Tips for newly qualified ACA’s

By Daniel Handley

Daniel Handley is a consultant within Handle Recruitment's finance division recruiting into the Music, Media, Entertainment and Lifestyle Brands sectors. He has 8 years Financial Recruitment experience, 5 spent managing a qualified & interim desk and now recruiting permanent positions to CFO level.

When it comes to making the daunting move out of practice into industry, your post-qualified accountancy career can take any number of paths. However getting the right first step is immensely important.  

The initial step into the industry can shape your post-qualified career, therefore I would always advise on keeping breadth in your role until you work out where your career is heading.  ACA’s are, on the whole technically competent but still require on-the-job experience in management accounting, budgeting, forecasting and planning. Obtaining this exposure whilst keeping the technical aspects until you know exactly where you are heading will ensure you don’t miss out on opportunities due to a lack of experience in a specific area.  

An accountant's role in a dynamic environment

By Martin Finch 

Martin is an experienced accountant with expertise in reporting in  UK GAAP and IFRS. Martin also has significant systems experience having implemented SAP at his current employer.   Prior to his current role he worked in public practice on a varied portfolio of clients ranging from PLCs to not for profit and charitable organisations.

In the current economic climate many companies and indeed the Government itself are more focussed than ever on operational costs. Accountants tend to be very comfortable recording, controlling and accounting for costs within the business but the value of the work completed by accountants and the potential for accountants to add value to a business often goes un-noticed. A focus removal of non value adding steps (and costs) from business processes will inevitably mean that unless accountants successfully adapt to be seen as value adding, at some point the accountant themselves will be the target for cost reductions.

Planning your accountancy job move in 2012

By Nik Pratap

Nik Pratap leads the professional services recruitment team and the National Lead Director for Hays Senior Finance. Nik has over twelve years’ experience of working in the qualified finance recruitment sector in Yorkshire and the North West.

Recent research from Hays found that two-thirds of the working population is likely to move on if they were offered a better job. If your resolution is to move jobs this year, then understanding the needs of employers will help you tailor your job search and stand out from the crowd.

The past year has seen a steady increase in demand for senior management in finance, especially in the blue chip and private equity backed sectors. There has also been an increased demand for Corporate Governance professionals, as organisations look for people who can manage the demands of increased regulation and to identify efficiency savings in internal systems and processes

Demand for both permanent and temporary Practice, Management and Commercial accountants has remained consistently high throughout the past year and demand for professionals with 0-3 years Post Qualified Experience (PQE) looks set to continue this year.

For employers who are able to take on new staff or replace empty posts, the most sought after quality is the ability to add value to a business as quickly and efficiently as possible. Demonstrating - through your CV and interview technique - how hiring you will benefit their business will boost your chances of securing a new role; and as any finance professional knows, using facts and figures to demonstrate your successes is crucial. 

Business partnering has been a popular buzzword in finance in recent years and this year finance professionals who can demonstrate an in depth understanding of business partnering will be in even greater demand. Employers are looking for professionals who can use their expertise in finance to drive change, show commercial acumen and have a creative approach to leveraging finance in a way that has a positive impact on the business. 

In addition to soft skills, technical ability remains important; demonstrating advanced Excel skills in particular – if you can use these skills to enhance systems and reporting at little cost you will be popular with employers.

Some regions are looking for specialists with expertise in a particualr are. For example, in the Midlands we have seen increased demand for specialists in FMCG and manufacturing. This is where working with a local specialist recruiter can give you the competitive advantage in your job search, and provide you with access to jobs and sectors you may not have previously considered.

Proving to a new employer that you can add value and help grow their business should help you on your way to crossing at least one resolution off your list this year.

 

Not sure what your next move should be or where the opportunities in your field are at their best? Feel free to leave your questions and comments below. 

Accountancy Market Update from Robert Half

By Russell Brown, Associate Director, Robert Half UK

Now may not seem like the ideal time to be job hunting but - despite the headlines - there are some bright spots for accounting and finance professionals. The economic uncertainty of the past few years has actually raised the profile of accountants, from back room bean counters to key players at the decision-making table.

Companies are focusing on central needs

The job market for accountants is outperforming other areas of the general job market, with companies hiring professionals to address growth initiatives and manage increasing workloads, often the result of understaffed departments. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who have not only solid technical accounting expertise but also the necessary commercial skills to improve efficiencies throughout the organisation, address budget concerns and drive new business opportunities. Companies need staff to manage and support these initiatives. 

Managing the costs of sickness absence in 2012

By John Richardson

John Richardson joined Alexander Lloyd in 2003. As a Senior Manager leading the Accountancy & Finance divisions he personally maintains a client database recruiting senior finance professionals within the Accountancy & Finance sector. He specialises in the recruitment of qualified level Financial Directors and Controllers for both blue chip and SME clients, and  niche roles such as tax/treasury and corporate finance and audit.

