Building a long-term career as a management accountant is both exciting and challenging.
Accounting and finance professionals are in high demand, and the CGMA® designation continues to open doors for management accountants, especially in areas where analytical skills, business acumen, and the ability to make data-driven recommendations for strategic goals are needed.
In the podcast episode titled ‘Navigating the UK accountancy job market’, host of the Finance Leadership Podcast, Kevin Gormley, senior product manager for the global Finance Leadership Program at AICPA® & CIMA®, and Jason Nye, senior manager for operations in the UK and Ireland at AICPA® & CIMA®, discuss the vast opportunities for management accountants within the UK job market and how to stand out to employers.
What employers seek and how to land a dream job
As a management accountant, your role is to analyse and interpret data, communicate your insights to decision-makers, and advise executive leaders on strategic business operations.
The CGMA designation equips you with a powerful blend of business, finance, and accounting skills that extends into various businesses and industries.
With over a decade of experience engaging with students and employers across the UK, Jason Nye has gained crucial insights into what employers look for and how to land a dream job.
Jason encourages students to dedicate significant time and effort to job hunting. That means doing your research, tailoring applications, and avoiding the ‘scattergun’ approach: ‘Making 20 applications in an hour and hoping one of them is going to stick…you can't do that anymore. You really need to take a lot of time to do things properly and show that employer that you're the right fit for them.’
Jason highlighted three traits many employers look for in a potential employee:
Commercial awareness:
You know what’s happening in the specific business area and within the company and can clearly communicate your understanding of the organisation's mission.
Transferable skills:
You have strong communication skills, are a team player, and have an analytical mindset.
Passion and enthusiasm:
You’re passionate about the company and bring energy and enthusiasm for the role.
‘Having a passion for the field can play a huge role in being successful in the marketplace’, Jason said, adding that when interviewing for a job, ‘preparation, planning, and practice prevent poor performance’.
Career opportunities as a CGMA designation holder
Studying with CIMA, you gain essential skills that prepare you for extensive opportunities in accountancy.
The mix of business, finance, and accounting skills you attain, along with a strategic mindset and keen analytical skills, can be applied across vast roles and businesses.
Students and CIMA members often ask Jason for a list of companies that hire CGMA designation holders. The truth? CGMA designation holders work everywhere, across sectors, industries, and roles. Still, if you're curious about specific names, here are 13 companies you might not expect to employ CGMA designation holders.
Jason highlighted a range of professional directions CIMA members can take. ‘In the public sector, the NHS is probably the biggest recruiter in the UK’, he said, noting that CGMA designation holders also secure roles across various functions within the UK government.
Commercial brands like EasyJet, BA Systems, Siemens, Mercedes, Sky, Marks & Spencer, Mondelez, Tesco, and Asda employ CIMA members. The Big Four accounting firms — KPMG, Deloitte, PwC, and EY — also employ CGMA designation holders.
‘There’s no sector where you wouldn’t find a CIMA member or student working’, Jason said.
Your skills and interests can also open career possibilities in unexpected places, ‘in fashion, working for companies like ASOS or Burberry’. Jason suggested. ‘Even at your favourite sports teams. Arsenal has a finance department’, Jason said.
And don’t let geographical location limit your ambitions.
‘A lot of employers will hire from any geography, normally within reason and time zone. So, if, like me, you're based in Northern Ireland, you could be working for a London-based company, a Manchester-based company, or Edinburgh, wherever it may be, and vice versa’, Jason said.
Stand out with the CGMA designation and discover more insights
The CGMA® Finance Leadership Program offers an online pathway to achieving the CGMA designation. With on-demand learning, you study at your own pace and schedule.
Listen to the full interview on the Finance Leadership Podcast.
Discover insightful podcast episodes, including ‘Navigating the UK accountancy job market’ and ‘Unlocking success: Exploring the CGMA FLP with Ghanaian tax associate Richard Addo’.
Get updates and find out more information about the current state of the UK job market on the CIMA early careers UK TikTok or Instagram.
