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Management accountant

Alternative titles for this job include Chartered management accountant

Management accountants look after a company's finances and find ways to improve profitability.

Average salary (a year)

£22,000 Starter

to

£55,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 39 a week

You could work

between 8am and 6pm

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a management accountant

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • combining work with studying a professional qualification

University

You could do a degree in any subject and then apply for graduate schemes that offer training towards a professional accountancy qualification.

Subjects that show you have excellent numeracy and analytical thinking skills may be particularly useful.

If you want to take a more focused route to a graduate scheme, you could take an accountancy related degree, like:

  • accountancy
  • accounting and finance
  • business and management

Some courses may give you exemptions from some of the professional accountancy training modules.

It's useful to check entry requirements with companies you are keen to work with. They may have a preference for applicants with an accountancy related degree.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could gain your professional qualifications through apprenticeships. You could take your first steps to a career as a management accountant by starting off on:

  • a professional accountancy technician higher apprenticeship
  • an accountancy and taxation professional higher apprenticeship

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

Other Routes

To become an accountant, you must complete training with one of the professional accountancy bodies, even if you have a degree.

All professional bodies include some company financial management in their training. However many management accountants choose to qualify with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

Some management accountants choose to train with the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA). You can take the business management modules instead of audit and taxation options in the final part of your training.

The Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA) offers training in financial management. You can complete technician, associate and fellow training with IFA. They do not offer chartered training.

More Information

Career tips

Look out for ways to get experience in a company's finance department or with a financial organisation. There are opportunities to do:

  • insight days
  • work shadowing
  • Easter and summer holiday schemes
  • virtual and workplace internships
  • year in industry placements

These opportunities will give you an insight into the role and help you make contacts in the sector.

Small and medium-sized company work experience schemes may be less competitive than those in large national companies.

Further information

You can find out more about working and training in accountancy from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of economics and accounting
  • maths knowledge
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • administration skills
  • analytical thinking skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • ambition and a desire to succeed
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You could:

  • prepare financial statements and accounts
  • monitor spending 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
  • audit departments in your company
  • prepare company reports for outside organisations
  • manage a team of accountants
  • oversee the company's payroll, credit control and bookkeeping systems

Working environment

You could work at a client's business or in an office.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a senior manager, finance director or the chief executive of a company. You could also become a self-employed management consultant.

You could offer accountancy services in private practice if you register with CIMA.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Finance and Commercial Apprenticeship

  • Wage: £19,700.00 Annually
  • Location: Poole

Finance Higher Apprentice

  • Wage: £17,500.00 Annually
  • Location: 2 Bolton Close, Isleport Business Park, Highbridge

Courses In England

CIMA Operational Level 5

  • Provider: DN COLLEGES GROUP
  • Start date: 02 September 2024
  • Location: Doncaster

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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