Accountant - Public finance
Career outlook for accountant - public finance
UK Salary Ranges
Entry-level
£22,000
£22,000
Experienced
£65,000
£65,000
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 help a public organisation to manage its finances so taxpayers know that their money is being spent properly.
You would work for organisations like:
- Government departments
- Local councils
- Housing associations
- Charities
- The NHS
- Universities
Your key tasks would be financial reporting and control. You’d need a logical and methodical approach.
You would:
- Prepare financial records and statements
- Estimate the cost of new projects
- Review budgets and investments
- Check spending and cash flows
- Allocate money to projects and departments
- Analyse the effectiveness of services to the public
- Manage the organisation's financial systems
- Do internal audits
You would also do presentations to managers and the board that runs the organisation to explain more about its financial situation and management.
It would be useful to know about public policy and business.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
UK employment status
Full-time
75%
Part-time
15%
Self employed
10%
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Find a jobTop skills
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- 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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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
Most entrants have a degree (SCQF level 9/10).
Entry to an accounting degree requires a minimum of four Highers at BBBC or relevant HNC/HND or work-based qualifications.
You can also get in to the role by obtaining work-based qualifications such as a Modern Apprenticeship in Accountancy (SCQF level 5/6/8).
Some companies run accountancy trainee programmes; entry requires qualifications at SCQF levels 4 to 6 to include at least three Highers (SCQF level 6).
With a degree in accountancy, economics, mathematics, business, finance or law you can get exemptions from some parts of the professional qualifications.
Some accountants start their careers as Accounting technicians.
Useful subjects
- English (required by many courses and employers)
- Maths (required by many courses and employers)
- Accounting
- Economics
- Statistics
- Business subjects
- ICT subjects
You will also need
Once in the job you must gain professional qualifications and register with one of the accountancy professional bodies.