Accountant
Katie (27) Management Accountant, BBC Worldwide
How did you get into the job? I'd always had quite a numerical brain, and I had a degree in Economics, which gives you a good background of the bigger picture. I had no relevant experience as such, so started at the bottom and worked up.
Job history: After managing a bar and travelling round Australia, I started in a very junior role as a Credit Controller. As it was a small company I got experience in all different areas. I started my CIMA exams to prove I was serious then looked for a job that would fund the rest of my studying. The BBC had to take a chance on me as I didn't have much experience, but I did have plenty of enthusiasm. Two years and lots of exams later I got a promotion to Management Accountant!
Best/worst bits: The best bits are using my brain every day; making a difference to the business; salary potential; knowing that accountants will always be needed so there's job security; and the sense of achievement I get from my role.
On the downside, certain times of year are always a nightmare and can restrict holidays; it can be time-pressured but you still need a high degree of accuracy; and you are often stuck at your desk all day. Some people's initial reaction can be to avoid accountants, which isn't always nice!
Advice for wannabees: Be committed. It takes about four years to study and qualify from the beginning. Apply somewhere that provides study support or an inflated salary as training is expensive. Be prepared to do lots of basic reconciliation work at the beginning and work your way up.
CV essentials to do the job: You need to be quite logical and methodical, and an employer may require you to be studying towards a professional qualification. Any finance experience can be helpful, as can a good grasp of Microsoft Excel. Some experience of the industry you're going into is also a bonus.
Application process
There are lots of ways into working in finance, and if you are happy to stay at a fairly junior level and your employer doesn't require it, you won't need to take any exams. Some jobs require you to be qualified or part-qualified already, and some companies will happily sponsor you through qualification with one of these bodies.
If you are a recent graduate, you could apply to one of the big accountancy specialist firms who will give you training and experience. There are plenty of specialist recruitment agencies for accountant at all different levels, and you will certainly be in demand once you are qualified.
Job description
There are so many different types of accounting that there is no one job description to fit them all. As a Management Accountant like Katie, you would have responsibility for forecasts, budgeting and financial planning for a wide range of areas of the business. Some accountants specialise in tax, auditing, professional finance or the public sector.
You will gain a broad commercial awareness, and probably experience accounts preparation, auditing, information technology, taxation and client management.
Skills/experience/training
There are two main accounting bodies that run qualifications: The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), and The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Being a qualified accountant with one of these bodies makes you very employable.
CIMA is internationally recognised as providing high standards of business and financial management; holding the CIMA qualification does give you the cutting edge. To become a Chartered Certified Accountant you would need to qualify with ACCA, another very highly-esteemed international body. If you join an accountancy firm as a graduate they will almost certainly put you through the ACCA qualifications. Most accountants working in the public sector undertake training with a different association, The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
Personality/Who would it suit
To have a successful career in accounting you will have to be very committed to get through the three or four years of training and all the exams you will have to sit. Beyond that, it helps to be adaptable, a good communicator - you will find yourself working with people at a whole range of levels and in all different business areas - as well as detail-orientated, tactful, organised, honest and presentable.
Career prospects
Career prospects as an accountant are many and varied. From entry level working in a payroll department or accounts payable or receivable, through to being a fully-qualified accountant with any of the professional qualifications, there really are a whole range of roles. Qualified accountants tend to have their pick of jobs from specialist accountancy firms to in-house finance experts through to setting up shop and going self-employed.
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