Being a Group Accountant

Read our one-on-one interview with a Group Accountant at a leading engineering business to get an idea of exactly what the role involves.

What is your current role?

I am currently contracted by a market-leader in the engineering sector as a group accountant. It is very exciting to be here because at the moment the group has grown considerably after acquiring a large American company recently. I was primarily hired to help with the company’s half-year reporting process. I work in a team that is responsible for pulling information together from all the business’ subsidiaries and consolidating them into one overarching report for the whole group.

What skills do you think you need to succeed in your job?

Good Excel skills are an absolute must. I also think you need to be numerate, a good problem solver and be able to pick internal systems up quickly. Being proactive and looking for work is important, particularly as I am a contractor. The more I work and the more duties I perform, the more I learn, which can only be good for my career.

How did you get into your current role?

I immigrated to the UK from South Africa a couple of months ago. On arriving, I registered with Robert Walters and I had two interviews within four days. Once I was offered this one, I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Prior to relocating, I qualified with one of the ‘Big 4’ accountancy firms.

What made you decide to get out of practice?

I was particularly keen to learn new ways of working and new systems. I also felt my knowledge of other systems could bring something new to the table and I really wanted to contribute to a new business.

Good Excel skills are an absolute must. I also think you need to be numerate, a good problem solver and be able to pick internal systems up quickly.

What advice would you give to other professionals seeking a new job?

Tell your recruiting companies exactly what you want – if you might be interested in working in banking but would much rather work in commerce, for example, then tell them this.