One can easily switch from Accounting to Finance/Banking anytime in their career.

But it's harder to switch from Finance/Banking to Accounting later (unless you hold a professional accounting qualification).

Just do accounting and go into audit, sure got job for you

A diploma will get you no where. You need to go all the way for a professional qualification.Talk to an experienced accounting man to get better insights into the profession - no point getting half in and wasted your life there.

Technically banking falls in as part of finance so the comparison here is accounting or finance.

Normally it comes in a pair, as in Bsc in Accounting and Finance. But there is also times you see that people only do accounting, or only study finance. Like myself I'm a finance major but I do have accounting subjects as it can be said that you can't actually study finance without understanding accounting first (I'm leaving management and economics out of question).

And on thing to note that Finance could be considered as a quants heavy subject (eg financial economics, financial engineering),  but never for accounting.

I think it's better to find out what you like first then study it instead of thinking about a just incase plan (eg you were asking for career scope)

I'll assume you' don't have a degree, as you mentioned not completing diploma. you can always do ACCA for accounting or CFA for finance (of course there are other professional paper). But do keep in mind that you can't be a CFA candidate until you're at the final year of your degree, or with work experience (?) as this is CFA is considered as level 7 (masters level). You can start ACCA right after your pre-u.

I don't think I answered your question. But my tips are to study the course module, and see which attracts you the most. and keep in mind that whatever subject you study doesn't necessarily guarantee that you'll work in that field. like for example I've got alot of friends who studied in STEM ended up in the FAME industry. Lastly, go and do more research, on what does a bank/accounting firm do on a daily basis, the types of division /sectors, FO/BO and such. Google is helpful 😜.

Easier to switch = more new entrant = high competition. (my opinion, backed by no evidence)

I'm sure you can do it yourself by surfing those colleges' websites.

The higher level accounting papers are mostly on Advanced Tax, Corporate Reporting, Performance Management, Accounting Theory, etc.

The higher level finance papers are mostly on Portfolio Management, Derivatives, Investment, etc.

Usually both accounting and finance students will share the same subjects in the first and sometimes, the second year.

Why is that considered a risk? You're afraid you won't like it or what? I think 90% of people who enters a diploma/degree doesn't have past experience in accounting (same applies to any other subjects).

eg I could have maths English chemistry and bio for a levels but choose to do accounting in my degree etc.

If that's the case, you can always minimise and take calculated risk by reading a few accounting /finance textbooks and see if you've got interest in it.

Your searches are just barely touching the surface. Think about what you want to do in the future, and then start planning how to get there; instead of planning what to do now and see where it leads you to in the future.

And again, you don't have to have a finance background to enter the finance industry (especially IB) since you mentioned banking. not too sure about accounting. Why? Search it up.

I had taken EA during SPM too. EA for SPM it only cover more economics stuff rather than banking and finance. Actually Banking is not very difficult all is just read and memorize. I have some of my friends who are pure science during SPM but then take STPM account and there are do very well. I also met one or two of my course mate who are didn't have any basic of accounting but end up their CGPA are more better that mine. I'm had take SPM and STPM accounting. From your first post you didn't mention you are just finished SPM and took result or what. If you are just complete SPM you still need take pre-u course only can let you go for Degree. So you can use the one or one and half year during your pre-u to really find out what you want. During pre-u if you took and foundation in art/business or any pre-u course in art/business you can take accounting. Those are just basic accounting knowledge which have cover during SPM. so this can help you to prepare if you really want choose Accounting. My own opinion I will suggest you to take Accounting rather than Finance and Banking. Same go to my prior post Accounting is a professional course. Once you complete you come out need to do training to gain experience and also to take professional exam. Then you will become an professional Chartered Accountant. Remember accounting student can go to many fields even finance or banking field but Finance or banking student they only can't cross to audit/tax which need professional knowledge fields.

Sorry but accounting is very easy..