There's more to being an accountant than just crunching the numbers. Lianne breaks down the role for us this week.
Dream Job: Accountancy
Skills required: Numeracy, business, communication, self-motivation
£££: Starting salary c.£30k, senior roles £85k+
Meet Lianne Stirling, an accountant in financial services
Tell us about a typical day in your job
I manage a team who look after various parts of the general ledger such as investments, insurance claims and accounts payable. In the morning we check we have enough cash in the main bank accounts to cover that day’s transactions, such as paying suppliers, staff costs and customer withdrawals. There’s usually a few meetings where projects need input from a finance perspective. Our work also feeds into internal and external reporting to the FCA so we might need to answer questions on the numbers we have posted.
What made you want to get into being an accountant?
I didn’t set out to be an accountant! I studied German at uni, fell into an admin job in financial services, decided I needed more of a challenge and, after a bit of research, opted for accountancy (the job security and good pay were appealing).
How did you get into accountancy?
I couldn’t get a job in finance as I had no experience, so I started studying with ACCA off my own back. Then I got a bit tipsy at a work event and got chatting to someone who worked in the finance department, and told them I wanted to be an accountant. A couple of weeks later, they rang!
What’s the biggest misconception people have about being an accountant?
That we’re all boring and play golf! Oh, and that we’re all maths geniuses (that’s why they invented calculators).
What was your dream job when you were 16?
I wanted to be a window cleaner (loved the squeegee thing) or a translator.
What courses or training did you do?
I took the ACCA route which was 14 exams and you have to record practical experience evidence too.
What was your university life like?
It was daunting at first and I felt like everyone was better educated or had lived a more exciting life than I had so that was difficult at first but by the end, I was loving it. I met my husband there and made the best friends. I studied hard but there were plenty of fun nights out too.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be an accountant?
Be prepared for long days during busy periods and a fast-changing environment as technology and regulations evolve.
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