Role: finance officer
Entry route: AAT Level 4 Diploma in Accounting
‘Getting my CIMA qualification will be a huge achievement for me.’
How did you come to study CIMA?
I decided to work my way through AAT and then to study CIMA in a work-based environment - gaining experience and knowledge in one go.
CIMA covers all areas of business management and is as much about people as finance. I knew this was the area of finance that I was interested in being a part of.
What’s it actually like to study CIMA?
Working while studying CIMA as a distance learning student has really helped me gain a better understanding of the syllabus – putting theory into practice really does help the material sink in.
My colleagues at Siemens have supported me in my learning and are on hand to discuss areas I am struggling with. They give me real life examples whilst encouraging and supporting my career development.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The role of the management accountant is very diverse. I currently work alongside business managers to help control and develop the three business units within Siemens, forecasting future performance and planning targets for coming periods, while monitoring the business unit’s performance against the targets and taking action to ensure forecasts are met.
I enjoy learning new things on a day-to-day basis, whilst interacting with people right across the business and helping to achieve results. The role is fast moving and is helping me gain a great insight into the triumphs and tribulations a business can face through its lifecycle.
Do people have any misconceptions about your role and accountancy in general?
Some people think that accounting is a boring job for dull people. In fact this couldn’t be further from the truth. The role of the management accountant is very fast paced, dealing with matters across the whole of the business. Helping a business to grow and develop is exciting and liberating.
What’s next for you?
CIMA is an established global qualification, recognised by employers around the world. It will open up a whole host of new and diverse roles to me - not all finance related either.