Finance and Accountancy careers guide: skills, progression and opportunities

Finance and accountancy professionals play a central role in how organisations operate, from managing budgets and ensuring compliance to shaping strategy and supporting important business decisions. 

Whether you work in the public or private sector, finance professionals help organisations make informed decisions, manage risk and plan for the future. In the private sector, this may mean supporting growth, profitability and business performance. In the public sector, it may mean helping ensure public money is used effectively while supporting services that impact communities every day. 

The profession is also evolving. Employers still value technical expertise, but they are increasingly looking for professionals who can communicate clearly, influence decisions and add strategic value. 

Across both public and private sector hiring, there continues to be demand for candidates who can combine technical ability with commercial awareness and stakeholder engagement. 

In this guide, we bring together practical advice, career pathways and hiring insight to help you build and progress your career in finance and accountancy: 

• What does a career in finance and accountancy involve?
• Entry routes into finance and accountancy
• Key skills employers are looking for
• Common career paths in finance and accountancy
• Career progression: from entry level to Finance Director or Chief Financial Officer
• Preparing for your next finance or accountancy interview
• The future of finance and accountancy careers
• Why choose a career in finance and accountancy?
• Explore your next opportunity

What does a career in finance and accountancy involve?

Finance and accountancy roles typically offer clear progression, but responsibilities will vary depending on your level and the type of organisation you work in. A career in finance and accountancy can involve much more than managing numbers. Finance professionals play an important role in helping organisations understand performance, manage risk, plan ahead and make informed decisions. 

Typical roles include: 

• Purchase Ledger Clerk
• Credit Controller
• Payroll Officer
• Finance Officer
• Assistant Accountant
• Finance Analyst
• Financial Accountant
• Management Accountant
• Group Accountant
• Finance Business Partner
• Principal Accountant
• Finance Manager
• Chief Accountant
• Financial Controller
• Head of Finance
• Finance Director
• Chief Financial Officer

The exact nature of the role can vary depending on the organisation and sector. In the private sector, finance teams often support commercial growth, profitability, investment decisions, cash flow, forecasting and business strategy. Roles can be fast-paced and closely linked to wider business performance, especially in organisations that are growing, restructuring or operating in competitive markets. 

In the public sector, finance professionals are often focused on budgeting, financial control, governance, funding, value for money and making sure public money is managed responsibly. These roles can offer the opportunity to support services that have a direct impact on communities, while also working within complex regulatory and reporting environments. 

Across both sectors, finance and accountancy careers can include areas such as management accounts, financial accounts, audit, tax, payroll, budgeting, reporting, business partnering and senior finance leadership. As professionals progress, roles often become less focused on day-to-day transactions and more focused on analysis, advice, stakeholder management and strategic decision-making. 

“Finance roles are becoming broader, with employers looking for candidates who can do more than produce accurate reports. Those who can interpret the numbers, explain performance trends and support commercial decision-making are likely to stand out. We’re continuing to see demand for candidates with management accounts, business partnering, commercial finance, budgeting, forecasting, systems and reporting experience.” 

Adam Rouse, Business Director 

Entry routes into finance and accountancy

There is no single route into finance and accountancy. Some candidates start in transactional finance or graduate roles, while others move across from payroll, administration, data or wider business support positions. 

• Graduate and entry-level roles: Many organisations offer structured entry routes, often alongside support for professional qualifications. 
• Apprenticeships: An increasingly popular option, particularly in the public sector, allowing you to gain experience while working towards recognised qualifications. 
• Career changes: Transferable skills from areas such as administration, payroll, or data can provide a route into finance roles. 
• Professional qualifications: Some of the most well-known qualifications include: 
  • AAT: a common entry-level route into accountancy and finance roles 
  • ACA: a respected chartered accountancy qualification, commonly associated with practice, audit, financial reporting and senior finance roles. 
  • ACCA: widely recognised across practice, industry, public sector and commercial finance roles
  • CIMA: often suited to management accounting, business partnering and commercial finance roles  
  • CIPFA: particularly relevant for public sector finance careers  

If you’re exploring how to get started, our guide on How to become an accountant breaks down the different routes and what employers expect. 