Sickness absence is a very well recognised issue within the work place today, with new reports coming out seemingly every week on the severity of the issue and the costs to the economy; £13bn at the last count.  However, less well known and documented, particularly in the UK, is the problem of sickness presenteeism.  Defined as the loss of productivity when employees come to work when they are unfit to do so and perform below par as a result of their illness, it is estimated that the cost of presenteeism to the economy is a staggering £19.5bn.  The biggest cause of sickness absence has been cited recently by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development as stress, a complaint that accountants are no stranger to, particularly during the fast approaching year-end period.

How not to hit a ‘Glass Ceiling’

By Billy Bradley

Billy joined Marks Sattin in September 2011 via the Graduate Scheme. He focuses specifically on placing Part Qualified accountants within Commerce & Industry, in areas such as Media, Publishing, Advertising, PR and FMCG. He is currently working with clients such as Expedia, Estee Lauder and M & C Saatchi, along with a number of SME clients.

A ‘Glass Ceiling’ can be described as an unofficial barrier to workplace advancement. The glass ceiling metaphor has often been used to describe invisible barriers through which candidates can see senior positions but cannot reach them. Employees studying towards their CIMA or ACCA can get to the point where they believe they have achieved all that they can within a current position despite knowing that they have much more potential. At this point they can clearly see the next level of progression or promotion, yet despite their best efforts, an invisible barrier seems to be stopping them from proceeding. 

Tips for Accountancy Graduates

By David Carter

Dave joined Marks Sattin via the graduate scheme in September 2011, after achieving a 2:1 in Geography and Economics at Loughborough University. He works specifically within Commerce & Industry, focusing particularly on the Retail, Fashion, FMCG, and Consumer Product Industries. 

Since joining the company he has already worked with Random House Publishing, Guoman and Thistle Hotels, amongst numerous other smaller clients.

With an invaluable range of opportunities on offer, a career in accountancy is an attractive career prospect to high numbers of graduates. But in order to pursue that career what do you need to do? And what are the options available?

Getting your foot in the accountancy door as a graduate means you get to start out in an exciting environment perfect for graduates! But the option to work internationally, gain professional qualifications and last but not least earn a good salary is only achievable with hard work and determination.

There are two distinct routes to take when entering into accountancy – Practice or Industry.

PQ Magazine ‘Personality of the Year’ 2012

Nominations are open for the PQ Magazine Awards, the the top networking event for part qualified accountants. This is their ninth year running, and this year GAAPweb are supporting our 'Personality of the Year' category.

There are 13 award categories and all shortlisted nominees will receive an invitation to the awards night on 21 February 2012, at Quaglino's in London.

To nominate a PQ Accountant (this may be yourself, a colleague or a lecturer), please send in a 250 word entry on why you believe they deserve to win.

Email: awards@pqmagazine.com or

OR

Post to: PQ Magazine Awards, 4th Floor, Central House, 142 Central Street, London EC1V 8AR.

Deadline for nominations is Friday 13 January 2012.

 

 

 

 

In Accountancy, temping doesn’t have to be a last resort

By Darren Moore, Consultant at Marks Sattin 

Darren Moore leads the contract/temporary division of Marks Sattin for the North West. After graduating with a degree in Finance and Accounting, Darren joined an interim management provider recruiting for candidates within the contract and interim market. He has extensive experience in recruiting interim managers across a variety of disciplines, including finance, and his specialist knowledge and experience ensures that he truly understands client needs and candidates’ strengths. 

The stereotype of a temporary worker is one that is low skilled, underpaid, overworked and lacks career progression. One of the things I hear too often is ‘I’ll only temp if I’m desperate’, but what more people are beginning to realise is that this form of employment can provide people with a great career and, in a lot of cases, an even greater income. Within accountancy, more candidates are opting for non-permanent employment from ledger clerks to directors of finance.

The Accountants' Corporate Battlefield

By Gavin Worrell 

For over 17 years Gavin has forged a career by combining his specialist knowledge areas of law and accountancy in the world of film and tv production. Over the course of his career so far, he has held positions at Shepperton and Pinewood Film Studios. For the last three years, Gavin has been employed at Websedge TV, a Global On-Line TV Production/Broadcasting company located in London’s West End and Washington DC. For nearly a decade now Gavin has also been lecturing and guiding on Military History around Europe and from time to time brings all his favourite subjects together in what he calls, The Corporate Battlefield. 

“Mountbatten, he found, never played for safety, never cramped other people’s ideas, and always kept his eyes resolutely on the objective instead of on the difficulties in front of it.”

‘What has this to do with Accountants and Accountancy’ I hear you ask...