MSC Accounting Information
Taking an MSc Accounting course is a good idea for anyone wishing to pursue a career in accountancy and finance. You will gain insight into both management accounting and financial auditing, and a chance to specialise in areas such as derivatives, investment analysis, international portfolio management, corporate finance, banking and international financial management.
Studying for an MSc Accounting course will put you ahead of the crowd if you want to pursue a career in the highly-competitive professions of investment banking or financial analysis. Not only will this MSC accounting course give you the advanced accountancy skills you need for these positions, it will also demonstrate that you are serious about your chosen profession and prepared to put the work in – attributes which are highly valued in the competitive job market. Of course gaining professional qualifications is one thing but succeeding in the industry also requires tenacity, drive, ambition and integrity.
London is certainly a city of opportunities for anyone wanting to pursue a career in accountancy. Most major international companies and investment banks have their headquarters in London and the Worldwide Centres of Commerce Index, published three years ago, ranked London as the leading centre of global finance, ahead of New York.
London is home to the ‘big four’ large international accountancy firms which provide professional services to FTSE 100 companies and major multinationals. These large firms taken on hundreds of trainees at any one time and allow you to specialise in the areas which interest you.
Of course medium-sized and smaller firms have their advantages as well, allowing you to broaden your skills and develop responsibility and business knowledge at an early stage in your career. At a smaller firm you are more likely to have direct contact with your clients and handle all aspects of their financial affairs.
As well as living and working in one of the most exciting cities in the world, accountants in London can expect to earn more than accountants elsewhere in the UK and abroad. However you can also expect to work hard! You will need resilience and tenacity to get to the top of your profession. Accountants have to be disciplined and professional at all times. As an accountant you will be handling huge amounts of confidential and sensitive financial information. You will have to behave with absolute integrity and your personal life should reflect this. You will certainly not succeed if you have committed any financial crimes in your past.
As well as your qualifications you need to show that you are trustworthy and able to handle the pressure of managing accounts. By volunteering to be a treasurer of a local charitable trust or your student union, for example, you will not only gain valuable experience to put on your CV but also demonstrate that you can be trusted to manage an organisation’s financial affairs. You may have undertaken part-time work during your MSc so make sure you include the transferrable skills you will have picked up, including dealing with clients, handling money, punctuality and reliability. Emphasise any extra responsibilities you may have been given, such as being made a supervisor or being trusted with the banking or locking up.
Keep up to date with the latest accountancy trends and industry news by subscribing to professional websites and trade magazines. This will not only help you impress recruiters at your interview with your up to the minute knowledge, but will also allow you to spot opportunities, for example accountancy firms which are recruiting graduate trainees.
