There are many different jobs and roles within accountancy and finance so below are a few you may wish to consider looking into.
Accountancy and audit:
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Chartered accountant – manages the finances of customers, from individuals to large multinational corporations. Keeps financial records and makes recommendations for strategy and business needs. Also increasingly deals with the identification and analysis of financial information related to non-financial topics like environmental footprint, societal impact etc. Chartered status is gained after a period of relevant work experience and completion of a chartered accountancy qualification (eg, ACA).
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Management accountant – analyses, researches and reports on financial aspects of a company to support senior managers’ decision making. Advises on financial spending and distribution, and future financial planning. Typically based in industry across a range of sectors.
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Auditor – provides an independent review of a company’s finances, assessing their past performance and their future income generation, to see if they are ‘fair and true’ and to give confidence to board members and shareholders. May also conduct an audit of a company’s other business areas, including CSR, environmental costs and risks, health and safety
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Forensic accountant – liaises with the solicitor of a client, looks at and prepares papers related to financial and contract matters and presents them to court. Answers any questions or scrutiny about the work presented. These positions tend to be taken by experienced accountants.
Taxation
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Tax adviser – works with companies and individuals to create the best tax strategies for them. The diverse nature of taxation means that tax advisers rapidly develop areas of specialist knowledge, including corporate, personal, international, inheritance tax, VAT, National Insurance, and trusts and estates.
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Tax accountant – maintains financial records, produces reports and makes recommendations. A similar role to that of a chartered or management accountant, but specialising in tax.