accounting positions

Job and company review site Glassdoor has been busy travelling to the future to curate their top 25 jobs for 2018. The site aggregated the best professions in the UK by using the number of job openings, salary and the overall levels of job satisfaction. Today we take our pick of the bunch (hint – all are accounting positions) and give you a few insights into how you could land one yourself.

Audit Manager

Number three on Glassdoor’s list is the role of audit manager. Managerial jobs usually have a fair amount of responsibility; this is even more pertinent in an audit manager position, as you’ll likely be responsible for making sure the entire company is compliant when a large-scale external inspection of the company’s accounts comes around. You may be responsible for managing a group of auditors, and you’ll be the guiding voice behind the company’s short and long-term audit strategy. The audit manager must also make sure his/her team are up to speed on changes in government policy for financial reporting. No pressure then.

Fortunately, audit manager positions require experience, meaning it’s unusual to find an audit manager out of their depth.

How To Land the Position

As always, the skills needed for posts differ; however, successful candidates will need anything from two to four years of post-qualification auditing experience. Some job descriptions may even specify that the experience must be internal/external auditing only. Leadership skills are vital for the role as you’ll be managing accountants and auditors. Likewise, leadership will be needed to convince senior stakeholders of your audit strategy; communication is, therefore, essential for the position: you could be giving presentations to senior members of staff one day and discussing the impacts of the general data protection regulation on financial auditing the next.

Candidates will require anything from two years of industry-specific auditing experience for an audit manager role. A professional qualification is often necessary for the position – some job descriptions specify chartered accountancy. A portfolio demonstrating evidence of project management will be extremely beneficial in the application stage.

Business Analyst

Not strictly an accounting vocation but appropriate for those with a talent for looking beyond the numbers: business analysts provide companies with the data insights needed to plan, make and manage big and small changes. A good understanding of specific computer software is a must, as is the ability to look beyond the face-value meaning of raw data to pick up on industry trends.

Business analysts are responsible for using data modelling practices to survey various elements of a business. From the results, the business analyst then produces reports for relevant teams where they make suggestions as to where the company could improve or alter their current practices. Risk assessment of proposals will also be included in such reports, as will the process of implementing the suggested ideas.

As a business analyst, you could be responsible for communicating with teams across a company to get each on board with a proposal. Likewise, you’ll need to convince senior staff that spending more or changing their current strategy is a good idea. If your proposal is accepted, you may end up working alongside the project manager to ensure the plan is followed.

How to Land the Position   

A business analyst position encompasses a broad group of skill levels. Starting salaries can be anywhere in the £20,000 – £30,000 per year range; experienced business analysts can earn over £50,000 per year. Experience, therefore, is paramount to the seniority of the position you can expect to gain. Senior roles usually want to see candidates that have over five years of experience as a business analyst and are likely to specify candidates have an industry-specific background. You can gain a junior position with appropriate qualifications and enough relevant extra-curricular activity.

Qualifications for an entry-level business analyst are not as strict as you might think; higher education advisory site Prospects mentions that an undergraduate qualification in a subject that demonstrates analytical skills (history for example) could provide enough to land you a business analyst opening. Exhibiting an aptitude for analysis is key to being employed in the role. Once in a position, the only way is up! You’ll naturally begin to pick up on industry trends; similarly, you’ll quickly become adept at using the software needed for such posts. Sticking in a company or industry for several years is likely to be beneficial.

Looking to find your way into a particular role? An accounting qualification may go further than you think. Contact Aspiring Accountants today to find your pathway from accounting student to employee.

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