“Public sector finance roles require strong financial management skills, but candidates also need to understand governance, accountability and the impact of financial decisions on services and communities. Those who can show awareness of value for money, service pressures and wider change programmes, such as Local Government Reorganisation, transformation or social care, are likely to stand out.” 

Adam Rouse, Business Director 

“In the private sector, employers are often looking for finance professionals who can go beyond reporting and support commercial decision-making. Candidates who can interpret the numbers, understand business performance and help leaders make informed decisions around growth, profitability, investment or efficiency will be in a strong position.” 

John Thistlethwaite, Principal Consultant

Key skills employers are looking for

Finance and accountancy roles are evolving, with employers placing more emphasis on a broader skill set, including: 

Core finance and accountancy skills 

• Financial reporting and analysis 
• Management accounts 
• Financial modelling and planning 
• Budgeting and forecasting 
• Audit preparation and compliance 
• Month-end and year-end reporting 
• Balance sheet reconciliations 
• Cash flow management 
• Business partnering 
• Advanced Excel and data handling 
• Experience with finance systems and ERP platforms 
• Exposure to tools such as Power BI or data visualisation software 
• Understanding of financial controls, governance and risk 

Commercial and strategic thinking 

Modern finance professionals are expected to: 

• Provide insight, not just reports 
• Support decision-making across departments 
• Understand organisational performance 

Business partnering is now a key part of many finance roles, with employers looking for candidates who can work closely with non-finance teams and support better decision-making. 

Finance transformation and project support 

As finance functions continue to modernise, employers are also looking for professionals who can support change and improvement projects. 

This may include: 

• Improving reporting processes 
• Supporting finance system upgrades or ERP implementations 
• Helping teams move from manual spreadsheets to more automated reporting 
• Reviewing processes, controls and ways of working 
• Supporting transformation programmes across wider departments 
• Using data to improve visibility, efficiency and decision-making 

This is relevant across both public and private sector finance teams. In the public sector, finance professionals may support service improvement, efficiency programmes and wider organisational change. In the private sector, they may help improve reporting, strengthen controls, support growth or provide better commercial insight. 

Communication and stakeholder skills 

Alongside technical ability, employers consistently look for: 

• Clear communication 
• Stakeholder management 
• Teamworking 
• Resilience 
• Time management 
• Problem solving 

If you can explain financial information clearly and practically, this will be valuable to both public and private sector employers. 

For a closer look at how these expectations are changing, take a look at our guide to the Top finance and accountancy skills employers want in 2026.  

“Strong candidates stand out when they can clearly explain the impact of their work. It is one thing to say you have produced reports or supported month-end. It is much stronger to explain how that work helped the business understand performance, make decisions or improve a process. 

Clients also respond well to candidates who can communicate confidently with non-finance stakeholders. In private sector roles, finance often works closely with sales, operations, commercial teams and senior leadership, so being able to explain financial information in a practical way is really important. The strongest candidates usually have a good balance of technical ability, commercial understanding and communication skills.” 

John Thistlethwaite, Principal Consultant

“In public sector finance, readiness is not only about finance knowledge. Candidates also need to show they understand governance, accountability, value for money and the impact finance has on services. Strong preparation makes a real difference. Candidates should research the organisation, understand the pressures it is facing and prepare examples that show how they have supported similar challenges. For finance business partnering roles, it’s important to show you can interpret information, explain what it means and help stakeholders make informed decisions.” 

Adam Rouse, Business Director

Common career paths in finance and accountancy

Finance careers often offer structured progression paths. Some of the most common routes professionals take include: 

• Practice to industry: Many candidates begin in accountancy practice before moving into industry or public sector roles. 
• Moving between sectors: Some finance professionals move between public and private sector roles, although this depends on their experience, motivations and the type of opportunity.   
• Analyst to business partner: A common progression route is moving from reporting-focused roles into more commercially focused business partnering positions. 
• Contracting and portfolio careers: Some professionals choose contract roles to gain broader experience across different organisations. If you’re considering this route, our Advice for finance and accountancy contractors outlines what to expect and how to get started. 

