Public Sector Accountant

Public sector accountants are responsible for making sure that public organisations' financial management is effective and efficient, and makes the best use of public money. Examples of public organisations include central and local government, the National Health Service (NHS), colleges, housing associations and charities.

Public services usually have a fixed budget each year. Public sector accountants safeguard public money and advise departments on how to organise and improve the service they offer. Their responsibilities may include:

• Preparing budgets and final accounts.
• Controlling expenditure and cash flow.
• Monitoring how money is spent.
• Making sure that legal records of financial transactions are properly kept.
• Developing and managing systems for recording income and expenditure.
• Auditing (verifying) accounts.
• Developing short and long-term strategies with the management team.
• Advising on corporate risk, including safeguarding assets, risk avoidance and insurance.
• Advising on anti-fraud and anti-corruption strategies and measures.

Accountants may work in the finance or internal audit function of an organisation. Alternatively, they may work for an accountancy firm that offers professional accounting services to public bodies. These services involve meeting clients, advising them on their accounting procedures, and helping them to make the most of their resources. Accountants may specialise in a particular area, for example audit, taxation or financial control.

Accountants may also work as external auditors, for the Audit Commission or National Audit Office for example, monitoring public sector financial activities.

The normal working week is 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Work beyond these hours may be required on occasions, especially during peak times, such as the end of the financial year, or to meet deadlines. Many organisations have flexible working hours. Part-time work and job sharing may be possible.

Public sector accountants work in an office, often at a computer, and usually as part of a larger team. They may spend some time out of the office visiting clients and attending meetings. Some may have to travel long distances and spend time away from home. They may work abroad if their organisation has international links.

Smart dress is usually required.

Starting salaries may be around £16,000 to £25,000 a year.

Public sector accountants are employed throughout the UK, mainly in large towns and cities. Their number has increased in recent years and is likely to continue to grow.

Employers include:

• Local government bodies.
• The Civil Service.
• The National Health Service.
• The Audit Commission, Audit Scotland and the National Audit Office.
• Schools and colleges.
• Housing associations.
• Non profit-making charities and trusts.
• Accountancy firms that offer professional accounting services to public sector organisations.

Jobs are advertised in local and national newspapers, and on the internet. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) also publishes lists of trainee vacancies.

There are different entry routes:

Graduate training schemes - entry is with a degree. No particular degree subject is required, although subjects such as accounting, finance, business studies, management studies, maths and economics are particularly relevant. Employers often ask for at least a 2.2 degree. This is the most usual entry route. Entry is very competitive.

Trainee accountant - entry is usually with at least A levels/H grades or equivalent. On starting work, many trainees work towards CIPFA's professional qualification. Entry requirements for the qualification are two A levels/three H grades (A-C) and three GCSE's/S grades (A-C/1-3), including English and maths at either level. Alternative qualifications are accepted, including BTEC/SQA national certificates and NVQ's/SVQ's at Level 3.

Accounting technician - some people with GCSE's/S grades (A-C/1-3) become accounting technicians. They may work towards a qualification such as the Association of Accounting Technicians' Accounting Qualification or the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants'…