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Accountant - Management

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Career outlook for accountant - management

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£22,000

Experienced

£55,000

Currently employed in Scotland

12,300

Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.

What's it 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 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.

Working conditions

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.

UK employment status

Full-time

75%

Part-time

15%

Self employed

10%

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Here are some of the skills needed for this job. Sign in to see how your skills match up.

  • Verbal communication
  • Working with technology
  • Problem solving
  • Working with numbers
  • Observation
  • Attention to detail
  • Developing a plan
  • Time management
  • Analysing
  • Understanding

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Getting in

Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Foundation Apprenticeships

Choosing a Foundation Apprenticeship as one of your subjects in S5 and S6 can help you get a head start with this type of job.

You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification (the same level as a Higher) plus valuable work placement experience and skills you can't learn in a classroom.

Interested? Find out what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.

Qualifications

You would need:

  • qualifications at SCQF level 4/5 and at least three Highers (SCQF level 6)
  • and/or a degree (SCQF level 9/10) 
  • and/or 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.

Useful subjects

  • English (often required by employers and courses)
  • Maths (often required by employers and courses)
  • Accounting
  • Economics
  • Statistics
  • Business subjects 
  • ICT subjects

You will also need

Once in the job you will 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.