“Finance and accountancy careers can develop in lots of different directions across both the public and private sectors. Private sector roles are often closely linked to commercial performance and growth, while public sector roles tend to focus more on budgeting, governance, value for money and service impact. In both areas, the most successful professionals are those who can combine technical skill with clear communication and sound judgement.”  

Adam Rouse, Business Director and John Thistlethwaite, Principal Consultant 

Career progression: from entry level to Finance Director or Chief Financial Officer

Progression in finance and accountancy is often structured, but moving forward depends on more than time served. Employers usually look for a mix of professional qualifications, practical finance experience, systems knowledge, communication skills and the ability to support wider organisational goals. 

Early career

Early career finance and accountancy roles are often about building strong foundations. This may include transactional finance, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, credit control, finance administration, audit support or assistant accountant roles. 

At this stage, many professionals are focused on gaining practical experience, developing their technical skills and working towards relevant qualifications. Some may have a clear idea of whether they want to build their career in the public or private sector, while others may be guided by the opportunities available to them and the type of experience they can gain. 

Both sectors can offer valuable early career experience. In the private sector, this may include exposure to commercial finance, cash flow, management accounts and business performance. In the public sector, early career professionals may gain experience in budgeting, financial controls, governance, reporting and supporting services that have a wider community impact. 

The most important thing at this stage is often finding a role that gives professionals the chance to learn, ask questions, build confidence and understand how finance supports the wider organisation. 

Mid-level roles 

As candidates move into part-qualified or newly qualified roles, employers usually expect them to take on more responsibility and move beyond task-based finance work. 

Progression at this level may involve: 

• Preparing management accounts or financial reports 
• Owning specific budgets, cost centres or reporting areas 
• Supporting forecasting, planning and year-end activity 
• Improving processes or helping with finance transformation projects 
• Working more closely with non-finance stakeholders 
• Developing business partnering skills 
• Supervising junior members of the team 
• Continuing towards, or completing, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or ACA qualifications 

This is often where communication becomes just as important as finance knowledge. Employers increasingly value candidates who can explain financial information clearly, challenge appropriately and help teams understand what the numbers mean in practice. 

Senior leadership roles 

To progress into roles such as Finance Manager, Financial Controller, Head of Finance, Finance Director or CFO, employers typically look for a wider blend of technical knowledge, leadership experience and strategic influence. 

At this level, candidates are often expected to demonstrate: 

• Fully qualified accountant status, often ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or ACA 
• Strong financial reporting, planning and control experience 
• Leadership and people management skills 
• Experience managing budgets, risk, governance or audit requirements 
• Confidence influencing senior stakeholders, boards or committees 
• Commercial awareness and strategic thinking 
• Experience supporting transformation, service improvement or organisational change 
• The ability to use finance insight to shape decision-making 

At this level, the role becomes less about producing financial information and more about shaping organisational direction. Senior finance professionals are expected to interpret the numbers, advise leaders, manage risk and help organisations make informed decisions. If you’re aiming for leadership roles, our guide to becoming a Finance Director explores the typical career path in more detail. If you’re further along in the application process, our guide to Head of Finance interview questions will also help you prepare for a senior finance role. 

In the public sector, senior finance roles may also require a strong understanding of governance, funding pressures, value for money, statutory reporting and the relationship between finance, service delivery and public accountability. 

“Readiness is about evidence. If a candidate wants to move from Management Accountant to Finance Business Partner, they need to show they can interpret information, communicate with non-finance teams and influence decisions - not just produce accurate accounts.” 

John Thistlethwaite, Principal Consultant 

“At senior level, public sector employers want candidates who can balance financial control with wider organisational impact. Strong governance and accountability are essential, but so is the ability to support financial sustainability, transformation, value for money and better decision-making.” 

Adam Rouse, Business Director 

Preparing for your next finance or accountancy interview

Finance interviews often assess technical knowledge, problem solving and how you apply your experience in real situations. For more senior roles, employers will also want to understand how you support wider organisational goals, not just how you manage budgets. 

