ADD ADVICE TO FAVPublic finance accountant
Public finance accountants work mainly in central or local government or the National Health Service, but also for utility industries and for companies that supply contract services to public service bodies.
What public finance accountants do
- ensure that resources are used economically and efficiently
- recommend ways of providing value for money
- manage financial systems
- control budgets for different departments
- evaluate the financial implications of changing legislation
- prepare business plans and make recommendations on large-scale projects
- carry out internal audits
- advise managers or elected board members on different investment options
- may work for the National Audit Office, monitoring the income and expenditure of government departments
- may also work in the private sector.
Key skills
- accuracy
- logic
- ability to remain impartial
- verbal and written communication skills
- teamworking skills
- ability to lead and take initiative
- numeracy
- understanding of how the public sector works.
Training to be a public finance accountant
Public finance accountants train on the job and study for professional examinations part time. Most trainees qualify in three and a half years.
Salaries
Salaries start from £18,000 to £20,000 and increase to between £22,000 and £28,000 on qualifying. Senior accountants can earn from £40,000 to over £100,000. Some become local authority chief executives and can earn over £160,000.
