Case studies: Trainee management accountant: Andrew

Andrew graduated from the University of Wolverhampton in 2010 with a BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance. He now works as a trainee management accountant for a manufacturing company. 

I got the job of trainee management accountant before I had graduated from my course. I had spent numerous weeks applying for a large number of jobs and I had hardly heard back from any. I was made aware of this position with my current company through a student adviser at the university, who I was in regular contact with. After sending my CV to them and attending an interview, I was offered the position. I started straight after I had graduated.

I had been interested in management accountancy throughout my degree and I did extremely well in the management accountancy fundamentals in my first year of study. It was this that made me want to pursue this as a career.

A typical day for me includes a number of activities, such as undertaking and completing the daily bank reconciliation, posting the days payments on the system, making any payments required through the bank, invoicing, weekly payroll, dealing with the company’s petty cash and cost sheet analysis. I enjoy my job, as I enjoy the challenges and pressure of completing work when I am busy. I relish the opportunity of improving and developing certain abilities and here, my role and responsibilities have increased as I have become quicker and more adept at each of the tasks I have to perform.

During my time in this position, I have been given the opportunity to study for a Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualification. It was my employer that encouraged this, and I was more than happy to take the qualification as I had decided at university to pursue this qualification upon graduation. CIMA had visited the university and given a presentation about their qualifications and the benefits. I knew having the qualification would make me more employable in the future as well as helping me increase my knowledge and competency and so hopefully lead to me earning a lot more money.

My long-term career aim is to stay with the company and progress as far as possible as they have faith in my abilities and are nurturing my skills. For example, they are funding my CIMA tuition. When I have reached my full potential in my current position, I can then re-evaluate my career goals.