Unleash Your Inner CFO: Why A Masters In Accounting Is Your Golden Ticket
18 May 2023
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Not only must you possess robust, in-depth and varied work experience, but you’ll also need the right qualifications that draw upon highly valued technical and soft skills.
With a Masters in Accounting, you will be equipped with the expertise, critical thinking frameworks and skillsets that cross industries and disciplines. In addition, you will be well-equipped with the managerial skills necessary to lead your team effectively.
Whether you are looking to forge a new career path in finance and become the next Chief Finance Officer (CFO) or value-add to your current skillsets and fast-track your way into management, a Masters in Accounting is a valuable investment in your career.
In fact, it is well worth the time to embark on a career sabbatical to upgrade yourself and unlock greater opportunities in the years to come. By dedicating a few years to completing a Masters, you’ll be able to bring undisputed and tangible value, allowing you to stand out amongst the crowd.
Why Pursue A Masters In Accounting & Financial Management?
While there is an argument to be made for relying on years of industry experience, there is a set of specific training that can only be provided through a Masters programme.
With the qualification, you’ll be able to access higher paying positions in your industry such as becoming a corporate controller or heading the accounting department. The coursework, projects and workshops involved will help supercharge your career to the top of the accounting profession.
This is especially valuable if you are looking to transition to a highly sought-after profession in a role or industry. Whether you are looking to become a CFO in a corporation or become a senior accountant or auditor in one of the world’s top accounting firms, a Masters is your ticket, and likely a prerequisite, for career acceleration.
The skillset learned will also set you apart from your peers, allowing you to gain a holistic view of a company’s finances and business activities. This highly transferable skillset allows you to lead business units beyond just accounting or finance.
But if you desire to reach the summit of accounting, the CFO role would be your goal and it is a challenging position that requires you to obtain a series of diverse financial knowledge together with a robust repertoire of accounting tools and expertise.
As the CFO of an organisation, your company entrusts you with a challenging set of responsibilities that is mission-critical to the functioning of a company with little margin for error. This is where a Masters in Accounting & Financial Management comes in, preparing you for the dynamic challenges ahead.
The Responsibilities Of A CFO & The Skillsets Needed
As a CFO, you are in charge of the company’s financial operations, including budgeting costs as well as financial reporting to senior management and stakeholders.
You aren’t just responsible for the number crunching in your department, but the critical analysis for insights into the company’s financial health. You are heavily involved in the strategic planning of the company which includes setting business goals, the company spending budget and even playing an active role in corporate expansion as well.
As such, a CFO is expected to have a wide breadth of skills if he or she is expected to be effective in leading the company’s finances and be an active advisor to the CEO and board of directors.
The first is having the necessary accounting and financial expertise. A good CFO would understand the financial reporting standards and the regulations the company needs to adhere to.
This will allow him to effectively lead the accounting team in identifying any discrepancies in the financial data and how to also optimise the company’s financial position.
The next skillset a CFO requires is the ability to assess risks and develop an analytical aptitude. This will include understanding inventory management, financial spending of business units, the company’s procurement process as well as supply chain and logistics.
Thirdly, a CFO also requires keen risk assessment skills in order to mitigate any potential financial mishaps and pre-empt any business crisis. This is essential in helping the CEO and other heads of management with their decision-making, especially when it comes to how it impacts the bottom line.
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Obtain Valuable Skillsets With A Masters In Accounting
Thankfully these CFO skill sets can be taught and developed in a Masters of Accounting course. You will obtain, develop and harness core skills across the accounting discipline while building your leadership, collaboration and communication skills.
Some of the technical skills you will develop include advanced financial analysis, management accounting and risk analysis. This will equip you with the know-how to apply to real-world situations and lead your finance team through the challenges in your new role.
However, a Masters in Accounting truly shines by broadening your soft skillsets and your knowledge base, especially when it comes to how various business units are interlinked. For example, you will be exposed to capital markets and global issues in finance and accounting, allowing you to build a broader perspective and develop a more strategic mindset.
The qualification helps to open doors and gives you mobility globally across various industries and sectors. For example, understanding the fundamentals of investment management and corporate governance, allows you to apply your expertise across a spectrum of companies, from technology and retail to financial services.
When it comes to managing and allocating budgets, you’ll be the expert key decision-maker. You’ll be able to use your enterprise resource planning expertise, backed by hard data, to advise and persuade senior management on the best course of action forward.
Most importantly, you’ll understand the essentials of financial accounting frameworks, allowing you to set new standards and processes to streamline a company’s finances. This is critical to help organisations gain accurate insights into their financial health while staying compliant with government and industry regulations.
Exciting Career Opportunities With A Masters In Accounting
With a Masters in Accounting, you’ll be able to take on greater challenges in the corporate world. This includes roles such as:
- Tax manager
- Compliance risk manager
- Director of accounting
- Forensic accountant
- CFO
- Certified Public Accountant
Due to the breadth of your knowledge, you’ll be able to easily integrate into leadership roles that involve decision-making from the insights gathered.
The possibilities with a Masters in Accounting are endless. You’ll develop a global perspective, and a data-driven decision-making approach and exude strong leadership qualities, all of which are essential to climb the corporate ladder.
Take The Next Step Towards Obtaining Your Masters In Accounting With SIM
Ready to take the plunge and unleash the inner CFO in you?
If so, you can consider enrolling yourself in the University of London’s Master of Science in Accounting and Financial Management, developed by UCL School of Management and offered by SIM.
In this course, you will be equipped with the knowledge, understanding and skills to launch an exciting and evergreen career in finance and beyond.
Whether you have been working in finance or not, this Masters programme allows students to develop and apply Master's level knowledge, understanding and skills within an accounting, financial management and strategic context for business and management.
The interaction and networking opportunities also allow you to build critical and long-lasting relationships that would serve you well throughout your career.
It’s time to unlock your full potential and rise towards the CFO position! Learn more about the Master of Science in Accounting and Financial Management today.