Careers in Accounting and Finance

Dr Dan Herbert

Birmingham Business School

WHAT DO ACCOUNTANTS DO?

Great Businesses don’t just happen

There’s more to success than an idea:

Crowd funding

A Little Money

From Lots of People

Project Funded

Pebble

Average $150 each

Accounting Apprenticeships

Advanced Level 3 Competence QualificationHigher Level 4 Competence Qualification

and, in some cases, a knowledge-based qualification such as a Foundation Degree

Advanced Apprenticeships

http://www.cipfa.org/recruitment/apprenticeships

Higher Apprenticeships

www.facebook.com/icaewstartingpoint

Go to University

Traditional on campus degree– A broad training in accounting, finance

and business– 3 or 4 years– Excellent employability

Earn and Learn Degrees

About you

Strong academic background– AAB at A level or equivalent as a

minimum Knowledge about the profession

Analysis skills

It’s not all maths!

Communication and presentation

Business and commercial awareness

Careers

Accounting With a professional firm In industry In public sector Specialisms

– Audit– Tax

Finance Banking Corporate Finance Financial advice

Role of an accountant

AUDIT tasks you might find yourself doing

Reviewing financial accounts and data

Selecting samples of accounts for testing

Identifying staff and conducting interviews with them

about working practices

Update the client on risks and errors, and advising on the action they need to take

Preparing and submitting clear and concise audit reports

TAX tasks you might find yourself doing

Making sure the tax compliance process runs smoothly

Researching, analysing and interpreting changing tax law

Researching business issues that affect clients’ tax issues

Preparing and submitting tax returns

Helping clients understand their financial futures