What Does an Accountant Do

· 4 min read
What Does an Accountant Do

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Duties may include using specialist software and understanding the requirements of the business you are working in. Public  sector - including local and central government, educational institutions, charities and not-for-profit organisations. Historically, the public sector has not been a big recruiter of chartered accountants but opportunities have increased in recent years. Accountants are likely to make a bigger difference to the fortunes of their clients.

The ability to work towards tight deadlines, juggle multiple clients’ needs and remain positive through tough challenges is a skill that will hold you in good stead throughout your career. Resilience is the ability to keep a cool head and put trust in your skillset. A CPA is a Certified Public Accountant, and is different to an accountant, and it comes down to their training credentials. A CPA has met ‘state licensing requirements’, while an accountant has worked through the traditional route of higher and further education and usually has a Bachelor’s degree in accounting. If you help your accountant and you are as open with them as possible, you give them everything they need to make sure you never get stumped on tax deadlines and tax payments.

The Size and Type of Business You Run


You should explore these routes to becoming an accountant to find out which is the right one for you. Whichever route you follow, you must have an interest and ability to deal with numbers. Having a range of employers to choose from means you can pick your preferred working environment.

Read our tips from top interview experts and be more prepared for your interview than anyone else. There are  accountants in Dubai , work experience and internships available due to the nature of the function within business. After all, most businesses and organisations have accounting needs. Two A Level passes will be required to begin studying an accountancy qualification. If you have a degree, you can skip some foundation level steps in accountancy.

Shortlisting possible accountants


If you're a small business, not registered for vat, then regardless of industry, most accountants would be able to help you. Depending on your industry, you might need an accountant with more specialist knowledge - for example if you’re running an insurance company or a medical practise. Charities and Community Interest Companies also have more complex accounting rules too.

What skills do accountants need?

  • Business Acumen. Accountants are expected to interact frequently with other departments and participate fully in the day-to-day functioning of the business.
  • Technological Savvy.
  • Communication.
  • Leadership.
  • Customer Service.
  • Specialized Work Experience.
  • Analytical Ability.
  • Critical Thinking.


Other accountants will also require continuing studies to keep their skills relevant. An independent accountant will need to handle the cost of this additional education. For a staff accountant, your employer may cover the cost of these classes.

What accountant skills recruiters looking for?


It is time-consuming to manage every invoice and every payment, and to make sure they are correctly logged, banked and reconciled. In conjunction with studying, experience gained as a bookkeeper either in a practice or in-house is an invaluable way to develop professional skills. This guide will help you understand how the roles differ and where they cross over, as well as helping you to identify which type of firm you should engage for your business. Accreditation - Finally, it’s also worth checking to see if your preferred firm is chartered, either through a professional body, such as the ICAEW or ACCA, or a professional tax body, such as the CIOT. You may find more value by (with the help of HMRC’s guidance notes) preparing your own tax return, particularly if you have very simple affairs.

What are the duties of an accountant?

  • Manage all accounting transactions.
  • Prepare budget forecasts.
  • Publish financial statements in time.
  • Handle monthly, quarterly and annual closings.
  • Reconcile accounts payable and receivable.
  • Ensure timely bank payments.
  • Compute taxes and prepare tax returns.
  • Manage balance sheets and profit/loss statements.


Construction is not just about ‘building things’ and ‘working on site’ – there are loads of opportunities within the industry which people may not realise e.g. Accounts, Marketing, Legal, HR. It’s a fast paced environment and things are always changing – so if you like to keep busy and are up for a challenge, then a career in construction is definitely worth considering. Lindum is a great company to work for – they look after their employees and make you feel valued, they listen to your opinions and encourage you to make a difference. I also enjoy the problem solving aspect of my job, nothing is ever straightforward so you have to use your brain and take logical steps to get to the bottom of the problem. My job is very varied and the wide ranging tasks that I have to undertake on a day to day basis keeps it interesting. Quantity surveyorCalculate & manage the finances for  building & maintaining projects throughout the process.

An apprenticeship with an accountancy firm is a good way into the industry. Support and advice for women entering accountancy is offered by Women in Banking & Finance, which aims to empower women to reach their full potential. The average annual salary for a chartered accountant is £84,500, with an average yearly bonus of £17,300. Starting salaries for accountants vary depending on the location, sector, size and type of firm. It’s easier than ever before to find an accountant who you relate to on both a personal and professional level – and they can make all the difference to how you run your business. Do you spend a lot on storage, or lose money writing off obsolete or damaged goods?

How do I know if accounting is for me?

Try to honestly assess your attitude toward pressure and heavy workloads. If  How to become a private practice accountant  don't stress easy or don't mind being a little high-strung, working as an accountant might not bother you. If you know you're easily frazzled, it's possible that an accounting career isn't the ideal choice for you.


You don’t need to manage their taxes and you will not be liable to offer them holiday or other benefits. You will find almost little to no difficulties while searching for employment in the accounting industry, as every business in the UK requires an accountant at different levels of their hierarchical structure. Even though the accounting profession enjoys a long history of more than half a century, the agenda around its research only occurred in the last decade of the 20th century as perThe Accounting Historians.