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Accountant - Management

Make sure a company keeps track of its money, bills and payments. Help the business grow and make a profit.

Also known as: management accountant, finance officer, budget manager, accounting officer

About skillsGetting in

About the job

Salary

Source: National Careers Service

Weekly

£577

Entry level

£1,154

Experienced

Monthly

£2,500

Entry level

£5,000

Experienced

Yearly

£30,000

Entry level

£60,000

Experienced

12,400

people are currently employed

High growth

700 more jobs in 5 years

These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics

What it's like

You would make sure the business you work for keeps track of all its money, pays its bills and is paid by its customers. You’d find ways that the company can grow and make bigger profits.

A single company would employ you as an in-house (internal) accountant.

You would:

  • prepare regular financial statements and accounts, such as profit and loss accounts

  • monitor spending, costs and budgets

  • analyse the company’s financial performance

  • forecast and plan future spending and profits

  • recommend ways to reduce costs and increase profits

  • make business decisions with other managers

  • do internal audits of various departments

  • give external auditors company reports and financial data

  • lead a team of accounting technicians and finance clerks

  • oversee the company's payroll, credit control and bookkeeping systems

You would need to have a good understanding of business. You also need to be able to clearly explain technical financial information.

Hours

You would normally work standard office hours, Monday to Friday. You may need to work overtime during busy periods, such as at the end of the financial year. Part-time work may be available.

Environment

You would be office-based.

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Related industries

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Top skills

Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!

It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.

Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:

  • understanding
  • analysing
  • time management
  • developing a plan
  • attention to detail
  • observation
  • working with numbers
  • problem solving
  • working with technology
  • verbal communication

Your skills are important

Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.

Discover skills

Getting in

Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.

You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.

Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:

  • Accounting

  • Business

  • Business in Practice

  • Economics

  • Mathematics

  • Skills for Work: Financial Services

  • Foundation Apprenticeship: Financial Services

  • Foundation Apprenticeship: Accountancy

  • Applications of Mathematics

You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.

You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.

Discover what's on offer at your school on  Apprenticeships.scot.

You would need either:

  • qualifications at SCQF level 4/5 and at least three Highers (SCQF level 6)

  • a degree (SCQF level 9/10) 

  • relevant work-based qualifications such as Modern Apprenticeship in Accountancy (SCQF level 5/6/8).

Entry to an accountancy Higher National Certificate (SCQF level 7) or Higher National Diploma courses (SCQF level 8) will require National 5s and one to two Highers.

To enter a degree will require National 5 qualifications and a minimum of four Highers at BBBC. Though you can apply to this job with any degree, with a qualification in accountancy, economics, mathematics, business, finance or law you can get exemptions from some parts of the professional qualifications.

Entry to Modern Apprenticeships vary between employers and level of entry but most Accountancy Modern Apprenticeships require Nationals (SCQF level 4/5) including Maths and English, plus one or more Higher (SCQF level 6) or equivalent qualifications.

Once in the job you'll need to gain professional qualifications through one of the accountancy professional bodies, and work towards Chartered Accountant status (SCQF level 11).

If you have completed an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Technician level or other professional accounting qualifications you may be exempt from some parts of the professional exams.

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