You may be asked about: 

• Financial scenarios or problem solving 
• Stakeholder challenges 
• Examples of improving processes or outcomes 
• How you manage deadlines during month-end or year-end 
• How you explain financial information to non-finance colleagues 
• How you approach budgeting, forecasting or reporting challenges 

Employers will often want to understand how you think, not just what you know. For example, they may ask you to talk through a time you improved a process, managed conflicting deadlines, supported a difficult stakeholder, or used financial insight to support a decision. 

To prepare well: 

• Refresh key accountancy and finance knowledge 
• Bring clear examples from your experience 
• Research the organisation’s priorities 
• Be ready to explain your thinking 
• Prepare examples that show communication, accuracy, resilience and stakeholder management 
• Ask what the process involves, including whether there will be any technical tasks, presentations, psychometric testing or external assessments 

For more senior roles, the interview process may involve additional stages. Understanding this in advance can help you prepare properly and tailor your examples to the role. 

For more detailed guidance, including common questions and how to approach them, see our accountancy interview preparation guide. 

The future of finance and accountancy careers

The finance profession continues to evolve as more organisations use automation, data tools and AI. 

This does not mean traditional finance skills are becoming less important. Instead, candidates who combine strong technical knowledge with systems confidence, data interpretation and clear communication will be better placed to progress. 

Employers are increasingly looking for candidates who can: 

• Work with data and technology 
• Interpret and communicate insights 
• Adapt to changing systems and processes 

We explore this further in our article on how AI is shaping finance and accountancy roles and what it means for candidates. 

Why choose a career in finance and accountancy?

A career in finance and accountancy offers more than job security. It gives you a clear path to build expertise, take on responsibility and shape how organisations make decisions. 

Whether you’re working in the public or private sector, finance professionals are at the very centre of how organisations operate. From managing budgets to influencing strategy, your work will always have a direct impact on outcomes. 

“Candidates who want to progress should focus on building a rounded skill set. Qualifications and finance knowledge matter, but so does gaining exposure to stakeholders, budgeting, forecasting, process improvement and how the business makes money. Those who progress well are usually proactive. They look for opportunities to develop, ask for wider exposure and can clearly explain the value they bring.” 

John Thistlethwaite, Principal Consultant

To summarise, finance and accountancy careers offer long-term opportunity, variety and clear progression. Whether you’re starting out in an entry-level finance role, working towards a professional qualification, or looking ahead to senior leadership, it’s a career path that can develop in several directions. 

Depending on your interests, you could build a career in areas such as: 

• Financial accounting 
• Management accounting 
• Audit 
• Business partnering 
• Financial planning and analysis 
• Finance transformation 
• Public sector finance 
• Commercial finance 
• Senior leadership 

There are also opportunities across both the public and private sectors, each offering something slightly different. In the public sector, finance professionals often support services that have a direct impact on communities, with a strong focus on governance, value for money, funding, accountability and long-term planning. In the private sector, roles may be more commercially driven, with a focus on profitability, growth, investment decisions and business performance. 

Across both sectors, finance and accountancy careers offer: 

• Clear and structured progression routes 
• Strong demand across a wide range of organisations 
• Highly transferable skills that open up different career paths 
• Opportunities to specialise, move into leadership, or step into more strategic roles 
• The chance to influence decisions, improve performance and support wider organisational goals 

As your career develops, your role becomes less about producing financial information alone and more about helping organisations understand what that information means, what risks or opportunities it highlights, and what action to take. 

As the profession continues to evolve, those who combine accountancy and finance expertise with communication, adaptability, commercial awareness and sound judgement will be well placed to progress and take on increasingly influential roles. 

Explore your next opportunity

Whether you’re just starting out, considering a move between sectors or looking for your next senior finance role, having a clear view of the market can make a real difference. 

At Sellick Partnership, our Finance & Accountancy recruitment team works closely with professionals across the public and private sectors. We can offer insight into current opportunities, employer expectations and where your experience could take you next. 

Register with us to receive tailored finance and accountancy opportunities, browse our current vacancies, or get in touch with one of our specialist consultants for a confidential conversation about your next move.