Career Advice for an Accounting Manager

An Accounting Manager supervises and delegates accounting tasks to ensure the department’s efficiency and accuracy.

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How to Become an Accounting Manager

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become an Accounting Manager

Should you wish to work as an Accounting Manager you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for an Accounting Manager

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration.
  • Microsoft Office and financial software proficiency.
  • Management or leadership experience.
  • AAT, ACA, or ACCA professional certification.

Key Responsibilities for an Accounting Manager

  • Interviewing, hiring, and training accounting staff.
  • Delegating the department’s duties and ensuring their efficient completion.
  • Ensuring financial and accounting processes are in line with current regulations.
  • Overseeing major projects and regular duties such as month-end and year-end reporting.
  • Ensuring financial and accounting records are accurately maintained.
  • Analysing financial data - creating and presenting reports to senior managers and stakeholders.

What to expect as an Accounting Manager

Successful Accounting Managers are detail-oriented, ethical, and have strong leadership and management skills. An Accounting Manager works in the accounting department and ensures financial compliance without sacrificing accuracy and efficiency. Excellent mathematical, communication, and supervisory skills are essential for the job.

Recommended Accounting Manager Jobs

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How to get Accounting Manager Jobs

Our advice on how to get an Accounting Manager job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete an Accounting Manager application. If you have not held an Accounting Manager position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held an Accounting Manager role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Accounting Manager CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Accounting Manager application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become an Accounting Manager in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become an Accounting Manager 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be an Accounting Manager and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Accounting Manager experience.

How to get Accounting Manager Experience

What does it take to be an Accounting Manager? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Accounting Manager jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Accounting Manager through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be an Accounting Manager Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Accounting Manager part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Accounting Manager or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Accounting Manager freelance work

If you have impressive Accounting Manager qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.