offered on campus and online, allowing students to create a customized plan that fits their goals. Students are encouraged to meet with a Financial Services instructor to develop a personalized schedule.

Yes. The Financial Services program is intentionally designed for students with no prior finance or accounting background. Courses begin with foundational concepts and build skills step by step.

At the same time, the program is ideal for students who already have experience in finance or business and want to earn a degree, formalize their skills, advance their careers, or expand their opportunities. This dual approach makes the program accessible, supportive, and valuable for learners at any stage.

No specific math background or prior coursework is required to be successful in the Financial Services program. While students do work with numbers, the focus is on organizing, analyzing, and communicating financial information, not advanced mathematics.

Success in the program is built on skills such as problem solving, attention to detail, critical thinking, and teamwork. The curriculum is structured to teach concepts and tools clearly and progressively, making it approachable for beginners and valuable for experienced students alike.

All Financial Services students complete 180 or 360 internship hours in a professional setting related to their career goals. Internships may be in accounting, banking, lending, insurance, payroll, tax, or other financial services roles.

The program works individually with each student to identify internship placements that align with their interests. Students already working in the financial services industry may have their current job approved for internship credit, allowing them to build on existing experience while completing program requirements.

This flexible, career-focused approach ensures every student gains meaningful, employer-valued experience before graduation.

Financial Services students receive personalized, ongoing support from acceptance through graduation and beyond. Instructors also serve as faculty advisors, allowing for consistent guidance throughout the program.

Support includes orientation, group meetings, required midterm conferences, and additional progress meetings as needed. Advisors help students plan schedules that balance academics, work, and family responsibilities.

Students also have access to free tutoring and campus-wide student services. Career support is built into the program, with assistance securing internships and continued job leads and guidance after graduation. The program also maintains articulation agreements with four-year institutions for students who wish to continue toward a bachelor’s degree.

All Financial Services courses are available on campus and online, allowing students to complete the program fully in-person, fully online, or in a hybrid format.

For Accounting option students who prepare tax returns, this requirement may be completed on campus or in the student’s local community, offering additional flexibility while still meeting program standards.

Lake Area Technical College provides personalized, ongoing advising and career support for Financial Services students from the moment they are accepted into the program—and that support continues well beyond graduation. Financial Services instructors also serve as faculty advisors, allowing for consistent, one-on-one guidance throughout each semester. This close connection helps advisors truly understand each student’s goals and provide individualized academic, personal, and career support.

Advisors work with students to build a course schedule that fits their lives, whether they are attending full time, part time, working, or balancing family responsibilities. Structured support includes new student orientation, a program-wide group meeting at the beginning of the fall semester, and a required midterm conference to review progress and plan upcoming coursework. Students and instructors may also schedule additional meetings at any time during the semester as needed.

Beyond advising, students have access to a full range of Lake Area Tech student services, including free tutoring and academic support resources designed to promote success and build confidence.

Career development is a core component of the program. Students receive assistance securing internships aligned with their interests and career goals, and after graduation, faculty continue to share job leads, professional opportunities, and guidance as graduates advance in the financial services field.

Finally, the Financial Services program maintains articulation agreements with multiple colleges and universities, allowing graduates to seamlessly transfer credits and continue toward a bachelor’s degree if they choose.