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Seven of the most popular roles for accountants and finance professionals.
Where can an accounting career take you?
07 June 2024
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4 minute read
The role of accountants and finance professionals is constantly changing. Professionals who can wring meaningful insights from complex data, help with organisational decision-making and contribute to strategy and planning are in high demand.
Diverse roles are open to accountants at all stages of their career journey. Here are just seven of the most popular roles in accounting and finance.
1. Financial accountant
Financial accountants provide high-level financial accounting support. This includes processing month-end journals, completing balance sheet reconciliations, assisting in the preparation of annual accounts, and supporting interim and year-end audits.
With the right skills, qualifications and experience, it’s possible to progress to financial accountant from an entry-level accounting role.
2. Financial analyst
Financial analysts are responsible for the financial planning and analysis of a company, enabling the company to make well-informed, commercial decisions. They also help to determine the best use of resources to achieve business objectives.
With the right skills, qualifications and experience, it’s possible to progress to financial analyst from an entry-level accounting role.
Become a CPA with our globally-recognised accounting designation and set yourself up to make an impact to lead the future. Apply now.
3. Finance business partner
Finance business partners act as trusted advisers within a business. They create sustainable value through deep business understanding and partnering with the business leaders.
With the right skills, qualifications and experience, it’s possible to progress to finance business partner from a financial analyst role.
4. Financial controller
Financial controllers oversee all financial aspects of an organisation. They have a particular focus on the strategic leadership of financial planning and analysis, forecasting, budgeting, internal controls, financial reporting to management and the board of directors and compliance with regulations.
With the right skills, qualifications and experience, it is possible to progress to financial controller from a financial accountant or a finance business partner role.
5. ESG consultant
ESG consultants are responsible for providing specialist advice and recommendations as to how organisations can embed environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices into their finance activities. These activities include strategy, external reporting, assurance, procurement, risk management, compliance, governance, reporting, project management and more.
With the right skills, qualifications and experience, it is possible to progress to ESG consultant from a financial analyst role.
6. Public practitioner
Public practitioners provide public accounting services. These services cover a wide range of financial, commercial and taxation activities for clients large and small, ranging from individual taxpayers to large businesses.
With the right skills, qualifications and experience, it is possible to become a public practitioner following on from a finance business partner or financial controller role.
7. CFO
The chief financial officer provides strategic leadership of an organisation’s financial operations, governance, strategy, corporate treasury and capital. This includes providing financial stewardship and ensuring the smooth running of finance operations balanced with shaping direction and role modelling change and transformation so the entire organisation can evolve.
To progress to this role from a financial controller role you’ll need to strengthen your management accounting skills in order to create value for your business, be highly aware of the risks present in the business and to develop frameworks and mitigation strategies and have a keen understanding of self-presence and its impact on others in driving performance.
With the right skills, qualifications and experience, it’s possible to progress to CFO from a financial controller role.
Become a CPA with our globally-recognised accounting designation and set yourself up to make an impact to lead the future. Apply now.
The full version of this article originally appeared in CPA Australia’s INTHEBLACK magazine. ©2024 CPA Australia Ltd.
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