Management accountant
Management accountants give managers the financial information and advice they need to plan, control spending, and make good decisions. They set and monitor budgets, forecast spending, cost services, and build the financial case for investment. In a digital health care organisation they work closely with digital programmes and product teams, where getting capital and revenue, whole-life costs, and value for money right is central to good decisions.
- Family
- Finance
- UK GDaD PCF role
- None: this reference defines the role
- ESCO occupations
- accountant (ISCO-08 2411); budget analyst (ISCO-08 2411)
- On GitHub
- Role document · Role data
Levels
| Band | Role level | UK GDaD PCF level | Civil Service grades | Job evaluation points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Trainee management accountant | — | — | 367 |
| 6 | Management accountant | — | — | 437 |
| 7 | Senior management accountant | — | — | 495 |
| 8a | Finance business partner | — | — | 578 |
| 8b | Head of management accounts | — | — | 607 |
In a digital health care organisation
- Digital programmes are often funded from a mix of capital and revenue, ring-fenced, or time-limited funding, each with its own rules on what it can be spent on.
- The move from owned systems to cloud services and subscriptions shifts costs from capital to revenue, which affects budgets, business cases, and funding bids.
- Investment decisions must show value for money for public funds and benefits for patients, clinicians, and care staff, not only financial savings.
- Contracts for software, hosting, and support often run for several years, so forecasts must include running costs long after go-live.
- Budget holders in digital and clinical teams may not be finance specialists, so clear, practical advice is a large part of the job.
ESCO occupations and skills
ESCO lists the skills and knowledge that employers usually need (essential) or may need (optional) for each occupation. Use them as a checklist for development conversations.
accountant
Accountants review and analyse financial statements, budgets, financial reports, and business plans in order to check for irregularities resulting from error or fraud, and provide their clients with financial advice in matters such as financial forecasting and risk analysis. They may audit financial data, resolve insolvency cases, prepare tax returns and provide other tax-related advice in reference to current legislation.
Essential skills and knowledge (26)
Skills and competences
- analyse financial performance of a company
- attach accounting certificates to accounting transactions
- calculate tax
- check accounting records
- draft accounting procedures
- ensure compliance with accounting conventions
- explain accounting records
- follow the statutory obligations
- identify accounting errors
- interpret financial statements
- manage accounts
- perform balance sheet operations
- prepare financial statements
- prepare tax returns forms
- prepare trial accounting balances
Knowledge
Optional skills and knowledge (31)
Skills and competences
- advise on financial matters
- advise on risk management
- calculate production costs
- check the production schedule
- conduct financial audits
- consult with motion picture producer
- consult with production director
- disseminate information on tax legislation
- evaluate budgets
- exert expenditure control
- handle financial transactions
- keep track of expenses
- liaise with auditors
- manage budgets
- manage corporate bank accounts
- manage inventory
- manage payroll reports
- manage revenue
- monitor after sales records
- perform cost accounting activities
- perform dunning activities
- perform risk analysis
- prepare financial auditing reports
- resolve difficult account allocation cases
- support development of annual budget
Knowledge
budget analyst
Budget analysts monitor the spending activities of public and private institutions and companies. They prepare budget reports, review the budget model used in the company and ensure compliance with the budgeting policies and other legal regulations.
Essential skills and knowledge (11)
Skills and competences
- analyse financial performance of a company
- assess financial viability
- develop financial statistics reports
- evaluate budgets
- exert expenditure control
- identify process improvements
- support development of annual budget
- use office systems
Knowledge
Optional skills and knowledge (12)
Skills and competences
- advise on public finance
- budget for financial needs
- consider economic criteria in decision making
- create annual marketing budget
- explain accounting records
- inspect government expenditures
- manage budgets
- review investment portfolios
- revise drafts made by managers
- synthesise financial information
Knowledge
Contains ESCO v1.2.1 data (https://esco.ec.europa.eu/). © European Union. Reuse authorised under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.