Industries

Professional & Financial Services

The Driving Force of Industries

From brand consultancies to insurance firms to global human resources advisors, Howard County is a thriving environment for the professional services industry. Grow or build your business in a community that supports some of the nation’s leading agencies, upheld by thousands of highly educated individuals from nationally and regionally recognized institutions like Howard Community College and the University of Baltimore. The state of Maryland is also home to a variety of trade organizations such as the Maryland Bankers Association and the American Marketing Association.

Quick Links

Professional & Financial Services Employers

Whether you’re exploring financial services jobs or want to start your career in technical support, Howard County is home to hundreds of back office employment possibilities.

Ironmark USA logo Ironmark USA website link Ironmark USA
Fulton Bank logo Fulton Bank website link Fulton Bank
Dewberry Engineers, Inc. logo Dewberry Engineers, Inc. website link Dewberry Engineers, Inc.
Capitol Concierge, Inc. logo Capitol Concierge, Inc. website link Capitol Concierge, Inc.
W.R. Grace & Co. logo W.R. Grace & Co. website link W.R. Grace & Co.
Spectrum HR Solutions logo Spectrum HR Solutions website link Spectrum HR Solutions

A business man sits at a desk and uses his laptop in an office room with a whiteboard behind him.

Professional Talent that Moves the Needle

Find talent or cultivate your own with several higher education institutions in Howard County. Howard Community College offers an associate degree in accounting, which lays the foundation for students aiming to join the ranks of prestigious banking firms and government agencies within the region. The county’s talent pool is further enriched by neighboring institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, UMBC and the University of Baltimore, renowned for its programs in business & entrepreneurship and communication & design. And as one of the top-ranking colleges for accounting and finance, the University of Maryland further enhances Howard County’s expertise in professional services.

A tall windowed office building rises into a blue sky.

The Foundation for Thriving Business

A thriving landscape of firms specializing in financial and professional services awaits in Ellicott City, Columbia and across Howard County. W.R. Grace — a worldwide industry leader specializing in chemical materials and value-added products — partners with enterprises to enhance their manufacturing processes. Ironmark USA also plays a significant role in fostering business growth, with end-to-end services that include creative services, digital marketing and printed media. Overall, nearly a quarter of a million individuals were employed within the professional and business services sectors in the Columbia-Baltimore metro area in 2023.