Athletes and finance professionals excel in fast-paced, high-stakes environments that require detailed preparation and dedication to long-term goals. Sports are more than extracurriculars that keep our bodies active. Playing sport builds real-world skills like teamwork, communication, the ability to lead under pressure, and strategic thinking — all skills needed for a career as a management accountant.
Finance is more tactical than you think, and all these skills are needed for a dynamic career in management accounting.
Management accountants are business visionaries who apply their technical financial skills to interpret financial data, prepare reports, and guide management to make decisions. They can work in any industry or any organisation, and they continually look for ways to improve their company.
One way to jumpstart this joint athletic and career development is through involvement in an England Touch competition during uni.
When you’re deciding how to spend your time — what courses to take, which clubs or societies to join — it helps to know which experiences actually build skills employers care about. The skills you develop through sport help you stand out to future employers and increase your success — wherever your career takes you.
From the pitch to your future career
Touch rugby is a fast-paced, non-contact version of rugby that is inclusive, easy for beginners to learn, and brings people together. Players can focus on perfecting their running, passing, evading, and other skills without the pressure of full-contact tackle. Simple rules and fast-paced game play make it easy to pick up and play.
England Touch and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA®) demonstrate the connection between sport and business. The partnership is designed to help you turn what you love doing into skills employers value.
You can get involved in England Touch by joining or starting a university-affiliated club. Previous rugby experience is not required nor do you need to be an accounting or finance student — you just need a passion for learning, healthy competition, and fun. The skills you build through sport can carry over into almost any career.
What employers are looking for — and where to build it
Experiences in sport often reflect real-world work environments and situations. Employers look for candidates who have technical knowledge but also those who demonstrate teamwork, communication, resilience, and leadership — skills built through the activities you choose outside the classroom.
Skills gained through sport can help you talk confidently in interviews, take on leadership roles in group work, navigate relationships with people of various backgrounds, and communicate clearly in professional settings. Situations in which you led your teammates during a practice, solved a dispute, or managed a high-pressure responsibility are all examples you can talk about during an interview, too.
As an athlete, you’re accustomed to handling setbacks, adjusting expectations, and performing under high pressure. This resiliency is a crucial skill when managing high-stakes deals and situations in finance. The routine of consistent training develops strong discipline and work ethic, too.
Management accounting has a lot of parallels to sport, like rugby or football. Athletes, like management accountants, love setting goals that can be tracked via numbers. Whilst you may be focused on increasing your kick or passing accuracy, a management accountant could be focused on reducing costs or improving process efficiency.
Your interests provide the foundations of career opportunities, and many touch rugby skills can help you start a career in management accounting. Explore a dynamic career in finance through resources, articles, webinars, and more.
The choices you make now aren’t just about grades or trophies — they shape the skills you’ll use long after school ends.
